Steelers president Art Rooney II discusses NFL rules changes

NFL owners adopted several rules changes Thursday during a virtual meeting. The proposal that would have provided an alternative to the onside kick was not one of them.

Owners tabled the proposal that would have given trailing teams the option to use an untimed down on fourth-and-15 from their 25-yard line as a way to retain possession after a score. The fourth-and-15 play could be used twice by each team in a game whether it was leading or trailing.

“That one got the most discussion,” Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “I would say there is interest in possibly looking at what we could do here. There wasn’t enough support for this particular proposal.”

Successful onside kick attempts have dropped significantly since 2018 when NFL owners adopted rules changes for kickoffs in attempt to make the play safer. From 2010-17, NFL teams successfully recovered an onside kick 16% of the time. That figured dropped to 9% over the past two seasons after rules changes were enacted.

Also, teams attempting an “expected” onside kick over the past two seasons — one in which the receiving team knows it is coming — did not win any of the 104 games in which a successful or unsuccessful attempt was made.

“We’re still open for ideas on what to do about this,” Rooney said. “Everybody agreed it would be good to have some onside kick available to teams trying to make a comeback. With the new rules, it’s almost an impossible play to make.”

Rooney said he and coach Mike Tomlin were not in favor of the fourth-and-15 proposal.

“This one was a little too much of a gimmick,” Rooney said. “Coach and I didn’t like the idea.”

Rooney doesn’t expect the onside kick rule to be revisited anytime soon.

“Nothing is on the schedule,” he said. “I’m skeptical of something being passed for the 2020 season.”

After a one-year experiment, owners quietly rescinded the rule in which video replay could be used to determine pass interference. That rule worked against the Steelers in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It was not brought up for discussion at any of the owner meetings, Rooney said.

“There really was no sentiment at any point this offseason of bringing it back,” he said. “I think everybody concluded pretty quickly after the season that it was an experiment that didn’t work.”

Other proposals approved by the 32 owners:

• The rule expanding automatic replay reviews of scoring plays and turnovers negated by a penalty was made permanent. This also will include any successful or unsuccessful point-after attempt or 2-point conversion.

• Kickoff and punt returners will have the same protection as other players deemed defenseless. This applies to returners who have possession of the ball but who have not had time to avoid contact from an opposing player.

• Coaches no longer are permitted to manipulate the game clock by committing multiple dead-ball fouls. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick exploited a loophole to the rule in 2019, and the tactic was used against him in the playoffs by Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel.

• The number of players per team deemed eligible to return from injured reserve each season has been increased from two to three.

• Video replay in preseason games will be modified and expanded and could include a “sky judge” in the press box. The use of a “sky judge” will not be used in regular-season games.

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