NFL Odds: Proposed 2017 Rule Changes

The 32 NFL owners will begin their yearly meetings this Sunday (March 26) and they’ll be voting on a range of matters. Along with the Raiders’ potential move to Las Vegas, the Competition Committee and a handful of teams have proposed several rule changes.

The focus of the new rules is promoting player safety and speeding up play. We may even get an instructional video on how to properly celebrate. (Only in the NFL.) While I have many questions regarding this instructional video (who will star in it?), we’ll just stick to the proposed changes that are actually going to affect the game.

These five potential changes will have a major influence on the game you dedicate your Sundays to. Here are the odds of them receiving the necessary 24 votes to be approved.

Banning the Leap

The Denver Broncos were able to defeat the New Orleans Saints last season due to Justin Simmons’ leap over the offensive line, which resulted in him blocking an extra point. The Broncos took the blocked XP all the way back for two points of their own. You may also recall Bobby Wagner hurdling the line to block a Chandler Catanzaro field goal in late October of 2016.

This is a move that has become more and more popular in the NFL, but may be no more. The Philadelphia Eagles have proposed banning the play as a matter of player safety, and they have received the backing of the Competition Committee.

There will be some push back, as the leap is viewed as another fun/entertaining play the league would be ridding itself of.

Odds to be approved: 3/2

Expand defenseless receiver protection

A receiver currently cannot be hit in the head or neck area while they are in the process of making a catch. But the Competition Committee wants to expand that to include protections for the receiver while they are running a route.

This is only going to affect how a defensive back can jam a receiver at the line of scrimmage, since you cannot make contact with a receiver beyond five yards. This will likely get passed, but won’t affect the game much.

Odds to be approved: 3/7

Replay Changes

There are multiple changes being proposed to the replay procedures, but I’m only looking at the three main ones: (1) league officials will have final say on all replays, with input from the official working the game; (2) zebras will be given a handheld device so they no longer have to trot to the sideline monitors; and (3) the ref will be able to make replay announcements during commercial breaks, instead of waiting for the broadcast.

These are all great ideas. The integrity of the game is jeopardized when you have Mike Pereira telling the broadcast crew the call will be reversed after review, only to have the official come out and say the play stands as called. Consistency is crucial.

The latter two are strictly to speed up the play. Sure, I like hearing the explanation from the official, but I’m sure the broadcast can replay that for me right after the commercial as the teams are taking the field.

Odds centralized replay is approved: 1/5
Odds handheld devices are approved: 1/9
Odds replay announcements during commercials are approved: 1/1

A 40-second clock after extra points

Can someone give me a rational objection to this? The kickoff, just like any other play, should also have a time restraint.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has already proclaimed his hatred for commercial-kickoff-commercial. This would help ratify that issue, and create a better viewing experience.

Odds to be approved: 1/3

Reduced Overtime

Great, more ties. The league is looking to reduce overtime from 15 minutes to ten for regular season games. The Competition Committee has declared it a matter of player safety. But apparently playing on Thursdays causes no issue.

With ties already serving as quite a nuisance, this one will be difficult to pass.

Odds to be approved: 7/4