2016 NFL Rule Book and Changes

[Patler]

Heck, just sky the kickoff as much as possible and use the punter while you're at it. There's no fair catches on kickoffs so have it come down around the 20 and let the best team win at getting the ball. If the punter can keep it in the air for 5+ seconds (which they should be able to do with no rush coming at them) and have it come down around the 15-20 yard line, the players have time to get their bodies down there to crash into somebody. Be just like a big onside kick.

I don't think you can punt on a kickoff.

[ThunderDan]

Other than that it was a great idea.

[ThunderDan]

You can call for a fair catch on the kickoff.

Yup, that is why kickers hit the ball into the turf on onside kicks instead of just hitting pop ups.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Well, that was big derp on my part.

[pbmax]

Good luck 2017 NFL Refs, Back, Side and Field judges.

Kevin SeifertVerified account
@SeifertESPN
Keep this passage handy from the 2016 NFL rule book. It's the updated version of the... http://es.pn/29xaqnH

[Patler]

Good luck 2017 NFL Refs, Back, Side and Field judges.

Kevin SeifertVerified account
@SeifertESPN
Keep this passage handy from the 2016 NFL rule book. It's the updated version of the... http://es.pn/29xaqnH

Well, thank goodness they clarified that!

[Striker]

Well, thank goodness they clarified that!

And if I'm reading that correctly, almost all of those will once again be judgement calls on the part of the official...

[ThunderDan]

And if I'm reading that correctly, almost all of those will once again be judgement calls on the part of the official...

It also doesn't address the going-to-the-ground situations.

[MadScientist]

And if I'm reading that correctly, almost all of those will once again be judgement calls on the part of the official...

Yes, but there are at least more criteria for a judgement.

It also doesn't address the going-to-the-ground situations.

If the player is falling to the ground, he can't lose control. The Dez no-catch might still be ambiguous, although I'm sure they will specifically address that in the ref's meetings.

[KYPack]

You can fair catch a kick-off.

(Which Strike pointed out, if I'd have read the freak'in thread.

[pbmax]

Catch rule gets better!

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/07/18/league-tells-officials-to-err-on-the-side-of-calling-bang-bang-passes-incomplete/

Bang-bang plays fall into their own category and are now incomplete.

Florio thinks this is strictly about receiver turned into runner, but I haven't read that elsewhere. He does make an interesting point that the League seemed to be moving in a direction of visual logic with their backing of the Larry Fitzgerald "catch" versus the Packers in the playoff game and their new rules this year (see above in thread).

But this seems to be going back down the rabbit hole to make uniform calls by rule on the field and hope replay cleans up the mess.

[Radagast]

A solute you pbmax , I've been interested in a closer look at the official rules for years now.

1) Would you please post the link again .

2) You are now my official NFL rule-book guru .

[pbmax]

^ https://nflcommunications.com/Docume...k_Combined.pdf