NFL Notes: NFL wants to resolve Spygate situation
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/03/2008
FEBRUARY 4, 2008--NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
(Gene Lower/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A vote wasn't necessary, but NFL owners still issued a resolution of support for three areas of emphasis that commissioner Roger Goodell plans to institute in an effort to maintain the integrity of the game.
"What happened is we went over this in the coach and owner session (Tuesday)," Goodell said. "The coaches and the owners felt so strongly about it that they moved to put a resolution behind it, just to reinforce their commitment to this. . . .I think the commitment of the ownership and the coaches was very strong. It was 32-0 (in favor of the resolution)."
Largely as the result of the "Spygate" illegal taping controversy involving the New England Patriots, Goodell said the following measures will be put in place immediately.
_ Each NFL team must certify annually that their individual club has complied with competitive rules and policies, and report actual or suspected violations.
_ The standard of proof for establishing any violations will be "preponderance of the evidence." (A lesser standard than the "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" in criminal law.)
_ The league reserves the right to expand programs and technology to monitor and enforce compliance. This might result in regular spot checks of game-day locker rooms, press boxes, coaches’ booths, coach-to-player communications systems, and other in-stadium communications systems.
In years to come, these measures might be referred to as the Belichick Rules, in honor of you-know-who.
---Rules changes---
_ League owners approved a measure changing the forceout rule on pass receptions. Under the new rule, in almost all instances, a player who catches a pass must come down with both feet in bounds for the play to be ruled a completion _ even if he’s shoved out of bounds by a defender.
Only if a player is carried out of bounds by the defender is the play ruled a completion.
* Most field goal attempts are now reviewable under the instant replay system. Coaches can now challenge whether field goal attempts went inside or outside of the uprights. Or if they went over or under the crossbar.
Attempts that go over the top of the uprights still aren’t reviewable.
* Team can now defer to the second half the opportunity of receiving the kickoff or defending the goal.
* The five-yard variety of the facemask penalty was eliminated.
---Owners nix re-seeding---
A competition committee proposal to change the playoff seeding proposal went absolutely nowhere. The proposal would’ve given wild-card teams the chance to have home playoff games ahead of division champions with lesser won-lost records.
It drew such little support that it never reached a formal vote.
"The re-seeding is something that we’ve talked about for several years," Goodell said. "I think the debate was good."
---Divine help?---
The training camp site the Rams are considering in Madison, Wis., is the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center, a facility that has fields, dorms, and a cafeteria. The University of Wisconsin football team used to train there.
Brent King, the director of communications for the Diocese of Madison, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he has been contacted by the Rams about the possibility of using the facility this summer.
"The call came within the last two days," King said Wednesday. "They were investigating if it would be possible. But they’re in the very early stages."
---Ellis’ pro day---
While coach
Scott Linehan was in south Florida at the owners meetings, the Rams sent a delegation Wednesday to the University of Southern California’s pro day.
The Rams are particularly interested in watching USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.
"I don’t know, maybe he’s the No. 2 (pick) after we really watch him," Linehan said. "But even if you didn’t go there _ if you moved back a spot or two _ you’ve got to say this guy (might be a possibility).
"I’m speculating, because until we finish our board _ I mean I kind of have an idea _ but I honestly don’t know who we’re drafting."
--Keeping a 3rd---
After spending most of the 2007 season with just two quarterbacks on the active roster, Linehan sounds committed to keeping three QBs this coming season.
"Yeah, we’ll carry a third this year," Linehan said. "If it’s not Brock Berlin, somebody else. I would like personally to get a young player, even draft a quarterback if possible."
Ideally, the young prospect could move into the No. 2 role behind Bulger in two or three years once Trent Green retires.
Linehan said Wednesday that Ellis would be among those draft prospects visiting Rams Park later this month.
jthomas@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8197
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