List Of Approved 2018 Rule & Bylaw Changes

The NFL released the list of playing rules and bylaws approved by NFL teams Tuesday morning.

Approved 2018 Playing Rules Summary

• 1. By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the playing rule that changes the spot
  of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
• 2. By Competition Committee; Changes standard for a catch.
• 3. By Competition Committee; Makes the penalties for Illegal Batting & Kicking the same.
• 7. By Competition Committee; Authorizes the designated member of the Officiating
  department to instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant nonfootball
  act when a foul for that act is called on the field.
• 9. By Competition Committee; Eliminates the requirement that a team who scores a
  winning touchdown at the end of regulation of a game to kick the extra point or go for
  two-point conversion.
• 10. By Competition Committee; In overtime, if the team that possess the ball first scores a
  field goal on its initial possession and the second team loses possession by an
  interception or fumble, the down will be permitted to run to its conclusion, including
  awarding points scored by either team during the down.
• 11. By Competition Committee; Lowering the head to initiate contact with the helmet is a
  foul.

Approved 2018 Bylaws Summary

• 1. By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the liberalization of rules for timing,
  testing, and administering physical examinations to draft-eligible players at a club’s
  facility.
• 2. By Buffalo; For one year only, amends Article XVII, Section 17.4 to liberalize the
  rule for reacquisition of a player assigned via waivers.
• 4a. By Competition Committee; Amends Article XVII, Section 17.16 to permit
  clubs to trade players from Reserve/Injured.
• 5. By Miami; Amends Article XVII, Section 17.1 to remove the requirement that a
  non-vested player be placed on waivers to be removed from the 90-player roster
  prior to the roster reduction to 53 players.
• 6. By Minnesota; Amends Article XVIII, Section 18.1 to replace the 10-day postseason claiming period with a 24-hour period.
• 9. By Competition Committee; A player who is designated for return is eligible to be
  activated after eight games, not eight weeks.
• 10. By Competition Committee; Lengthens the period to execute an Injury Settlement
  from five business days to seven business days.
• 11. By Competition Committee; Changes the deadline to reinstate players from certain
  Reserve List categories.
• 12. By Competition Committee; Updates Reserve/Military List procedures to reflect the
  current League calendar.

Approved 2018 Resolutions Summary

G-5. By Competition Committee; For one year only, permits an interested club to contact a
Vested Veteran before clubs have been notified of the player’s termination via the
Player Personnel Notice if (i) the players is not subject to the Waivers System and, (ii)
the employer club has publicly announced the player’s release.

2018 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 1

Amend Rule 11, Section 6, Article 3 (Touchback, pg. 47) (new language underlined, deleted
language struck through):

ARTICLE 3. BALL NEXT IN PLAY. After a touchback, the team that has been awarded the
touchback next snaps the ball at its 20-yard line from any point on or between the inbound lines,
unless the touchback results from a free kick, in which case the ball shall be placed at the team’s 25-
yard line.

Effect: Makes permanent the Playing Rule that changes the spot of the next snap after a
touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
Reason: Player safety.