NFL announces official rules changes

Football Betting Lines

04/12/2007 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NFL owners adopted several playing-rules changes and two coaching employment rules changes at the NFL Annual Meeting in late March.

The penalty of unintentional touching of a forward pass by an interior lineman has been eliminated, because it was deemed that no advantage was being attained by the offense on this type of play. The result should expedite the game.

Instant replay was made a permanent rule.

"We think instant replay has been an accepted part of our game now for a number of years," NFL competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said. "It's worked quite well."

Along with high-definition equipment for NFL Stadiums, the replay system's "down-by-contact" is now permanently a reviewable play, with each review limited to a maximum of 60 seconds.

A player spiking or throwing the ball after a down has ended, with the exception of a touchdown, will now result in a five-yard penalty.

"We did not think this type of spiking was good for sportsmanship or the administration of the game by officials," McKay said.

A player making a block below the waist against an eligible receiver while the quarterback is in the pocket will now result in a 15-yard penalty, rather than a five-yarder. Additionally, as a player who receives a snap fumbles or muffs the ball, the restrictions on the defense relative to illegal contact and an illegal cut-block will end.

The offense being required to be trailing or tied for a 10-second clock runoff to be exercised for an excess timeout with two minutes remaining in the first half or in the game has been eliminated. The 10-second runoff will now occur regardless of the game situation. Any advantage for the offense has been eliminated, and the defense has the option to decline a 10-second runoff.

An instant replay review prior to the two-minute warning will reset the clock at 25 seconds, along with an instant replay review after the two-minute warning that results in a reversal, were added to the rule of the play clock being restarted at the time that it was stopped prior to the snap.

Also, the five-yard penalty against the defense for excessive crowd noise has been eliminated, as the penalty has not been called in several years.

Assistant coaches of Super Bowl teams are now entitled to interview for a second time with a club for its head-coaching position during the off-week after the championship game.

"We wanted to make sure that coaches on Super Bowl teams did not feel it was a disadvantage," McKay said.

Teams also now have the exclusive right to an assistant's contract through the second Tuesday after their season has concluded, rather than the third Tuesday.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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