NFL Teams Propose Rule Changes, Including Penalty Challenges in Final Minutes
The Indianapolis Colts have proposed a rule change to allow challenges of penalties in the last two minutes of each half, aiming to correct egregious officiating errors.
- The Colts' proposal would enable coaches or NFL replay officials to challenge any penalty called in the final two minutes of a game, sparked by controversial calls in a previous season.
- Several other teams have proposed rule changes, including the Lions' suggestion for a third challenge after one successful attempt and the Eagles' proposal to replace onside kicks with a fourth-and-20 play.
- The NFL's competition committee will review these proposals next week, with owners set to vote at the league meetings from March 24-27; 24 votes are needed for approval.
- Past experiments, such as the one-year trial allowing challenges for pass interference calls, have influenced current proposals.
- The proposals aim to address issues of officiating accuracy and game dynamics, with changes like moving the trade deadline and altering onside kick rules also under consideration.