NFL Owners Meeting 2015: Tracking Latest News, Rumors and More

The 2015 NFL owners meeting began Sunday in Phoenix and is scheduled to continue through Wednesday. The league's brass is expected to discuss several key topics, including potential rule changes and possible playoff expansion.     

Continue for updates.

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Bill Belichick Goes on Tirade Over Replay Cameras

Wednesday, March 25

Belichick made his feelings heard when it comes to replay cameras, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk:

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“They were in a meeting the other day with Dean Blandino, the head of the officials, and Bill Belichick got up there, and in profane language, told the NFL: ‘We spend money to send the Pro Bowl to Brazil, we spend money to go overseas to London, but we can’t spend money to have four cameras in the end zone, four cameras to help determine the correct call in the end zone on certain plays?’ He went off, and the way it was explained to me, from people in the room at the time, they were laughing at it because his language was so profane and because he was so incensed about it, and the NFL didn’t know how to handle it. But the bottom line is, they did not introduce the four cameras in the end zone, they thought right now it’s too cost-prohibitive for the NFL even, and they don’t know how to do it. They’ll probably continue to look at this, but Bill Belichick left these owners’ meetings not particularly happy,” Schefter said onOlbermann.

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On March 24, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello revealed two new changes regarding the league's replay system that have been approved by teams:

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Teams approve adding replay review for game clock at end of half, game, OT if more than 1 second is on the clock.

Teams authorize league to research use of fixed cameras & stadium video in replay system. Otherwise, replay proposals go down.

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OT Possession Rule Proposed, Unsportsmanlike Conduct Proposal Passed

Wednesday, March 25

Around The NFL highlighted a proposal from the Chicago Bears, while Mark Maske of The Washington Post noted a proposal that passed regarding unsportsmanlike conduct:

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Owners Pass Rule Banning Use of Ineligible Receivers

Wednesday, March 25

"NFL owners have passed the rule proposal banning the use of ineligible receivers like the Patriots did in the AFC divisional playoffs," the Baltimore Ravens announced.

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NFL Will Revisit Rule Changes Involving Extra Point in May

Tuesday, March 24

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo added more details on the extra-point proposals.

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported that the NFL is excited about the potential changes to the extra-point rule:

NFL.com's Marc Sessler noted eliminating the extra point completely was discussed.

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Teams Unanimously Approve Medical Timeout

Tuesday, March 24

"Teams have just unanimously approved the medical timeout based on medical observer communication to side judge," ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.

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Tweak Made to Catch/No-Catch Language

Monday, March 23

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted that a small change has been made regarding what constitutes a catch: "On catch/no catch: Receiver needs control of both feet & has to have it long enough to clearly establish himself as a runner. New language."

Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com weighed in on how this wouldn't have impacted the infamous Dez Bryant play from the playoffs last season:

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NFL to Scrap Blackout Policy for 2015 Season

Monday, March 23

"The NFL will scrap it's TV blackout policy for the 2015 season. Will evaluate how it goes after season. Teams voted on this today," reported Kevin Clark of The Wall Street Journal.

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Expanded Playoffs, International Games, More Discussed

Monday, March 23

NFL Network's Albert Breer provided details from the owners meeting and illuminated some of the items discussed, including possibly expanding the playoffs:

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What to Watch For

Sunday, March 22

Judy Battista of NFL.com reports the annual meeting isn't expected to lead to any significant rule changes despite the numerous proposals put forth by teams. That's because the ideas need a large majority to pass, and few typically reach the threshold.

Battista wrote:

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So what is on teams' minds? Discontent with instant replay, apparently. Teams proposed 13 rules changes relating to instant replay, but none are likely to pass because team-generated ideas rarely receive the 24 votes needed to become new rules.

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While keeping that in mind, let's check out some notable topics on the agenda.

Rule Changes

Marc Sessler of NFL.com notes the NFL Competition Committee earmarked a total of 23 rule changes and four bylaws for consideration following a meeting last week. More than half of them involved the use of instant replay.

