NFL Notes: Game Changes, Draft, Bengals, Texans

NFL Changes

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that they’re planning changes to “ the flow and pace of the game, and commercialization and the number of unnecessary disruptions to the game on the field.”

Some of the specifics the league is considering include:

• Bringing out a tablet for the referee to review a play, as opposed to going to a fixed sideline monitor.
• Instituting a play clock after an extra point and possibly after a touchdown.
• They also looking to standardize the starting of the clock after a runner goes out-of-bounds, and standardize halftime lengths in all games.
• Reducing the frequency of commercial breaks.

You can read the full letter from Goodell to fans here.

Draft

• Vikings GM Rick Spielman and HC Mike Zimmer worked out Michigan State DT Malik McDowell at his Pro Day on Wednesday. (Adam Schefter)
• Pittsburgh QB Nate Peterman will meet with the Steelers next month. (Mark Kaboly)
• The Giants will host Utah OL Garett Bolles for a pre-draft visit at some point in April. (Dan Duggan)
• Coastal Carolina RB De’Angelo Henderson had dinner with the Bears Tuesday night and worked out for the Cardinals on Wednesday. (Enter Sports)
• Michigan State QB Tyler O’Connor met with the Lions, Chiefs, and Chargers. (NFLTR)

Bengals

• Cincinnati prosecutor Joe Deters elected to drop the felony charges of harassment with a bodily substance against Bengals CB Adam Jones, according to Katherine Terrell.
• Terrell adds that Jones still has pending misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business pending. He did, however, plead not guilty to these charges on Wednesday.

Texans

• Teams sources tell Ian Rapoport that the Texans have “zero” interest in free agent QB Jay Cutler.
• Although, they do plan to add another quarterback at some point, but it won’t be Cutler and it won’t come via a trade with the Cowboys for Tony Romo.