NFL head of officiating Dean Blandino announced the following proposed rules changes for the 2017 season, which the league’s owners will vote on at next week’s league meeting:
-- Outlaw jumping over the line to block an extra point or field goal.
-- Keep in place the rule moving touchbacks to the 25-yard line, which was passed on a temporary basis last year.
-- Make permanent the automatic ejection rule for two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, which was passed on a temporary basis last year.
-- Expand defenseless player protection to include receivers running routes, when they’re tracking the quarterback or looking back for the ball, even within five yards of the line of scrimmage.
-- Give the league office final say over replay decisions, with input from the referee.
-- Eliminate sideline replay monitoring, with a tablet being handed to the referee on the field to review replays in consultation with the league office.
-- Standardize the starting of the clock when the runner goes out of bounds outside two minutes remaining in the first half and outside five minutes remaining in the second half.
-- Allow the referee to make replay announcements during commercial breaks, rather than waiting for the TV broadcast.
-- Institute a 40-second clock after extra points when going to a kickoff if there is not a commercial break.
-- Standardize the halftime length to 13 minutes and 30 seconds, rather than allowing the referee to give teams additional time to get in and out of the locker rooms.