Rules Changes by NFL Competition Committee “Unlikely”

Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

While draft prospects were filling out paperwork and receiving their medical examinations, the NFL’s Competition Committee convened on Wednesday to discuss potential rule changes. The paramount issues at hand: enhancement of the current replay system, and expansion of the playoff pool. Changes for 2014 are unlikely according to an AP report, as the sides hit a snag.

Following in the foot steps of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the NFL is considering a centralized replay system. Back in March, commissioner Roger Goodell was quoted as saying, “Consistency is important, and by bringing it into the league office on Sundays and actually having one person making that decision, you can make an argument for consistency.” Basically, rather than having different individuals subjectively assess the call on the field, a selected decision maker would make uniform rulings. Or at least that is the hope.

The league is also entertaining the idea of adding one playoff team from each conference. Giants CEO and President John Mara didn’t seem thrilled about the prospect of 14 teams: “I like the way it works right now and I would be a little nervous about watering it down.” However, he did acknowledge its upside: “We did have a situation this year where a 10-win team didn’t get in the playoffs and that’s tough to stomach. We were in that situation a few years ago, and (expansion) would pretty much ensure that didn’t happen.”

The committee is scheduled to meet up again next week as the combine churns forward.