The Philadelphia Eagles have sent in a rule-change request for the second consecutive season. The request consists of giving teams a second option in a late game situation, other than the onside kick.

Rule Change Request #1

The rule is allowing teams to have a 4th and 15 play from their own 25 yard line to keep possession of the football, instead of the onside kick. Teams would only be allowed to do this new play twice per game, and onside kicks would still be in play like normal.

Example:

The Eagles score a touchdown, but need to get the ball back. They now have the option to setup 4th and 15 from their own 25. If they convert the 4th and 15, they keep the ball and continue to play it like normal football. If the defense gets a stop, the ball will be spotted at wherever the offense was held. It gives teams another option to try and get the ball back, without having to try and gamble with one of the hardest things to do in sports, the onside kick.

Rule Change Request #2

However, this wasn’t the only rule change that the Eagles proposed to the league. The Eagles and the Ravens proposed a new format of overtime, which would make it now “sudden-death” like.

Example:

The new overtime rule would offer 2 “options” for the winner of the coin toss. You can either choose (a) the location of the spot of the ball, or (b) to start on offense or defense. The Eagles win the toss, and elect to select the 20 yard line. The opposing team will now choose whether they want to start from their own 20 yard line on offense, or if they want the Eagles to start on THEIR own 20 yard line, and the opposing team defends first. It’s a pretty complicated rule, but it would bring some excitement to a current format of overtime that I don’t really find fun at all.

The NFL has compiled a total of 11 rule changes from all of their teams, and they will be reviewing them before the start of the season to see which ones could potentially find their way into the games. Although we never really know which rules the NFL will choose to confirm, if any, these two from the Eagles are two that I could see potentially happening in the near future.

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Eagles