BOCA RATON, FL --- Five of the 19 proposed rule changes at the 2016 NFL Annual Meeting were submitted by the Competition Committee, with one proposal garnering a lot of reaction as it would result in a player ejection from a game.
The proposal is for a player to be ejected if he is penalized for two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the same game but only certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
Here is the specific language of the proposal:
In addition to any penalty referenced elsewhere in the Official Playing Rules, a player will be automatically disqualified in the event that player is penalized twice in the same game for committing one of the unsportsmanlike conduct fouls listed below, or a combination of the fouls listed below:
(a) Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made.
(b) Using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.
(c) Using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.
The player will be automatically disqualified regardless of whether the penalty is accepted or declined by the opponent. The fouls do not have to be judged by the official to be flagrant for the automatic disqualification to occur, and any foul that occurs during the pregame warm-up period will carry over into the game. Nothing in this section supersedes the Game Official's discretion to judge a foul to be flagrant and disqualify the player based on one occurrence.
The NFL Annual Meeting continues until Wednesday. At some point, we will hear which rules have been passed, including this one.
