Owners to vote on potential XP, replay, roster rules

NFL owners will have the opportunity to vote on a number of extra-point changes. (USATSI)

When the owners meetings commence next week, the NFL owners will vote on a number of potential rules changes that could come into effect next season. During a conference call on Wednesday, the league's competition committee revealed the proposals.

Here are ones you should know about:

• The Redskins proposed to move the kickoffs to the 40-yard line, to allow instant replay to extend to personal foul penalties, and to get rid of preseason overtime.

• The Patriots proposed to move the goalpost 5 feet higher, to move extra points to the 25-yard line, to place fixed cameras on all boundary lines and to expand replays to make sure a coach can challenge any play but a scoring play (which are all reviewed anyway). If the potential rule that would move extra points to the 25-yard line doesn't pass, the competition committee supported the idea that all of the games in one preseason weekend would feature extra points kicked from the 20-yard line.

• The competition committee proposed more protection for the back of a player's legs when he is rolled up by a defender. It also proposed an expansion of replay that would cover a loose ball in the middle of a play (like the Navarro Bowman fumble in the playoffs) and that the clock wouldn't stop after a sack.

• As for roster gymnastics, the Redskins proposed raising the active gameday roster from 46 to 49 when a game is played on Thursday. They also proposed increasing the practice squad to 10 players, expanding the short-term IR list to beyond just one player, and having only one cutdown day during training camp.

• The Colts proposed allowing a team that houses a retractable roof to have the ability to open or close it at halftime.

As for the potential 15-yard penalty that would occur if an official heard a player use a racial slur ...

NFL will not have new rule re: abusive language. Just emphasis current rule. "We empower a foul to be called for that type of language.''

— Don Banks (@DonBanks) March 19, 2014

As far as potentially expanding the playoffs by two teams in time for the 2015 season, that might or might not come to a vote at the owners meetings.

And in other news, the finalists for Super Bowl LII (in 2018) are Indianapolis, Minneapolis and New Orleans. That vote will be taken in May. Miami reportedly was not asked to bid.

NFL Hot News

WR Mario Manningham returns to Giants



Mario Manningham was drafted by the Giants and played for them from 2008-11. He was serviceable if not outstanding during his time in New York. His best numbers came in 2010, when he caught 60 passes for 944 yards and nine touchdowns.But the 2011 postseason -- and more specifically, one unbelievable catch down the sideline late in Super Bowl XLVI -- made Manningham some money. He signed a two-year deal worth more than $7 million less than two months later with the 49ers. However, Manningham's two years with them were largely forgettable and headlined by a devastating knee injury in December 2012 that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season.So, with his contract up again, Manningham is heading back to where he started. The Giants brought Manningham back on a one-year deal Tuesday, according to Pro Football Talk.



I look at this signing similar to the Patriots' inking of Brandon LaFell: A veteran brought in for depth purposes. The Giants' top three WRs are Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, Jerrel Jernigan. Or at least, that's who the team hopes are their top three, given that the young guys continue to develop. Manningham is a player head coach Tom Coughlin is familiar with, even if Manningham isn't familiar with the Giants' new offense. He'll vie to be New York No. 4 wideout and has microscopic fantasy value.