Teresa Varley of the Pittsburgh Steelers' official site passed along comments from team president Art Rooney II. He wasn't interested in adding more availability to the replay system because of concerns about the overall pace of play.

Rooney stated:

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I think the instant replay system is working fine. Sure, it would be nice to have different and more plays reviewed, but you have to do that in the context of how many can you really fit into a game and not wind up with a four-hour game. If there are ways to improve the system, I think we are always willing to look at it. But in terms of increasing the number of plays that get replayed, I don’t think that’s the direction we want to go at this point.

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The national sports conversation about figuring out a more concrete definition for a catch heated up after a controversial call in the playoffs involving Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Dallas thought it had a first down from the 1-yard line late in the team's matchup with the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round after a spectacular grab by the superstar wideout. Instead, the referees overturned the decision, giving the ball to the Packers.

Green Bay proceeded to run out the clock to preserve its five-point lead, ending the Cowboys' title hopes.

Mark Maske of The Washington Post states no new proposal is on the table regarding that type of play after the competition committee met. Instead, the goal is to clarify the current rule in order to make it easier for everybody to understand:

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Committee members confirmed that approach during a conference call with reporters Wednesday, citing the sport's "history" with the existing rule and saying they will look at the language of the rule and attempt to clarify it. Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, declined to specify how the language of the rule will be modified, saying he would reveal that publicly only after first addressing owners, executives and coaches on the topic next week.

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It's perhaps the most important on-field discussion the owners will have during the week. The Cowboys and their fans would certainly attest to that.

Expanded Playoffs

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reported in December that the committee would discuss the idea of expanding the playoffs to 14 teams. Exactly when it could be implemented and how the postseason schedule would shape up are unknown—most notably if there would be a Monday game.

The report points out commissioner Roger Goodell has supported more teams making the playoffs:

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Goodell and several owners have expressed support for expanding the playoffs to include seven teams from each conference. Under that format, only one team in each conference would earn a first-round bye, and there would be six playoff games instead of four during the first weekend of the postseason.

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Mortensen noted one change that could come with playoff expansion is reseeding.

That would prevent a sub-.500 division winner, such as the Carolina Panthers last season, from receiving a home game in the opening round.

Mortensen reported: "One formula that will be discussed in the offseason is that in addition to first-round byes for the teams with the best record in the AFC and NFC, two divisional champions in each conference will get home games and the remaining eight teams will be seeded by win-loss record."

Along with increasing opportunities for fringe playoff squads, the idea would also make earning the top seed in each conference a lot more important.

Football in Los Angeles

Team	Idea
Lions	All penalties reviewable
Titans/Redskins	Personal fouls reviewable
Patriots	Allow coach's challenge at all times
Patriots	Fixed camera on sidelines, goal lines and end lines
Patriots	PAT from 15-yard line
Colts	9-point play; TD, 2-point conversion, 50-yard extra point
Bears	Both teams get possession in OT
General	Timeout instead of challenge flag
General	Definition of a catch
Bylaw	Eliminate cutdown to 75; Direct cut to 53

A potential return to Los Angeles for pro football is one situation that continues to demand the spotlight despite a lack of movement from the NFL. The league has wisely moved forward carefully because of the multiple fanbases involved.

Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area reports two separate ideas—a joint stadium for the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers, and moving the St. Louis Rams west—are both hot topics.

He expects there will be plenty of talk about the situation over the next few days. A lot of it may remain behind closed doors, though:

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has a press conference scheduled for Monday, and owners involved in this project might find themselves in front of a microphone over the next few days, which could help increase leverage in their home market. There will be more work done in back rooms, cultivating league support for moves that require approval from NFL owners.

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At this point, it seems like only a matter of time before football returns to Los Angeles. It's the No. 2 television market in the United States behind New York, and the league would obviously like to benefit more from that.

Exactly how it's going to happen remains a mystery, however. Perhaps there will be more clarity by the time the owners meeting comes to a close midweek.