Tag: Rules

Ryan Ramczyk designated to reserve/physically unable to perform list

Ryan Ramczyk was designated to the reserve/PUP list on Thursday. He’s technically sidelined for the first four games, but his season is effectively over:

It had been looking like for a while now that New Orleans Saints All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s future with the team was in doubt.

Thursday’s announcement confirmed just this.

The Saints shared that Ramczyk was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he’s battling what’s been reported to be a degenerative knee issue. This will officially sideline him for the first four games of the season. If there were any chance Ramczyk could return sooner he wouldn’t be going on PUP.

With Ramczyk being placed on the list, he’s technically eligible to be activated to the roster the Monday after Week 4’s game against the Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 30). But according to NOF’s Nick Underhill, this is unlikely. He writes that “the expectation is that (Ramczyk) is not particularly close and his absence will extend well beyond the first four games. He’s unlikely to play this season.”

From the talk many of us heard this offseason from the Saints front office and coaching staff, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Head coach Dennis Allen made this statement earlier this offseason which gave us our first indication that Ramzyck’s future was uncertain: “We’ve got a plan for him. Certainly we don’t have to make any decisions now, but I haven’t seen the progress that I was hoping to see.”

If it is the end of the road for Ramczyk, he’s enjoyed a heck of a career. The former first-round pick started in all 101 games that he’s appeared in over seven years while also earning three All-Pro selections. That he went on to become one of the NFL’s most dominant right tackles in his prime after playing just a single season of Division I football at Wisconsin, at left tackle, is incredibly impressive.

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Florida’s massive coaching staff benefitted by NCAA rule change

Billy Napier said he wanted to build an army of a coaching staff when he got to Gainesville, and the NCAA’s recent rule changes prove just how forward-thinking the man in charge is. On Tuesday, the Division I Council approved a rule change …

Billy Napier said he wanted to build an army of a coaching staff when he got to Gainesville, and the NCAA’s recent rule changes prove just how forward-thinking the man in charge is.

On Tuesday, the Division I Council approved a rule change permitting any staff member to provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes. The change is effective immediately upon the conclusion of Wednesday’s meeting period and does not affect the number of off-campus recruiters a team can field.

The rule opens up the door for assistants and quality control analysts to provide on-field instruction, which was previously forbidden despite being an impossible stipulation to monitor.

“NCAA members continue efforts to modernize support for student-athletes, and removing restrictions on skill instruction in football will provide those student-athletes with increased resources to achieve their greatest on-field potential,” chair of the council and athletics director at Illinois Josh Whitman said. “At the same time, the council determined that maintaining limits on recruiting personnel will preserve competitive balance in recruiting while also localizing decision-making around how best to maximize support for student-athletes.”

Napier and the athletic department foresaw this rule change, which is why Florida has nearly 75 names on its staff directory page. All of those names won’t get clearance to do some on-field coaching, but the guys who watch all of the film and take notes for the players can now talk directly to them rather than “encouraging” them from the sidelines.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

NFL tweaks rule for players returning from injured reserve

NFL teams can bring back eight players from IR during the regular season and two more players during the playoffs.

The NFL informed the players’ union of revised return-from-injured reserve rules earlier this week.

Teams may bring back players on injured reserve up to eight times during the regular season, according to a memo posted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. That’s the same number as last year but now there’s a tweak: two more designations will be added during the playoffs.

And if the team does not bring back eight players from IR during the regular season, those unused designations will carry over into the postseason. So if seven players returned from Weeks 1-18, three more would be allowed to return during the playoffs.

The same player can return from IR twice during a season, but that would count as two of the maximum ten returns. Once a player goes on IR, he has to sit out four games before being eligible to return to the active roster.

Another notable change this year: Up to two players can go on IR before the initial 53-man roster is set and be eligible to return during the season. Previously, all players who went on IR before the initial 53-man roster were ruled out for the entire season.

Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) is the team’s first candidate in 2024 to go on IR and return later in the season.

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NFL introducing new position-specific helmets in 2024

The NFL has greenlit a dozen new helmet choices for players, including 8 models specifically for quarterbacks and linemen:

The NFL has unveiled a dozen new helmets for players to choose from in 2024, 8 of which are specifically for quarterbacks and linemen on both sides of the ball. Helmets for quarterbacks are meant to limit the impact to the back of the head when falling backwards. Offensive and defensive linemen collide every snap, so their helmets are meant to protect the front of the head. New Orleans Saints players have been quick to adopt these new equipment options in the past, so we may see more of them this season.

Quarterbacks and linemen are the only positions with helmets catered to them, with hopes wide receivers and defensive backs join this group in 2025. Linebackers and running backs being left out feels on par with how the NFL views the positions. They aren’t viewed as valuable financially. Despite being two of the most violent positions, they aren’t next up for specially designed helmets.

