Welcome to our 4th year of NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS !!!!! This also marks the 97th SEASON OF THE NFL!! We; no doubt, will see many errant calls by the field officials. SOME legitimate, (after all they are human and can make a miss call). Some wil most likely come from NFL RULE changes. So be prepared for some mistakes, both from teams, players, and officials. I will have these rule changes posted with the PICK sheets for the next 3-4 weeks COMMENT: I really hate to bring this up. But I can’t help wondering if any of you have the same feeling on this subject. I feel , MAKIING TOM BRADY AN HONORARY CAPTAIN OF THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES DURING HIS TIME OF PUNISHMENT ( THE SUSPENSION), IS AN AFFRONT TO not only the School, the Alumni, and all the the things the NCAA is supposed to stand for. WHY! Honor someone who CHEATED!!!! Maybe after he has served his suspension. Then he could have a message of what he learned . (If anything). To me this is just not the right thing to do. He takes back the message that “Cheating is okay. (Just don’t get caught). This could spill over to the academics; if it is okay to cheat on the field, it must be okay to cheat in the classroom. Here is a list of the rule changes, as I understand them. Extra Points Permanently Moved Back. Last year was a 1-year trial run for extra points being moved from the 2- to the 15-yard line. This year, the vote was to make the change permanent, Press Box Coach-to-Player Communication. In the past, coaches in the press box could not talk to players with the communication system directly. The coach in the press box had to radio down to the sideline; then the coach on the sideline could relay it to the player. Now, teams have the option of the “box coach” talking directly to the players. The hope here is to have fewer delay of game issues? Chop Blocks Are Eliminated. Chop blocks are now illegal, However, you can still go low if a defensive player engages you first. (This may change some teams’ playbooks on offense, but shouldn’t have a major impact. (Defenders, might feel safer about their lower legs.) Ejection for Certain Unsportsmanlike Penalties. This was passed for a one-year trial run. (Shouldn’t this be at the Official’s descretion). Hopefully this will not come up more than 2-3 times during the season. I look for it to be tossed next season. I do not know what the Certain Unsportsmanlike actions will be. But to call for EJECTION, they must be pretty severe. Touchbacks Now Come Out to the 25. I see this as an attempt to eliminate run backs. After it is rare when someone ran it back for 25 yards. I didn’t even like it coming out to the 20. It is like a free play. NOW that fictionalplay will get you down 25% of the field. Let’s just make the field 75 yards long? The challenge will now be for the KICKER to kick HIGH and SHORT . This proposal passed for a one-year trial run as well. I think the fans will not take to this rule. ( I think moving the kickoff to the ten yard line would be more acceptable). Horse Collar Expanded. The horse collar penalties have been expanded to a little below the neck area of the jersey; grabbing anywhere near the name area and yanking the player down will be an infraction moving forward. I don’t see the reasoning behind this. I suppose it is to give the officials a little leeway. One way to interpret this rule, (I suppose), would be….PLAYERS MAY USE THE HORSE COLLAR TO S..L..O..W THE RUNNER; THEN SLIDE DOWN AND MAKE THE TACKLE JUST DON’T PUT HIM TO GROUND WHILE IN THE HIGH AREA. (Heck, next year it may be illegal to touch a player above the waist). Five Yard Penalty for Excess Timeout. If a team tries to call a timeout when they don’t have one, there will be a delay of game penalty called on them. This could work either way. Penalty OR benefit, (Example in a two minute drill? just saying) I think if they are going to hae this rule it should be at last a TEN yard penalty. (Or, just for the heck of it let’s make it a 7 1/2 yard penalty. Add a little twist to the game. Illegal Touching Penalty. Previously, if a player went out of bounds and then caught a pass, it’s not a legal catch. The offending team would be penalized five yards, but would repeat the down. Now, with the new rule, the offending team will not be penalized in yardage, but they will lose the down. Thus ruled as an incomplete pass. Double Foul Issue: A. If there is a double foul during a down in which there is a change of possession, THE team last gaining position may keep the ball UNLESS, its’ foul was committed prior to the change of possesion. B. If a double foul occurs after a change of possession, The DEFENSIVE team retains the ball at the spot of its’ foul or dead ball spot. … Continue reading WELCOME TO YOUR 2016 SEASON OF NFL CONFIDENCE PICKS
