No major rule changes were made back in April by NFL owners ahead of the 2021 season, which is set to kick off on Thursday, September 9, with the game between champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys, but there are some small modifications.
NFL introduced six new rules, which, despite not being unprecedented could be described as noticeable, with the owners being adamant that their product remained intact despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
Let's take a look at the six new rules adopted by the NFL owners back in April 2021.
1 No overtime in preseason
Although no changes were made in regard to overtime whenever a game ends in a tie, NFL has scrapped overtime in preseason games. As reported by ESPN and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, only 16 games have gone into overtime since 2001.
2. Loss of down after a second forward pass
A loss of down will be added to the five-yard penalty imposed on the team which committed a penalty for two forward passes during the same play.
3. More help from replay officials to their on-field counterparts
Although the NFL owners decided against creating a full-time sky judge, they will offer on-field officials the opportunity to be assisted by replay officials, while teams can still challenge the decisions.
The replay official weigh in on a completed or incomplete pass, possession of the ball, touching of a loose ball, boundary line, goal line, or end line, spot of the ball/player in relation to sidelines, line of scrimmage line to gain, or goal line and down by contact (when not ruled down on the field).
4. Jersey number changes
The NFL have introduced limits on the numbers each position can hold to specify who are the eligible receivers and who are non-eligible receivers.
"If a player wants to change his number this season, he would have to buy out the existing inventory of jersey distributors," stressed ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
"If he wants to give notice now to change his number NEXT SEASON, there would be no requirement to buy out inventory."
The new allowed numbers by position are as follows:
- QB: 1-19
- RB: 1-49, 80-89
- TE: 1-49, 80-89
- WR: 1-49, 80-89
- OL: 50-79
- DL: 50-79, 90-99
- LB: 1-59, 90-99
- DB: 1-49
5. Limit the number of players in the setup-zone during a free kick
Last season, teams that received a free kick had to have at least eight of their players lined up in the setup-zone. Now NFL has also set a limit of a maximum of nine players who should line up.
6. Adapted retry rule
If a foul results in a retry, Team A will have the option to enforce the penalty from the spot where it attempted the try (previous spot) or from the yard line for the other try option, the location of which is determined by any previously enforced penalty, if applicable.
