Sum Up of Owners’ Meetings
The biggest issue that was discussed this year at the owners’ meetings, had to be the conduct of NFL players.
Here are some other items that were discussed during the time at the Arizona Biltmore, from a bit of a Jets’ slant.
General & Competition Committee Rulings:
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Instant replay is now considered a permanent fixture, with all stadiums to be updated with high definition equipment. Only the Cards and Bengals voted against the measure. Some stadiums that are planning on getting new facilities (like the Meadowlands, I believe) are exempt. Now if they could have overturned the Chris Baker catch in Cleveland…
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Now Schottenheimer has an additional chance during our 2007 SuperBowl run in the playoffs to interview for head coaching jobs (a la Ron Rivera). An agreement now opens a second window in the “bye” week before a Super Bowl for a return interview.
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No headset for Vilma. A proposal to allow a defensive signal caller to have a speaker in their helmet like a QB was rejected.
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The NFL decided against a change to the overtime rules to move the opening kickoff of overtime from the 30- to the 35-yard line. Rich McKay tabled the discussion. There might be more talk in May but there will be no vote at the time.
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Owners voted 26-5 that players can (and will) be penalized 5 yards for spiking the ball in the field of play.. I am curious how the “field of play” is defined. I do hate it when players do that on their own 40 yard line, but is it a penalty after a TD? I would guess not.
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Chicago had proposed expanding the game-day roster from 45 to 47 was defeated by a close margin, 17-15. Anthony Schlegel will still have to suffer in silence.
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The creepiest sounding penalty “illegal touching” will no longer be called when a QB hits an O-Lineman with a pass, but if the lineman makes an attempt to catch the ball, then it can be called.
Rules that the Officiating Crews will be told to note as a “point of emphasis” in 2007:
- In 2007, officials should not call roughing-the-passer penalties when the defender’s arms are extended but makes minimal contact with the QB. The sentiment is that there was too much protection of QBs in 2006 … but you don’t have to tell a Jets fan about that!!
- There will continue to be a point of emphasis on illegal contact made by defenders (pass interference).
I’m really upset that they didn’t change the roughing the passer rule. I don’t want to hear this nonsense that they have told the officials not to call roughing-the-passer penalties when the defender’s arms are extended but makes minimal contact, that’s just not good enough. It’s so hard to make a split second decision and that’s essentially what the refs have to do. How many teams, not only the Jets got burned by this last year.I don’t know what the solution is, but they should have done something.
Funny you should mention B-Schott . .. . in one of my worst nightmare scenarios, I just realized that if the rumors about this being Belichick’s last year in New England are true, then how much would it suck if B-Schott ended up there next year? Or worse, if they don’t lock up Mangini for the next few years. . .
Sorry — I didn’t mean to make anybody else throw up in their mouths a little like I just did typing that, but I thought maybe if I said it out loud, you could all tell me that I’m crazy and I’ll go find something else to worry about . . .
Roughing the passer may have happened to other teams but it seemed like the rule was made just to screw the Jets last year. Hopefully this rule’s intention is to remind the officials that it is football not pattycake.
Mangini isn’t going anywhere R. Schott may be another issue but he may also want to try to win with this team for a year or 2 more. That nausea you have is morning sickness from bearing the love of a nascent perennial winner…and a little too much to drink perhaps.
While I love B-Shott and don’t want to loose him, especially to the Pats, I wouldn’t sweat it. One of the reasons we brought in Brian Daboll this year from NE is a safety net just incase B-Shott leaves after 2007 for a HC job. Daboll is supposedly an up and comer in the league and is highly respected across the board, he also left NE becuase he felt there was no room to grow. Mangini is close with Daboll and knows what he is capable of and was obvioulsy looking towards the future when he brought him in.
Crazy!! R in CT is Crazy!!
**Harrumph … harrumph .. harrumph **
I am assuming “field of play” as being between Goal line to Goal line, not the end zone. Illegal touching certainly sounds like molestation, but if that mean an O-lineman can’t catch a pass I can live with that. Inadvertantly getting drilled in the helmet or shoulder pad is not molestation, I don’t think. Roughing the passer needs to be clarified. I know its hard to judge intent on the part of the defender, but c’mon. Reading Namath’s new book lately makes it sound like it was more of a real game back in the day. Just don’t let the opposition know that they hurt you.