Thread: NFL officials detail rules changes for 2014 season

Improving player safety and zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike conduct headlined the NFL officials' annual media briefing Thursday at Broncos training camp.

Referee Scott Halverson led the briefing where he and three officials discussed rule changes and points of emphasis for the 2014 NFL season.

There will be a greater focus on deterring unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically the use of abusive and threatening language toward opponents, as well as prolonged and excessive celebrations.

rest - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci...es-2014-season

Pretty soon it will be always wrong to hit a player...

Originally Posted by OrangeHoof

Pretty soon it will be always wrong to hit a player...

Well, not to hit them. To hit them below the waist and above the stomach, yes. I think they'll just put a very small target on their belly where you actually can hit a player and be done with it. This comes just before it turns into flag football of course.

These two changes will be big in that I expect they will lead to different outcomes than previous years:

• Referees can now consult with members of the NFL officiating department during replays.

• Reviewable plays now include recovery of a loose ball in the field of play.

No rough play, no cussing and no celebrating...Whats left?
Might as well be soccer...Zzzzzzzzzzz

Originally Posted by OrangeHoof

Pretty soon it will be always wrong to hit a player...

People say this every year and it hasn't happened yet (nor has it even come close). I'll be worried when this even comes close to happening.

This article didn't talk about it, but I think that they both tweaked the no contact with a receiver after five yards and are making it a point of emphasis. The jersey pull mentioned in this article is part of it, but the overall point of emphasis was about contact of any kind after five yards. The article pointed out how teams like Seattle might be the most impacted, because of how physical their DBs were with receivers, much of it after five yards and technically illegal (hence the new point of emphasis).

This change will really help guys like Decker, who can now focus on running routes, rather than running down the field, throwing his hands up in frustration from downfield grabbing, trying to get the ref to throw a flag.

Originally Posted by Tned

This article didn't talk about it, but I think that they both tweaked the no contact with a receiver after five yards and are making it a point of emphasis. The jersey pull mentioned in this article is part of it, but the overall point of emphasis was about contact of any kind after five yards. The article pointed out how teams like Seattle might be the most impacted, because of how physical their DBs were with receivers, much of it after five yards and technically illegal (hence the new point of emphasis).

This change will really help guys like Decker, who can now focus on running routes, rather than running down the field, throwing his hands up in frustration from downfield grabbing, trying to get the ref to throw a flag.

Wasn't this a point of emphasis years ago especially after the Patriots roughed up the Colts? Call the game as written or re-write it.

Originally Posted by Canmore

Wasn't this a point of emphasis years ago especially after the Patriots roughed up the Colts? Call the game as written or re-write it.

Yep. I think the downfield contact rules have been on the books for a long time, but the NFL seems to go through cycles of making it an emphasis, and then slowly letting the DBs get away with more and more (contrary to what's written) and then when it gets bad enough, or one team really takes it to another level, then they make it a point of emphasis again, to call it as it's written.

I'm with you, call it as it's written.

Originally Posted by Tned

Yep. I think the downfield contact rules have been on the books for a long time, but the NFL seems to go through cycles of making it an emphasis, and then slowly letting the DBs get away with more and more (contrary to what's written) and then when it gets bad enough, or one team really takes it to another level, then they make it a point of emphasis again, to call it as it's written.

I'm with you, call it as it's written.

Yes. We got the beauty of being on the down turn. Legion of fill in the blank. I want a level playing field.