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NFL posts the 2016 rule book online, for some
Before you complain about the officials this season, you’ll want to make sure you actually know the rules. Fortunately, the NFL has published the entire 217-page rule book online. Unfortunately, it’s only accessible to those of us with media access.
Although the league should make the rule book available publicly to fans, we’ll summarize for you the most noteworthy part of the rule book, which is on Page 2, where it identifies the changes to the rules this year. Those include:
1. It is now a delay of game penalty if a team is erroneously granted a timeout.
2. The offensive and defensive play callers can use the coach-to-helmet communications system regardless of whether the coach is in the booth or on the sideline.
3. There is no longer a five-yard penalty for illegally touching a pass after being out of bounds and then re-establishing inbounds, but it is a loss of down.
4. The line of scrimmage for extra point kicks is permanently the 15-yard line.
5. Touchbacks on kickoffs are now moved to the 25-yard line.
6. All chop blocks are illegal.
7. The horse-collar tackle rule now includes a defender grabbing the jersey at the name plate or above.
8. A player who gets two fouls for certain kinds of unsportsmanlike conduct is automatically ejected.
9. Multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession have been eliminated.
Before you complain about the officials this season, you’ll want to make sure you actually know the rules. Fortunately, the NFL has published the entire 217-page rule book online. Unfortunately, it’s only accessible to those of us with media access.
Although the league should make the rule book available publicly to fans, we’ll summarize for you the most noteworthy part of the rule book, which is on Page 2, where it identifies the changes to the rules this year. Those include:
1. It is now a delay of game penalty if a team is erroneously granted a timeout.
2. The offensive and defensive play callers can use the coach-to-helmet communications system regardless of whether the coach is in the booth or on the sideline.
3. There is no longer a five-yard penalty for illegally touching a pass after being out of bounds and then re-establishing inbounds, but it is a loss of down.
4. The line of scrimmage for extra point kicks is permanently the 15-yard line.
5. Touchbacks on kickoffs are now moved to the 25-yard line.
6. All chop blocks are illegal.
7. The horse-collar tackle rule now includes a defender grabbing the jersey at the name plate or above.
8. A player who gets two fouls for certain kinds of unsportsmanlike conduct is automatically ejected.
9. Multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession have been eliminated.
