Arizona Cardinals: NFL makes rule changes for 2017
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals will experience some new rules come the 2017 season and most of them are for the better
The NFL passed a number of proposed rule changes on Tuesday at their meetings in Phoenix. The Arizona Cardinals will likely be happy about at least one rule change.
As I alluded to on Monday, the NFL was considering a change to the ‘leap’ rule which allowed players to leap the offensive line on field goal blocks as long as they didn’t touch anyone or use another player for leverage. The play is now illegal in 2017.
The Cardinals were burned by the play a couple of times last season. The call in the overtime tie against the Seattle Seahawks was the most memorable.
That’s just one positive change for the NFL next season. Another is they decided not to shorten the overtime period to 10 minutes for preseason and regular season games. That one was just plain dumb. However, it may come back up again at a later date. The proposal was tabled according to foxsports.com.
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Also, the rule that was temporarily placed in 2016 where a player was automatically ejected for two unsportsmanlike penalties has been made permanent. Keep in mind these are for penalties away for activity after the play.
Receivers also became happy campers on Tuesday. They are now given defenseless player protection when running routes.
Teams can no longer purposely hold other teams or make attempts at conserving time after the two-minute warning other than calling timeouts. The NFL decided losing teams were being given an unfair advantage by committing infractions that would stop the clock.
Here are all the new @NFL rules for 2017. Quiz later. pic.twitter.com/933NotWSEF
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 28, 2017
There can’t be too many complaints about the changes. It is all in the name of safety and fair play. There have been some complaints though about the leap rule changing.
Not happy with the new NFL rule about not being able to leap any more looks like we have all been grounded smh make the FG to easy now #SMH
— PHoward (@PatrickHoward5) March 28, 2017
The NFL is no longer allowing players to leap over the line to block kicks. This is another ridiculous rule.
— DJ DOUBLE D1 (@dj_double_d1) March 28, 2017
Let athletes who are extraordinary, be extraordinary! I hate that this rule 'passed'...leap and let leap (if you can)
— Kristine Collins (@kr1scollins) March 28, 2017
The new "leap" rule removes any doubt that the NFL doesn't want to see the @Seahawks succeed imo
— Vince D. (@vDodun) March 28, 2017
Sorry ladies and gentlemen. As I said on Monday, the play is definitely exciting. Some of these players show their extraordinary athletic talent by leaping the line. However it is a dangerous play and don’t even start with the every play produces risk. Not the point.
It figures Seahawks fans are upset about the change. Their players were the best at it. Oh, and the NFL is not out to get you Seattle. Just like the NFL was not out to get the New England Patriots. Just stop.