This isn’t the first rollout of position specific helmets, rather a rollout of new models. Last year, only nine quarterbacks and 20 linemen took advantage of these choices. Six of the new helmets have been deemed safe enough to not need the Guardian Cap worn by players in practice. There’s a hope the chance to ditch the Guardian Cap will make more players wear the new helmet. We’ll see whether any Saints players make the switch when practices pick up this summer.

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Which jersey number is Chase Young going to use with the Saints?

Forget the contract and schematic fit. The real question is which jersey number is Chase Young going to use with the New Orleans Saints?

The New Orleans Saints made a splash in free agency by signing Chase Young, who could do a lot to change Cameron Jordan’s role and allow them to both play their best football. But beyond the salary cap ramifications of acquiring Young and how he’ll fit into the defense, we’ve got to consider the most important question: what jersey number is Young going to be wearing?

Young has worn two different numbers in the NFL, choosing No. 99 (with Washington) and No. 92 (with San Francisco). Right now, both of those are taken by Khalen Saunders and Tanoh Kpassagnon, respectively. Before he turned pro Young used No. 2 at Ohio State, and while that is available the Saints showed last year they didn’t understand the new rules by not allowing Jason Pierre-Paul to wear a linebacker number. They insisted he be listed as a defensive end, who are not eligible for wearing single digits.

Chris Olave has already shown an interest in switching to No. 2 (which he also wore in college at Ohio State), and there wouldn’t be any question about a wide receiver using it.

What about Young’s high school number? He transferred from St. Vincent Pallotti High School, where he wore No. 34, to DeMatha Catholic High School, where he switched to No. 9. Drew Brees’ number is unofficially retired, so we can scratch that out. Which means the only number Young has used before, No. 34, is also the only one still available. But it isn’t eligible for defensive linemen, so the Saints would have to list Young on the roster as an outside linebacker, which they’ve been reluctant to do before.

There are two numbers in the nineties that could appeal to Young: Nos. 91 and 97, last used by Kyle Phillips and Malcolm Roach. It’s also possible he could buy out his preferred number from Saunders or Kpassagnon, or go with something fresh altogether. It’s a curious situation, but honestly pretty low-stakes given everything else going on with this team and the world at large. We’ll keep an eye out for an update.

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What are the NFL overtime rules for the 2024 Super Bowl?

A review of overtime rules for the Super Bowl this year.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

It’s that time of year, folks. The Super Bowl is here. And, with both the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs being the two best teams in the league, there’s a strong chance this game will probably be close.

SHOP: KC Chiefs Super Bowl champs USA TODAY commemorative cover

If it is a close game, that means we could get overtime. What that used to mean in the playoffs is that the team who scored first wins the game in the sudden death period.

Guess what? Not. Anymore.

Thanks to 2022’s ridiculous Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs game, the NFL changed the rules so that both teams will have a chance to touch the ball, should they get to overtime.

I know that might sound a bit confusing. If it is, don’t worry. Here’s a quick explainer on how it works.

What are the NFL’s Super Bowl pass interference rules in 2024?

It’s not complicated!

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.

You’re probably here because someone in the 2024 Super Bowl just committed an egregious pass interference penalty, as dictated by the officials. Or you’re here because the officials missed what was clearly a pass interference penalty, and everyone on social media and in your living room is arguing about what the rule actually means.

It’s the Super Bowl; would you have it any other way?

The pass interference answer applies to both offensive players and defenders, and it’s rather simple (if not always in application).

According to the NFL 2023 rulebook: “It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.”

So what are those acts that can “significantly hinder” a catch attempt? Here we go:

Acts that are pass interference include, but are not limited to:

  1. Contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch;
  2. Playing through the back of an opponent in an attempt to make a play on the ball;
  3. Grabbing an opponent’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass;
  4. Extending an arm across the body of an opponent, thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, and regardless of whether the player committing such act is playing the ball;
  5. Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball;
  6. Hooking an opponent in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the opponent’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving; or
  7. Initiating contact with an opponent by shoving or pushing off, thus creating separation.

There you have it!

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What are the 2024 NFL challenge rules? How many each team gets, timeouts assessed and more

A quick explainer to help you understand the NFL challenge rules and how many each team get per game.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

For people who don’t follow the NFL closely, or even those who do, some of the rules can be a bit confusing. So in anticipation of the 2024 Super Bowl we’re going through a few of the rules to help fans get caught up and knowledgeable as they watch their favorite teams.

One rule that’s somewhat confusing is the rule that allows coaches to challenge rulings on the field. Here’s what you need to know about the rule.

  1. Coaches are given red flags, which they can use to toss onto the field before the next snap. If the flag gets tossed, in initiates an instant replay review.
  2. Coaches get two challenges a game.
  3. If the coach fails the challenge, he’s docked a timeout. If he successfully challenges, timeouts remain unchanged. If the coach successfully challenges twice… he gets a third challenge. No fourth challenges ever. If a coach challenges with no timeouts, that’s illegal — and a 15-yard penalty.
  4. There are some plays that can’t be challenged, for a couple of reasons. Some plays are automatically reviewed every time, so a coach doesn’t need to challenge them — this includes scoring plays, interceptions and a few others. Coaches also can’t challenge some judgment calls made by officials (holding, for example).
  5. A team can’t commit a penalty before the next snap and then challenge.

