Around the NFL

League owners vote to eliminate blindside blocks

Published: Mar 26, 2019 at 07:02 AM

Herbie Teope

The rule changes for the 2019 NFL season are starting to come out from the Annual League Meetings in Phoenix, and safety is in mind.

NFL owners voted to eliminate blindside blocks, which the league defines as a foul "if a player initiates a block when he is moving toward or parallel to his own end line and makes contact to his opponent with his helmet, forearm or shoulder."

The league points out that one-third of all concussions suffered by players on punts were caused by blindside blocks.

To expand protection of the player being blocked, @NFL owners voted to eliminate blindside blocks. One-third of all concussions on punts were caused by blindside blocks. With the rule change, any forcible contact by the blocker with his head, shoulder or forearm is prohibited. pic.twitter.com/abA2cENnXe
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 26, 2019

Here's a run down of other rule-change news we're monitoring today:

The Broncos' proposal to provide teams with an alternative to the onside kick was shot down.

The Chiefs' proposal for changes to overtime rules was tabled until the Spring League Meeting in May.

The NFL voted to make permanent the kickoff rule changes that were implemented during the 2018 season.

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