NFL VP Of Officiating Reveals Three New Rules
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino recently discussed three specific areas in which they're looking at rules changes for the league this season.
1. Low hits on the quarterback -
"Low hits on the quarterback in the passing posture was something that we did see an increase in last year, so the competition committee wants us to emphasize that. The quarterback in the passing posture in the pocket gets protected from hits in the knee area or below -- forcible hits. And it's incumbent on the defender to avoid (that area) when the contact is avoidable."
2. Protecting runners when sliding feet first -
"We're emphasizing runners who slide to gain additional protection. Any runner can slide feet first and gain special protection, and actually be treated like a player who's down by contact. The key is you have to slide feet first, and you have to slide before contact is imminent ... If they slide any other way than feet first, they don't get additional protection."
3. Crown-of-the-helmet hits -
"We're also looking at crown-of-the-helmet hits by defenders on runners outside the tackle box. Any forcible contact with the crown of the helmet to a runner outside of the tackle box will be a foul, regardless of the path the defender takes."
The NFL seems to be taking steps to make player safety a priority. You can read more on the new rules here.