NFL Rule Changes For The 2010 Season

As with every new season in the National Football League, there quite a few rule changes for the 2010 season. Over the next several slides is a list of all the new rules so that you are not confused come Week 1. 

New Postseason Overtime Rules

Garrett Hartley's kick in overtime sent the Saints to the Super Bowl, while the Vikings did not get a chance in OT.

By a vote of 28-4, the league's owners voted to accept a "modified sudden death" system, in which the team that wins the coin toss can win the game with a touchdown on its first possession but not with a field goal. Should the first team to possess the ball in a postseason overtime score a field goal, it would have to kickoff to the other team, which would then get the chance to tie the game with its own field goal (and continue overtime on a sudden-death basis from that point) or win it with a touchdown. If the team with possession first fails to score at all, the opposing team could win with a field goal.

This rule appears to be directly influenced by the NFC Championship Game, in which the Saints won in overtime while Brett Favre and the Vikings never touched the ball. (Interestingly enough, the Vikings were one of four teams (Bills, Ravens, and Bengals as well) that voted against the OT rule chance. 

Change In Hitting Defensiveless Players

NFL Referee Walt Coleman discusses the new rule on hitting defensiveness players.

The definition of a "defenseless receiver" (where a receiver cannot be hit in the head or neck area by an opponent who launches himself and makes contact with his helmet, shoulder, or forearm) will now apply to every defenseless player.

Change In Regards To Helmetless Players

Eli Manning had his helmet knocked off against the Jets this preseason in a brutal hit

A play will now immediately be whistled dead once a ball carrier's helmet is knocked off. The ball will be spotted at the spot where the player lost his helmet and the clock will not stop. 

Peyton Manning's New Favorite Rule

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Referee John Parry #132 signals for play to begin between the Chicago Bears and the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Raiders defeated the Bears 32-17. (Photo by Jona

The position of the umpire has been moved from behind the defensive linebackers (except in the last two minutes of each half) to the offensive backfield opposite the throwing arm of the quarterback in order to reduce the numerous times that the official has been run over during plays.

Peyton Manning has voiced his displeasure against this new rule as has Colts president Bill Polian because of the fact that it will slow down the no huddle offense that they employ. And that is more important than the safety of the umpire.  

Long Snappers Protected Even More

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Long snapper Andrew Economos #48 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sets for a snap in the rain against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on November 30, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

During field goal and extra point attempts, defenders cannot line up directly across from the long snapper.

This rule is aimed at protecting the long snapper. 

Dead Ball Personal Fouls Committed On Final Play Of 1st Or 2nd Half Now Enforced

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - AUGUST 28: A referee picks up a penalty flag during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the Bears 14-9. (Ph

Dead ball 15-yard personal fouls that are committed on the final play of either the second or fourth quarters will be assessed on the second half or overtime kickoff, respectively. Previously, such penalties during those situations were not enforced.

Protecting Punt Returners

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Punt returner Michael Spurlock #17 fumbles the kick return in the 3rd quarter Aug. 28, 2008 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Punt returners who make a fair catch signal but then muff the ball are now entitled to catch the ball before it hits the ground without interference. If there is interference during such a scenario, the receiving team would be awarded the ball at the spot of the foul, but no penalty yardage would be assessed.
So smash and grabs are no longer legal, basically. 

About Punting and Hitting The Scoreboard at Cowboys Stadium

After Titans punter A.J. Trapasso hit the epic scoreboard at Cowboys Stadium last preseason, a temporary rule was put in place that the down was replayed. A modification last year added resetting the game clock to the time when the original play was snapped. Now those rules have been made permanent.

Now surprisingly, no other punt has hit the scoreboard, mostly punters are competent enough to avoid it since when punting you don't punt straight up. But don't ask the unemployed Trapasso. 

Replay Available For Pass Interference

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints commits pass interference in the end zone against Bernard Berrian #87 of the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orl

One of the better rule changes is that the replay system will now also be allowed to cover whether there was some sort of interference with the ball during a play. Since pass interference is a spot foul (another rule that should be changed) it can be such an enormous penalty despite the fact that some times there was no interference. Kudos to the NFL. 

New Clock Runoff

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 15: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints calls a time out to referee Billy Vinovich with :03 seconds on the clock before kicker John Carney #3 entered the game to kick the winning 13 yard field goal with no time remai

If the clock is stopped in the final minute of either half for a replay review, but would not have stopped without the review, there will be a 10-second runoff (similar to when the offensive team commits a penalty inside of one minute in order to preserve time). As with any other 10-second runoff, teams are permitted to take a timeout instead.