Do you approve of the changes?
While the NFL owners’ and players’ talks about banishing the Tush Push and for playoffs re-seeding by best records have been tabled for now, there are a few new rule wrinkles that have been agree to:
The BIG TWO:
A couple rules changes passed:
— The NFL will now allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime, but amended to 10 mins.
— Expanded replay assist has also passed.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2025
I am delighted to see both of these amendments. How about you? It’s all about being. fair.
Will 5 yards on a kickoff touchback make a profound difference?
Kickoff touchbacks will now come out to the 35-yard line: (well explained by Kevin Seifert), but no amendments of the on-side kick rule have been agreed to.
NFL’s kickoff proposal was separated into two votes today, one that passed, one that was tabled.
1) The football now moves to the 35 after a touchback – that passed.
2) No vote at this time on the onside kick modification. It will pick back up at the May meeting.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2025
And here’s why the NFL is moving the ball to the 35-yard line on a touchback: https://t.co/Wluz8cafRD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2025
Zoom Zoom Zoom!
The NFL has passed the #Steelers‘ proposal allowing teams to have direct contact with players during the legal tampering period through one phone call or Zoom call. They can do this with 5 free agent players.
Previously, teams could only communicate with agents, not the players.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 1, 2025
53-Man Roster Decision Day Amendment (per The Athletic via the New York Times) —- teams can now place two players “designated to return” on the IR
How this year’s NFL roster cutdown is different than years past – The Athletic (nytimes.com)
Here’s everything you need to know about cutdown day:
What’s the same?
Like every year, teams will need to trim their rosters to 53 men, either by trading, waiving, releasing or placing players on the PUP, NFI or injured reserve lists by 4 p.m. ET.
What’s different?
A new NFL rule will eliminate some of the roster manipulation around the NFL on cut day (Tuesday). In the past, if a team wanted to put a player on injured reserve and keep the option open for a return during the season, he had to make the initial 53-man roster and then get moved to IR the next day.
That forced teams to cut one player and then re-sign him the next day after the IR shift.
Under the new rule, teams can put two players on IR on cut day and designate them to return. So the teams won’t need to go through the step of carrying the player on the 53-man roster for a day before shifting them to IR.
The catch is those two players will count toward the limit of eight players who can return from IR during the season. If a top player is injured and going to miss at least the first four games, it would make sense to take advantage of the new rule.
But teams may still favor the old method with players further down the depth chart. That way they can move the player to IR for the first four weeks the day after cuts and not be locked into using one of the return spots on that player.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Very happy about this amendment to end the roister 1-day runaround!
Full List Rules and Bylaws Adopted and/or Tabled:
Here is the full list of rules and bylaws adopted by NFL teams at the Annual Meeting: pic.twitter.com/djVw4chmjx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2025
Not gonna happen…at least for now:
The #Lions bylaw proposal to re-seed in the playoffs was tabled, source said. Perhaps more discussion in May.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2025
Detroit’s proposal to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact did not pass, despite the Lions’ pleas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2025
The fact that the debate on banning the tush push was tabled indicates it may be discussed again at the May meetings. And could be pushed forward once more support is gathered. https://t.co/LW5EQFFPrn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2025
Apparently 16 owners voted to ban the Tush Push —- but they need 2/3rds majority to pass it.
I think they should ban it because the risk for injury is too high. Do you agree?
Christmas Weekend schedule update:
An NFL Christmas triple-header: NFL will play two games on Netflix that day before the Christmas nightcap on Amazon.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2025
I have a wife. I have a family.
The NFL is trying to get me killed. https://t.co/JDqr5OhHVR
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 1, 2025
Yeah, BK! But your wife will always save you in the end! It’s a Wonderful Life!