NFL Owners Round up Time

                                                          3/31/08 - 4/7/08



It’s time for the annual owners meetings for the National Football League. It will be taking place during this week, in my home state of Florida. The meeting will be held in place called West Palm Beach, which is by the way is on the west coast side of the state. The meetings will also include team officials.


The issues in discussing will be: such as weather or not a Defensive player can wear a radio helmet. By the way a proposal needs 24 out of 32 owners’ votes to be approved and NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell can lobby, but he does not have a vote.


Here is a look at the proposal that will be in discussing, they will include:


Reseeding the playoffs:


The change would involve, seeds number 3-6 under the proposal the wild-card team can get a home game, if it has a better record than the division winner. If a tie-breaker is needed, the division winner with the same record would get the nod over the wild-card.

Increasing the roster from 80 to 86 players:

The competition committee is pushing an idea to increase preseason rosters to a maximum of 86 players. The committee is pitching the idea, thinking that by having an extra six players on a roster, it will help fill out an eight-man practice squad during the fall and in case if a team needs a replacement player, because of an injury.

Allowing defensive players to wear a radio device in their helmets:

Under the proposal, the competition committee is ready to push for a plan for teams to designate two defenders to have radio helmets, but only one will be allowed to be on the field on any given play.

Including specific field-goal attempt replays:

Under this proposal, field goals can be reviewed but on a limited basis. The new replay review, would be of a kick that is no higher, than top of the uprights and within the width of the goal posts.


The one issue that is not there is the biggest issue out of the four in my book and as it should be for all fans of the NFL. It’s the collective barging agreement, as the November 8 deadline looms for terminating the current CBA after the 2010 season.


If NFL owners do in fact terminate the current deal, before that deadline. There could be a chance that a lockout could occur during the 2011 season and it could happen unless the NFL owners can come to a conclusion, with the players association for a new deal before the 2011 season.

So with all these issues, that will be in the coming light in a couple of days, at lest we know now that the NFL Draft weekend will be on its way shortly. To be exact the NFL draft is only 25 days away from Tuesday.

RJ

RJINTAMPAWSA@AOL.COM