NFL Pass Interference Rule Change Gets Go-Ahead

Following a Wednesday meeting, the NFL competition committees plans to change the pass interference rule are getting off the ground.

At the meeting, NFL owners gave the committee permission to change the rules for pass interference reviews. This means that they can now proceed with what they want to do without seeking the owners’ permission.

NFL teams have already began their spring training drills. However, it looks like this rule change for next season is still being finalized.

An outline for change was agreed in March, and following consultation with coaches and players, two changes will be made.

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The first potential change concerns the final two minutes of each half. It would make pass interference booth reviews exempt from that timeframe.

That was the original proposal. Now, the committee is exploring extending coach’s challenges into that timeframe for pass interference only. According to the league, extensive delays and endless replays are what they want to avoid.

As well as that, Hail Mary plays could be exempt from challenges entirely. Although, that would require a formal definition of Hail Mary Plays.

Rich McCay, the competition committee chairman, said that they want to preserve the flow of the game wherever possible.

“We really don’t want our games to end on a review,” the Atlanta Falcons president said.

Wednesday’s action will allow the committee to make changes to the new rule without seeking further approval from owners. A decision is expected before the preseason begins.

In addition to a number of other issues raised, the league will study Marijuana for pain management. Marijuana is currently banned by the league.

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“There are a lot of alternative pain medications and treatments,” commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“Those are the types of things we want this committee to focus on. One of those is what role medical marijuana can have.”