NFL rule changes announced

NFL owners voted to alter kickoff rules and extend the powers of replay officials at the league’s annual meeting in New Orleans on Tuesday.

The changes will apply for the 2011 season, which is still headed for a lockout as both the league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) continue to butt heads over a new collective bargaining agreement.From the coming season, the ball will be set at the 35-yard line at the beginning of each half and after every touchdown, essentially shortening the field of play by five yards.In addition, coverage teams will only be allowed a running start of five yards before the kicker makes contact with the ball, down from 10-15 yards.It is hoped the cumulative effect of these changes will decrease the risk of injury to the punt returner by limiting coverage teams from making long run-ups.But the NFL competition committee stopped short of banning the two-man wedge formation at kickoffs, with coaches arguing such a rule would limit the number of high-quality returns, and decided against moving touchbacks from the 20- to the 25-yard line.Chicago Bears return specialist Devin Hester blasted the rule changes in a radio interview with ESPN Chicago.”They’re going too far. They’re changing the whole fun of the game,” Hester said.”(Kickoff returns are) one of the key assets to the team. You take that out of the game, not only do they kick it out of bounds when it’s time to punt the ball, now you get the disadvantage on kickoffs.””We felt we were guaranteed (a chance) on kickoff returns and now you’re taking that away, it’s like you’re taking the whole return game out of the picture.”Owners also voted to allow booth replay officials to call a review of any scoring play. Under the previous rule, officials could only order reviews in the final two minutes of each half and in overtime.The changes were suggested by head coaches and put up for debate at the meeting, which comes amid the spectre of a looming court battle between the NFL and the now-decertified NFLPA.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted on Tuesday he had not spoken to NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith since negotiations ended in a stalemate on March 11, and warned the league would soon rescind its last offer.”Every day that goes by makes it harder and harder to keep the elements in that proposal,” Goodell said.”(But) we are certainly planning on having a full season. That’s our objective, and we’re going to work as hard as we can to make that become a reality.”Goodell also confirmed that the Miami Dolphins and four other teams have been reprimanded for violating lockout rules prohibiting contact with players.