Here is the full rule for your perusal:

ARTICLE 1. COACHES’ CHALLENGE. In each game, a team will be permitted two challenges that will initiate Instant Replay reviews. The Head Coach will initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick. Each challenge will require the use of a team timeout. If a challenge is upheld, the timeout will be restored. A challenge will only be restored if a team is successful on both of its challenges, in which case it shall be awarded a third challenge, but a fourth challenge will not be permitted under any circumstances.

A team may challenge any reviewable play identified in Article 5 below, except when the on-field ruling is:

     (a) a score for either team;

     (b) an interception;

     (c) a fumble or backward pass that is recovered by an opponent or goes out of bounds through an opponent’s end zone; or

     (d) a muffed scrimmage kick recovered by the kicking team.

A team may not challenge a reviewable play:

     (a) after the two-minute warning of each half;

     (b) throughout any overtime period;

     (c) after committing a foul that delays the next snap; and

     (d) after exhausting all of its challenges or timeouts.

If a team initiates a challenge when it is not permitted to do so, it will be charged a timeout.

Penalty: For initiating a challenge when a team has exhausted its timeouts: Loss of 15 yards.

There you have it.

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Super Bowl 2024 coin toss rules, explained: How deferring works and more

The coin toss isn’t necessarily as simple as it sounds.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

The coin toss seems like it should be the most simple part of a football game, right?

Every NFL game starts with one of these. A team calls heads or tails, and that will decide who gets to receive the football on the opening kickoff of each half of the game. Sounds easy enough.

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But there’s a lot more that goes into it. It’s an essential part of how any game plays out. One wrong move from a team captain, and that squad could start slow or go into the half without the ball down a few scores. If an official mishears a player? It could throw everything off.

It’s happened before. Back in 2019 year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott told referee Walt Anderson that the team would defer to the second half after winning the toss. But Anderson misheard him and said the Los Angeles Rams would get the ball in the first and second halves. It was eventually corrected and Prescott made sure to say “DEFER” loud and clear a week later. But still, mistakes were made.

So just to make sure we’re clear now, here are the rules for the coin toss for Super Bowl LVIII, per the NFL’s rulebook:

Not more than three minutes before the kickoff of the first half, the Referee, in the presence of both team’s captains (limit of six per team, active, inactive or honorary) shall toss a coin at the center of the field. Prior to the Referee’s toss, the call of “heads” or “tails” must be made by the captain of the visiting team, or by the captain designated by the Referee if there is no home team. Unless the winner of the toss defers his choice to the second half, he must choose one of two privileges, and the loser is given the other. The two privileges are:

  1. The opportunity to receive the kickoff, or to kick off; or
  2. The choice of goal his team will defend.

If the coin does not turn over in the air or the toss is compromised in any way, the Referee shall toss it again. The captain’s original call may not be changed.

Penalty: For failure to comply: Loss of coin-toss option for both halves and overtime, and loss of 15 yards from the spot of the kickoff for the first half only.

For the second half, the captain who lost the pregame toss is to have the first choice of the two privileges listed in (a) or (b), unless one of the teams lost its first and second half options, or unless the winner of the pregame toss deferred his choice to the second half, in which case he must choose (a) or (b) above. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the Referee of their respective choices.

A captain’s first choice from any alternative privileges listed above is final and not subject to change.

There you have it, folks.

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Rory McIlroy assessed two-shot penalty for improper drop at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

McIlroy was 6 under thru 14 holes before the sloppy finish.

At one point Thursday, Rory McIlroy held the lead alone during the first round of the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, at day’s end, his score is going to be a bit worse than it could have been thanks to a penalty.

Before signing his scorecard, McIlroy was assessed a two-shot penalty for an improper drop on the par-5 seventh hole at Spyglass Hill. McIlroy’s drive was wayward on the hole, and he had to take an unplayable. Where he dropped it was determined to be illegal, so what he thought was a bogey 6 turned into a triple bogey 8.

PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek joined the Golf Channel telecast and said McIlroy “totally owned the mistake” when it was brought to his attention in the scoring area.

The rule states a ball can roll up to a club length, whereas McIlroy dropped his ball a club length to the right off the original line, which is where the penalty came from.

“So I took an unplayable on 7 and I took it back on line,” McIlroy said after his round. “Then unbeknownst to me the rule changed in January 2023 where you used to be able to come back on line, take a club length either side. That was changed in 2019 to be able to do that. I wasn’t aware that that rule was changed again in 2023, so I took a drop thinking of the 2019 rules when everything was sort of changed not knowing that the rule was changed again in 2023, so got a two-stroke penalty there.”

McIlroy was 6 under thru 14 holes, then he went bogey-triple-bogey and signed for a 1-under 71 at Spyglass Hill.

It’s his first PGA Tour start this season. The last time he teed it up, he won the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour.