PHOENIX – The Annual League Meetings are in full swing out in Phoenix.
Over the next three days, league personnel will meet to discuss a variety of subjects that will impact the short-term and long-term future of the NFL.
Colts Owner Jim Irsay, Head Coach Chuck Pagano and General Manager Ryan Grigson are all expected to meet the media at some point this week.
Here are live updates from the League Meetings:
Lined up in the top row, two from the right, is Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano. He has quite the names around him with Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick located right below him, in the front row. Pagano will speak to the media for an hour on Tuesday morning at the AFC coaches breakfast starting at 7:15 local time.
It was a pretty quiet press conference for the competition committee on Monday afternoon. The extra point talk really dominated the morning headlines but it sounds like nothing too substantial will happen in time for the 2015 season.
Perhaps, the most newsworthy item of Monday's start to the Annual League Meetings came with the "eye in the sky" that could be at games this season. The concussion debate is probably the NFL's biggest health related issue right now and having a league representative in the press box being able to buzz down for players to be (further) evaluated for head injuries could be the next step in that process.
While this change doesn't really impact the Colts, with their impressive sellout streak, it is significant for several organizations. The last time the Colts had a non-sell out was all the way back in the 2003 season (Jaguars game). Another strong slate of home games is on the schedule for the Colts in 2015, with the release of dates/times for this year's contests expected to come in mid-to-late April.
The NFL owners have descended upon Phoenix this week under perfect, blue skies. Jim Irsay is scheduled to meet with the media this afternoon. It will be the first time Irsay has talked extensively since the Colts playoff run earlier this year.
We should begin to hear updates later today on rule changes for 2015 but the extra point debate is definitely a headliner. The most likely options seem to be either leaving the PAT how it is (from the two-yard line) or moving the attempt to the one-yard line (enhancing the choice to go for two), or moving it back to the 15-yard line (making the attempt more difficult). It will be interesting to watch how this unfolds with meetings underway in Arizona.
The Colts are represented with their entire contingent here in Phoenix. A pair of rule proposals are on the docket from the Colts, as well. One that is likely to pass is allowing teams to open retractable roofs if it was closed during the first half (for example, if the forecast suddenly improves, teams could have this option).
The 50-yard line numbers at Lucas Oil Stadium, and every venue around the league, will be painted gold this season. The gold numbers are to commemorate the 50th Super Bowl that will take place on February 7, 2016 in San Francisco.
