In the last few days, we’ve learned that the NFL passed what we’ll call the James Jones Rule, the Joey Porter Rule and the Aaron Rodgers Rule. But the NFL says these were technically rules “clarifications,” not rules changes.
To review, the James Jones Rule says that players can’t wear exposed hoodies under their uniforms, as Jones did last season. The Joey Porter Rule says that assistant coaches can’t go on the field during games, as Porter did in the playoffs against the Bengals. And the Aaron Rodgers Rule says that if the coin doesn’t flip on the coin flip, the referee has to flip it again, but the team captain doesn’t get to change his call -- which Rodgers wanted to do when the coin didn’t flip during the Packers’ overtime loss to the Cardinals.
Ordinarily, rules changes are debated and approved in March. So why are we just learning of these rules changes in June? Because they’re technically rules “clarifications,” not rules changes.
“Rules changes were voted on by the clubs at the March or May owners meetings,” NFL spokesman Mike Signora told PFT. “Rules clarifications happen every year and are approved by the Competition Committee and then included as part of the official playing rules. The 2016 Rule Book will be finalized later this month and we will make it publicly available as always.”
Here’s hoping these clarifications don’t make the NFL’s already complex rules even more complicated.
