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sports Thursday 31 March 2022
NFL owners approve rule change for OT in playoffs

By BARRY WILNER As for a potential suspen-
AP Pro Football Writer sion for Watson, Goodell
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It noted that a discipline of-
took a few years, and for ficer jointly appointed by
many fans that probably the league and players'
was too long. union would make that de-
Still, the NFL has heard the termination.
cries of "unfair" and has ad- Goodell said if the league
justed its overtimes rules. discovers a violation in Dol-
Only for the postseason, phins owner Stephen Ross'
though. conduct regarding the in-
The NFL is changing the tegrity of the game, the
sometimes controversial information would be re-
overtime rules to guaran- leased publicly.
tee each side gets the ball Former Dolphins coach Bri-
in the playoffs. an Flores has sued the NFL
Concerned that the coin and three teams (Miami,
toss to begin the extra peri- Denver and the New York
od has too much impact on Giants), claiming racist hir-
postseason game results, ing practices. Flores also
the owners voted Tuesday has accused Ross of of-
to permanently approve a fering him a bonus to lose
proposal presented by the games in 2019, something
Colts and Eagles. the owner vigorously has
Beginning this season, if denied.
the team possessing the Earlier Tuesday, Carolina
ball first in overtime scores coach Matt Rhule voiced
a touchdown on that se- his support of a potential
ries, the opponent still gets NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell answers questions from reporters at a press conference follow- change — something that
a possession. In recent ing the close of the NFL owner's meeting, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at The Breakers resort in Palm many owners agreed with,
seasons, that touchdown Beach, Fla. if only for the postseason.
would have ended the Associated Press "You get a shot, I get a
game. shot," Rhule said, "and may
That second possession of tee, admitted that Kansas original proposal by the touchdown and win, or kick the best team win."
overtime would extend be- City's victory over Buffalo Colts and Eagles) to not a field goal and play would Troy Vincent, who oversees
yond the initial 15-minute was a factor in the ballot- make a change in the reg- continue — if time allowed. NFL football operations,
period if needed. Should ing by owners. He said that ular season, but in the post- Of course, in the postsea- echoed Rhule's sentiment,
that team tie the game, it was well beyond the re- season, where our problem son, when there are no ties, saying that football fans
then would become sud- quired 24 votes, but would principally lies." overtimes continue until have expressed the same
den death. not reveal the exact num- The Titans had recom- someone has more points. opinion.
Outcries began back in the bers. mended that both teams Goodell concluded the "The fan wants to see his
February 2017 Super Bowl "I think what the stats show possess the ball in overtime meetings by urging cau- quarterback touch the
when Tom Brady complet- is there is a clear issue we unless the team receiving tion regarding the Deshaun ball, and the data drove us
ed an incredible come- can say since the change the kickoff scores a touch- Watson situation and the to that," Vincent said.
back from a 28-3 deficit to (in rules) in 2010," McKay down and a 2-point con- NFL's investigation. The The owners also approved
tie the game. The Patriots added, "and the problem version. That would end quarterback, who did not an anti-tampering rule that
won the coin toss, marched comes in the postseason." the game. But the owners, play for Houston last season prohibits a team seeking an
to a touchdown and beat Since the previous overtime perhaps believing the Ten- after 22 women accused assistant general manager
the Falcons. rule was instituted for the nessee suggestion was too him of sexual misconduct, from asking permission for
In the 2018 season, New regular season in 2012, the gimmicky, went with the will not be indicted on an interview until after the
England won the AFC title team that wins the coin toss other proposal. criminal charges. Now with draft. As Vincent explained,
on the first series of OT with- has won the game half of Under previous rules, the the Cleveland Browns after someone in personnel for
out Kansas City getting the the time (76 of 152 games). 10-minute overtime in the a trade, Watson still faces one team who has been in-
ball. However, both teams have regular season only contin- civil lawsuits. volved in draft preparation
When the same thing hap- had at least one possession ued if the team getting the "We're going to let the facts should not be available for
pened in Kansas City dur- in 82% of the games (124 of ball first failed to score or lead us, find every fact we hire by another club until
ing this January's divisional 152). kicked a field goal. Should can," Goodell said. "At least the draft is over.
game between the Bills Those numbers changed the side receiving the kick- there is a resolution from Once the draft has con-
and the Chiefs, won by KC, quite a bit in the post- off make a field goal, the the criminal side of it. Our cluded — this year that is
a groundswell became an season. Since 2010, when team that first played de- investigation hopefully will April 30 — the employing
uproar. that rule was instituted for fense would get a posses- have access to more infor- team must grant permission
"We always listen to the playoffs, seven of the sion in which it can score a mation." for such interviews.q
fans," Commissioner Rog- 12 overtime games have
er Goodell said. "What been won on an open- LIKE US ON
brought this decision was ing possession touchdown,
the database and the and 10 of 12 have been
facts. When you see that, won by the team that won
this is an issue in the post- the coin toss.
season." "That data was compelling
Rich McKay, the Falcons to us and to the league,"
president and chairman of McKay said. "An amend- Facebook.com/arubatoday/
the competition commit- ment was added (to the