LITTLE ROCK — NFL
Replay rule changes?
NEW YORK — Instant replay could undergo some changes when NFL owners meet next week.
The owners will get proposals to eliminate referees from instant replay reviews and expand what the booth official rules on, and also to allow a player to return during the season from the injured reserve list.
The league’s competition committee, prompted by the Buffalo Bills, will propose having the booth official make all decisions on replay reviews. He also would be allowed to review all turnovers just as he now reviews all scoring plays.
“This proposal will definitely spark some discussion,” Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the committee, said of possibly taking away review responsibilities from the refs. “We developed our system based on the last time we had replay. That’s how we developed the referee to be the decision maker.”
The committee will also propose expanding the overtime rule used in the postseason — both sides must have an offensive possession if the receiving team kicks a field goal to start the extra period — to the regular season.
That rule, instituted in 2010, has yet to become a factor in the playoffs.
And a player hurt in preseason or early in the schedule could be designated as able to return from injured reserve after six weeks and play after eight weeks rather than sit out the entire season.
That would be a significant change; the previous rule was a player placed on IR must miss four games. In 1993, that was changed to the entire season because teams tended to put promising prospects on the list rather than having to release them.
Until 1990, IR players had to sit out six games.
The Steelers, who proposed the overtime alteration, also suggested making a horse collar tackle on a quarterback inside the pocket a 15-yard penalty. That is the only situation where such a tackle is not penalized.
Expansion of the defenseless player rules to protect defensive players against crackback blocks to the head area or being blocked by an opponent headfirst also is on the agenda for the spring meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., that begin Monday. Now, they are only protected against low crackback blocks.
The trade deadline could be moved from after the sixth week of games to after the eighth week. Also proposed is allowing teams to have 90 players on the offseason and training camp rosters before the first cut, but counting unsigned draft choices. In the past, those unsigned players were not part of the 80-man rosters.
McKay said the final cutdown to 53 could be moved up one day to Friday, Aug. 31 because the opening game will be played on a Wednesday night this year so as not to conflict with President Obama’s speech on Sept. 6 at the Democratic National Convention.
VIKINGS
Ayodele released
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have dumped another veteran starter, releasing nose tackle Remi Ayodele one unproductive season into a three-year contract.
The timing of Wednesday’s move was curious, if coincidental, coming hours after the NFL’s announcement of fines and suspensions for New Orleans Saints officials for their roles in the bounty program that rewarded players financially for trying to injure opponents.
Ayodele won a Super Bowl with the Saints at the end of the 2009 season and played three years for them before signing with the Vikings. The league has yet to issue discipline for specific players involved in the bounty program.
The Vikings also agreed to terms with Carolina offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, re-signed backup defensive tackle Fred Evans and signed running back Lex Hilliard on a busy, if not particularly splashy, day.
Ayodele was given a $3.565 million signing bonus to replace aging stalwart Pat Williams in the middle of the line, but he managed only 15 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks despite playing in all 16 games last season. The 28-year-old was set up for base salaries of $2.2 million in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
BENGALS
Green-Ellis deal reached
CINCINNATI — A person familiar with the negotiations says former New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, who need someone to replace Cedric Benson.
Green-Ellis spent four seasons with New England, carrying 181 times for 667 yards in 2011 with 11 touchdowns. Various reports had him agreeing to a three-year deal.
The Bengals are expected to announce the signing today after final details are completed, said the source speaking on condition of anonymity.
SAINTS
Bunkley agrees to terms
METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints and free agent defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley have agreed on a five-year contract.
Bunkley spent last season with the Denver Broncos appearing in all 16 regular season games and starting 13. He was credited with 43 tackles during the regular season and also had a sack and forced fumble during the Broncos’ two playoff games.
General Manager Mickey Loomis calls Bunkley “an energetic player that can contribute in stopping the run.” The Saints did not release financial terms.
The 6-2, 306-pound Bunkley began his NFL career with Philadelphia, which used a first-round draft pick to take him out of Florida State in 2006.
Sports, Pages 17 on 03/22/2012