Posted on Thu, Mar. 27, 2008

NFL OWNERS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK

Rule proposals on agenda

Spygate, tampering with free agents among issues to be discussed

CHARLES CHANDLER

cchandler@charlotteobserver.com

The NFL is considering rule changes ranging from new standards to protect the integrity of the game to limiting how much hair a player can have hanging out the back of his helmet.

League owners will meet next week in Palm Beach, Fla., to consider several proposals, including:

• In response to the Spygate video-taping scandal that hit the New England Patriots last season, the league could require each team to make a senior executive, such as an owner, general manager or head coach, responsible for certifying an annual audit of rules compliance. The idea is to promote accountability at the highest levels of each organization.

Also, whistle blowing would be not only encouraged, but required. It would be the duty of club personnel to report any suspected violation of league rules -- with confidentiality protection.

• With tampering running rampant before the start of the free agency signing period, the league competition committee is recommending the creation of a 5-7 day moratorium before the signing period begins.

Teams would be allowed to negotiate contracts with agents during the moratorium, but couldn't meet with or talk to players. Teams and agents could agree to terms of a deal, but the player couldn't actually sign a new contract until free agency formally opened.

It's a way to legalize, and hopefully better control, what's already been going on.

• The playoff seeding format could be changed to allow wild-card teams to be awarded a home game if they have a better record than a division winner. Up to now, division winners automatically hosted a game regardless of their record.

• The defense might finally have a player with a communication device in his helmet to receive transmitted instructions from the bench. Currently, quarterbacks are the only players on the field with a transmitter. The proposal calls for teams to designate two defensive players before each game, though only one of them can wear the device at a time. The second player would serve as a backup if the first player got injured or was removed from the game.

• The Kansas City Chiefs have proposed that players not be allowed to wear their hair so long that it covers up their names or numbers on the back of their jerseys.

• The 5-yard penalty for grasping the facemask could be eliminated, but the 15-yarder for holding, twisting or turning the facemask would remain.

• Instant replay could be expanded to include reviews of field goals.

• The "force-out" penalty could be loosened to allow defensive players to push a pass receiver out of bounds before getting two feet down inbounds. The only force-out that would not be allowed would be if a defender picked up and carried a receiver out of bounds.

Competition committee co-chair Rich McKay said the current "force-out" rules create overly difficult judgment calls for officials.

Most of the proposals will require an affirmative vote from league owners, whose meetings will be Monday through Wednesday.