New NFL Rules for 2021 Season

[silverscreenselect]

The replay rule will change somewhat. If replay officials think that a call on the field is incorrect in certain categories (completed passes, down by contact, possession, spotting of ball), they can let the referees know and the refs can correct the initial call on their own without a coach having to throw a flag. The replay officials need to have "clear and obvious video evidence." This could come into play if a team was down to its last challenge and didn't want to use it in case something worse happened later on in the game.

==Running backs, receivers, linebackers, and defensive backs can now have single-digit uniform numbers if they want. Previously, only quarterbacks and kickers had those numbers.
==There will be a one-year onside kick experiment which limits the receiving team to nine players within 25 yards. This might make it easier to recover onside kicks (only 3 of 67 recovered in 2020).
==No overtime in preseason games.
==Penalties for two forward passes on the same play will now result in loss of down.
==More emphasis on taunting penalties, except for touchdown celebrations

The 2021 schedule will be announced May 12.

[silverscreenselect]

The NCAA got into the act as well today with rule changes for next season in college football. The biggest one involves overtime. From now on, in the second overtime period, teams must go for two points after scoring a touchdown (they can still attempt to kick field goals). The third and subsequent overtimes will consist solely of two-point conversion attempts until the game is decided.

[Vandal]

The replay rule will change somewhat. If replay officials think that a call on the field is incorrect in certain categories (completed passes, down by contact, possession, spotting of ball), they can let the referees know and the refs can correct the initial call on their own without a coach having to throw a flag. The replay officials need to have "clear and obvious video evidence." This could come into play if a team was down to its last challenge and didn't want to use it in case something worse happened later on in the game.

==Running backs, receivers, linebackers, and defensive backs can now have single-digit uniform numbers if they want. Previously, only quarterbacks and kickers had those numbers.
==There will be a one-year onside kick experiment which limits the receiving team to nine players within 25 yards. This might make it easier to recover onside kicks (only 3 of 67 recovered in 2020).
==No overtime in preseason games.
==Penalties for two forward passes on the same play will now result in loss of down.
==More emphasis on taunting penalties, except for touchdown celebrations

The 2021 schedule will be announced May 12.

A certain 7-time Super Bowl winning QB is not happy with the new uniform numbering rules. Posted to his Instagram account:

“Good luck trying to block the right people now!!!! Going to make for a lot of bad football.”

An hour later, the quarterback doubled down.

“Why not let the lineman (sic) wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys... why not wear the same number? ...DUMB.”

He tagged both the NFL and NFLPA in the second post and wrote “DUMB” again in huge letters again at the top of it. It contained part of a story about the jersey changes, which he circled.

[silverscreenselect]

A certain 2-time Super Bowl losing QB to Eli Manning is not happy with the new uniform numbering rules. Posted to his Instagram account:

“Good luck trying to block the right people now!!!! Going to make for a lot of bad football.”

An hour later, the quarterback doubled down.

“Why not let the lineman (sic) wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys... why not wear the same number? ...DUMB.”

He tagged both the NFL and NFLPA in the second post and wrote “DUMB” again in huge letters again at the top of it. It contained part of a story about the jersey changes, which he circled.

Fixed it for 'ya

[BackInTex]

The NCAA got into the act as well today with rule changes for next season in college football. The biggest one involves overtime. From now on, in the second overtime period, teams must go for two points after scoring a touchdown (they can still attempt to kick field goals). The third and subsequent overtimes will consist solely of two-point conversion attempts until the game is decided.

This is a TERRIBLE rule change. It benefits a particular type of offense vs. other types. Teams with ultra-large offensive linemen and huge full-backs will have quite the advantage over teams with smaller quicker offenses who typically make the big play via pass. Why not just play HORSE with kicking. Each team kicks field goals from the 5, then 10, then 15, then 20, until someone misses?

I'm sure Alabama loves this.

[silverscreenselect]

The NCAA got into the act as well today with rule changes for next season in college football. The biggest one involves overtime. From now on, in the second overtime period, teams must go for two points after scoring a touchdown (they can still attempt to kick field goals). The third and subsequent overtimes will consist solely of two-point conversion attempts until the game is decided.

This is a TERRIBLE rule change. It benefits a particular type of offense vs. other types. Teams with ultra-large offensive linemen and huge full-backs will have quite the advantage over teams with smaller quicker offenses who typically make the big play via pass. Why not just play HORSE with kicking. Each team kicks field goals from the 5, then 10, then 15, then 20, until someone misses?

I'm sure Alabama loves this.

The intent was to cut down on the length of games and avoid injuries, especially when players get tired. The rule was first changed in 2019 after the 7-overtime game between LSU and Texas A&M. For the last two years, teams have had to go for two points in the third overtime and then the fifth (and subsequent) overtimes would be two-point conversions only. This change shortens overtime even farther.

[BackInTex]

The NCAA got into the act as well today with rule changes for next season in college football. The biggest one involves overtime. From now on, in the second overtime period, teams must go for two points after scoring a touchdown (they can still attempt to kick field goals). The third and subsequent overtimes will consist solely of two-point conversion attempts until the game is decided.

This is a TERRIBLE rule change. It benefits a particular type of offense vs. other types. Teams with ultra-large offensive linemen and huge full-backs will have quite the advantage over teams with smaller quicker offenses who typically make the big play via pass. Why not just play HORSE with kicking. Each team kicks field goals from the 5, then 10, then 15, then 20, until someone misses?

I'm sure Alabama loves this.

The intent was to cut down on the length of games and avoid injuries, especially when players get tired. The rule was first changed in 2019 after the 7-overtime game between LSU and Texas A&M. For the last two years, teams have had to go for two points in the third overtime and then the fifth (and subsequent) overtimes would be two-point conversions only. This change shortens overtime even farther.

I understand the intent (and I obviously watched every second of that A&M/LSU game). But the unintended consequence is it favors, and heavily so, particular teams over others, that obviously matched up well playing the game.