Troy Vincent confirmed Tuesday night that the NFL's competition committee is "exploring ways" to make "dangerous hits" result in immediate ejections, and possibly suspensions.
Vincent, the NFL's vice president of football operations, commented on the committee's plans Tuesday night. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the committee could suggest automatic suspensions for "egregious" hits at next week's NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.
Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23
The Committee is also exploring ways — including considering immediate ejections or suspensions — to take dangerous hits out of our game
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:35:03+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:35:03 (UTC)">7:35 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23 We'll communicate this to our coaches and players with video examples of flagrant hits that may result in ejection or suspension
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:45:06+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:45:06 (UTC)">7:45 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
The NFL currently has a rule to protect defenseless receivers, Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7, that calls for 15-yard penalties on players that initiate "unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture." The rule states that players can be disqualified if the hit is considered "flagrant," but ejections rarely happen for such hits.
Vincent also tweeted that the NFL is putting together a video to show players the proper way to celebrate after taunting and excessive celebration fouls increased last season.
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Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23
On the Competition Committee's agenda this week: player accountability. Taunting & excessive celebration fouls increased this past season
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:15:07+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:15:07 (UTC)">7:15 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
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Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23
We're developing an educational training video for players to show clear examples of appropriate and inappropriate celebrations.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:25:05+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:25:05 (UTC)">7:25 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported earlier this week that one of the items on next week's agenda is allowing referees more flexibility to warn players about borderline celebrations without penalizing them for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Although no formal rule change would occur, the league will emphasize to referees that it wants players to engage in spontaneous celebrations as long as they are not prolonged or excessive. There were 30 such penalties in 2016, a small number that drew an outsized reaction from fans and media members.
Also on the agenda next week is a proposal recommending owners begin full-time officials, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. NFL Network, meanwhile, reported that owners will consider a proposal to shorten overtime periods to 10 minutes in the regular season.
Vincent, the NFL's vice president of football operations, commented on the committee's plans Tuesday night. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the committee could suggest automatic suspensions for "egregious" hits at next week's NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.
Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23
The Committee is also exploring ways — including considering immediate ejections or suspensions — to take dangerous hits out of our game
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:35:03+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:35:03 (UTC)">7:35 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23 We'll communicate this to our coaches and players with video examples of flagrant hits that may result in ejection or suspension
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:45:06+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:45:06 (UTC)">7:45 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
The NFL currently has a rule to protect defenseless receivers, Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7, that calls for 15-yard penalties on players that initiate "unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture." The rule states that players can be disqualified if the hit is considered "flagrant," but ejections rarely happen for such hits.
Vincent also tweeted that the NFL is putting together a video to show players the proper way to celebrate after taunting and excessive celebration fouls increased last season.
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Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23 On the Competition Committee's agenda this week: player accountability. Taunting & excessive celebration fouls increased this past season
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:15:07+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:15:07 (UTC)">7:15 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
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Troy Vincent ✔ @TroyVincent23 We're developing an educational training video for players to show clear examples of appropriate and inappropriate celebrations.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2017-03-21T23:25:05+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: 21 Mar 2017, 23:25:05 (UTC)">7:25 PM - 21 Mar 2017</time>
ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported earlier this week that one of the items on next week's agenda is allowing referees more flexibility to warn players about borderline celebrations without penalizing them for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Although no formal rule change would occur, the league will emphasize to referees that it wants players to engage in spontaneous celebrations as long as they are not prolonged or excessive. There were 30 such penalties in 2016, a small number that drew an outsized reaction from fans and media members.
Also on the agenda next week is a proposal recommending owners begin full-time officials, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. NFL Network, meanwhile, reported that owners will consider a proposal to shorten overtime periods to 10 minutes in the regular season.
