The NFL’s onside kick alternative? Not happening. But these three rule changes are
The NFL is adopting some rule changes.
A modification to the onside kick won’t be one of them.
The league announced three of its lesser-publicized rule-change proposals have been approved, but owners elected to kick the new onside idea down the road.
The proposed rule change would have allowed teams to face a fourth and 15 from its own 25-yard line rather than attempt a traditional onside kick.
That won’t be happening — at least not yet — but three new rules will be added:
• Starting next season, automatic replay review will be permanently expanded to include scoring plays and turnovers that were negated by a foul.
• The defensive player protections have been expanded to include kickoff and punt returners who possess the ball but “have not had time to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent.”
• Teams will no longer be able to manipulate the clock by committing consecutive dead-ball penalties as the clock is running, a rule that gained prominence last season when New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick used it to his advantage only to see the Tennessee Titans use against him in the playoffs.
There was no official vote on the onside kick alternative, according to the NFL Network, though it became clear the idea would not have the required 24 owners on board for passage, per the report.
Under the proposal, teams could have lined up their offenses on the field immediately after scoring. NFL research showed the play is about 3.5% more likely to result in a conversion than an onside kick resulting in a successful recovery.
“I’ve got kind of mixed thoughts on it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said last week about the possibility of an adaptation. “Being an old guy, I’d probably stick with the integrity of the game as it sits right now. But I could also see where the other part would be exciting.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 2:04 PM with the headline "The NFL’s onside kick alternative? Not happening. But these three rule changes are."