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Rule changes pass for 2016 season

NFL owners voted on 19 proposed rule changes at this week’s league meetings in Boca Raton, Florida. The rule changes were presented by the Competition Committee, which Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy is a member of.

All proposals need to be approved by 24 of the 32 team owners to be passed. The following rule changes passed for the 2016 season, according to NFL.com:

– Permanently moves the line of scrimmage for Try kicks to the defensive team’s 15-yard line, and allows the defense to return any missed Try.

– Permits the offensive and defensive play callers on the coaching staffs to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches’ booth.

– Makes all chop blocks illegal.

– Expands the horse collar rule to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the nameplate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.

– Makes it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to do so.

– Eliminates the five-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and makes it a loss of down.

– Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.