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NFL Owners Meetings Rage On!

While most of us are neck-deep in March Madness, the NFL owners are getting together this week – ostensibly to discuss how rich they are, and how they can continue to get richer. And while they’re at it, they’re changing the rules of the game … for better or worse.

Here are a few of the changes that have been instituted:

• Allowing video replays on a loose ball that could be either a fumble or an incomplete pass (the Ed Hochuli rule)
• Added video reviews of down-by-contact plays involving a fumble
• Replay can now be used to determine if a loose ball hit the sideline
• The draft order for playoff teams was reworked and will be based on where teams were eliminated in the postseason
• Check out this article on NFL.com for a complete list of rule changes

And then there’s the “Brady Rule” (from Boston.com):

… the league’s Competition Committee adopted a clarification of the current rule on hits to a quarterback in the knee area or below. The clarification specifically prohibits a defender on the ground who hasn’t been blocked or fouled directly into the quarterback from lunging or diving at the quarterback’s lower legs.

The pussifying of the NFL continues, in the name of protecting the franchise quarterback. Now, not only can you no longer hit a QB below the waist or above the neck … now, defenders need to basically stop playing if they’ve fallen down (or been blocked to the ground), and they can’t crawl toward the QB, who by the way, has the effing football!

I’m sorry, but this goes against the fundamentals of defensive football. We are a few years away from QBs wearing a red jersey and being untouchable. For the amount of money these guys are making, its about time to start treating QBs like the real football players they are.

So a knee gets blown out here or there?!? Welcome to the NFL, son.

Extended Regular Season coming

Last but not least, the Washington Post and NFL.com are reporting that the NFL regular season will likely expand to 18 games in 2011.

Apparently they’re leaning toward trimming the pre-season to 2 games (which I actually agree with), and then tacking on 2 regular season games at the end. There’s been some talk of extending the season by just one extra game to 17, with all teams playing one international game per year, to keep the home/away games even.

Quite simply, this move is profit motivated. Shocking, I know. By swapping out pre-season games for regular season games, the NFL will automatically make more money. And let’s face it, pre-season games suck. Plus, the idea of adding more international games is part of Goodell’s overall plan for globalization of the league. On a business level, do I blame them? No.

But the reality is that the NFL is a brutal sport, and it takes a much larger toll on the athletes than any other sport. Even over 16 games, most teams are already wearing down by the end of the season, and the playoffs are largely determined by which team is lucky enough to stay healthy. If they extend the season any longer, the product on the field is going to suffer, careers will be shortened, and the sport will be watered down even further.

Not sure I’m a huge fan of Mr. Goodell right now, and this move might backfire on the league.