NFL Owners Considering Rules Changes
PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami) – The NFL owners spring meetings in Palm Beach could be extra feisty this year as the press tries to figure out if the Dolphins have a plan, if the Redskins and Cowboys will endure their cap losses, and owners look at changing instant replay and injured reserve rules.
While several rules could be tinkered with, Dolphins fans want to know exactly what the plan is for the Dolphins. Is it time to officially say the team is rebuilding, or do they have a plan that's not obvious to the media and the fans.
CBS4's Jim Berry is at the owners meetings and will have a one-on-one with Fins owner Stephen Ross where he will ask just what should Fins fans expect in the coming year.
When it comes to rules changes, the Buffalo Bills proposed having the booth official make all decisions on instant replay reviews instead of referees on the field. Another suggested rule change would allow the booth official to review all turnovers just like they do for scoring plays, which was enacted last year.
When it comes to injured reserve, which coaches around the NFL routinely lie about, players had to sit out six games until 1990. Then in 1993, the requirement was dropped to four games. Then the league went after teams that hid prospects on IR even if their injuries were minor or nonexistent.
The new rules would allow a player to be designated for return and could begin practicing after six weeks on the list and play in games eight weeks after originally being put on the list. Another proposal would allow teams to designate one player per week who can go on the inactive list because of a concussion and be replaced on the roster.
The owners will also propose moving the trading deadline back to the eighth week to hopefully generate more trades. Currently, the trading deadline is after the sixth week, when teams often haven't gone through enough of the season to determine if a trade is needed.
