NFL passes two more rule changes for 2016

NFL owners passed a pair of rule changes for 2016 on Wednesday at the league’s annual meetings in Boca Raton, Fla.

The changes, according to NFL.com, are:

– Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.

– Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.

That brings the total number of rule changes to nine, as the following were also passed on Tuesday for the 2016 season:

– 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.

In all, owners voted on 19 proposed rule changes at this week’s meetings. The rule changes were presented by the NFL Competition Committee, which includes Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. Proposals need to be approved by 24 of the 32 team owners to be passed.