Update: The insiders got it right. The five changes that they predicted would pass did and the other two were voted down. Also, changes to the bylaws dealing with injured reserve, the trade deadline and roster sizes were tabled until the May meetings.
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According to some insiders at the owners meetings in West Palm, the NFL owners are expected to pass all five of the on-field rule changes proposed by the competition committee. It appears, however, that they will vote down two rule changes proposed by individual teams.
We looked at the proposals here last week. The five that are favorites to pass deal with having the same overtime rules apply in the regular season as apply in the postseason, adding a loss of down to the penalty for a kicked ball, blowing the play dead when too many men are on the field, expanding the definition of a defenseless player to include recipients of crackback blocks, and the automatic booth review of turnovers.
The Bills wanted all replays to be reviewed by the booth and the Steelers wanted to make a horsecollar tackle of a quarterback in the pocket a penalty. Both of those are expected to be defeated.
They are starting to vote now, so we should find out soon.
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