EAGAN, Minn. — Is the NFL ready to revolutionize its seeding for the AFC and NFC Playoffs?
We will find out — along with NFL Owners' decisions on a few other bylaws, playing rules and resolutions proposals submitted by teams — during the Annual League Meeting, scheduled for Sunday-Wednesday in Palm Beach, Florida.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell is scheduled to participate in a media session early Tuesday morning for what will be his first public comments since free agency opened March 12.
His 2024 squad that went 14-3 to set a record for wins by a Wild Card team would have been directly impacted by the suggested playoff seeding change proposed by Detroit, which went 15-2 and captured the NFC North and No. 1 seed in the conference with a Week 18 win against Minnesota.
The loss dropped the Vikings all the way down to the No. 5 seed because of the current NFL policy that puts all four division winners above any non-division winners who qualify for the playoffs, regardless of records.
Here's a rundown of proposals submitted by teams.
Bylaw Proposals
Topic: Playoff Seeding
Detroit proposed a change to the bylaws that would base future playoff seeding exclusively on records, and the seven teams with the best records in each conference would be seeded 1-7. The top seed would still receive a first-round bye; and the No. 2 would host the No. 7; the No. 3 would host the No. 6; and the No. 4 would host the No. 5.
So, instead of Wild Card Weekend as it was this past January, with No. 7 Green Bay at No. 2 Philadelphia, No. 6 Washington at No. 3 Tampa Bay and No. 5 Minnesota at No. 4 Los Angeles (in Arizona), the matchups would have been No. 7 Los Angeles at No. 2 Philadelphia, No. 6 Tampa Bay at No. 3 Minnesota and No. 5 Green Bay at No. 4 Washington.
While the change would reduce the importance of winning the division, it would instead reward teams that finish with better overall records.
Current tiebreaking procedures would be implemented if teams finished with the same won-lost-tied percentage, including priority for a team that won its division over a team with the same record that did not.
Detroit cited "competitive equity" as reason for its proposal: "Provides excitement and competition in late-season games. Rewards the best-performing teams from the regular season."
Topic: Roster Limitations
The Lions also submitted a bylaw proposal to adjust limitations placed on the 90-man player limit. Detroit is proposing to add the following: "The 90-player limit will exclude players placed on Reserve/Injured prior to or on the day of the roster reduction to 53 players, unless such player is Designated for Return."
The reason is to allow clubs to better manage 90-man rosters late in the season "in the event of an unusually high number of players being placed on the Reserve/Injured list."
Playing Rule Proposals
Topic: Enforcement of Defensive Penalties
Detroit is feeling especially legislative this year, and it is not hard to see the motivating factor in Motown for this rule change proposal.
The Lions proposed to eliminate the awarding of an automatic first down as a penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact.
Warren Sharp succinctly explained the why.
Defensive holding is called when a player grasps an eligible offensive player or extends an arm to cut off or encircle the target while the QB is holding the ball with the intent to pass.
Illegal contact is usually called when a receiver is 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage (it can be called within 5 yards in certain circumstances) while the QB is holding the ball with the intent to pass.
Both currently carry a 5-yard mark-off and an automatic first down. Detroit proposed the penalty for either infraction dropping to just 5 yards.
The call escalates to pass interference (spot of foul and automatic first down) if it occurs after a pass is attempted. Pass interference would not change under this proposal.
Topic: Tush Push
It's slightly comical to me to have an article focused on formalities also include the popularized rhyming play that helped propel Philadelphia to Super Bowl, but Green Bay has introduced a proposal to add restrictions to rules that prohibit assisting a runner.
It's already illegal to pull a runner in any direction; or to use "interlocking interference" by grasping a teammate or by using his hands or arms to encircle the body of a teammate to block an opponent; or to push or throw his body against a teammate to aid him in an attempt to obstruct an opponent or recover a loose ball.
The Packers also want to add "or immediately at the snap, push or throw his body against a teammate, who was lined up directly behind the snapper and received the snap, to aid him in an attempt to gain yardage."
Topic: Regulate Overtime Rules
Philadelphia also submitted a rule proposal to align the postseason and regular-season overtime rules.
The Eagles want to grant both teams in a regular-season game the opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession.
Current regular-season overtime rules involve a 10-minute period that ends immediately if the receiving team scores a touchdown or allows a safety. This change would allow the kicking team an opportunity to match a touchdown by the receiving team.
Resolution Proposals
Topic: Contacting Unrestricted Free Agents
Pittsburgh proposed a resolution that would allow clubs to have one video or phone call with a prospective unrestricted free agent and his agent during the two-day negotiation period before the start of the New League Year.
This proposal also includes allowing a club to make travel arrangements after agreeing to terms with an unrestricted free agent. Travel would still not be able to occur until after the New League Year begins, but it would help operations staffs book flights.
Topic: Preparation of Kicking Balls
The Vikings, Ravens, Browns, Texans, Raiders, Eagles and Commanders collectively submitted a proposal to allow teams to prepare kicking balls ("K-balls") before game day.
Currently, teams are allowed to condition game footballs used by the offense. Teams take 24 of those to each game, but clubs do not receive the "K-balls" until a 60-minute window before games. Equipment staffs have that limited amount of time to condition those footballs the way their specialists like them.
The proposal would involve sending 60 "K-balls" to teams before training camp to allow conditioning of the footballs over time. Teams would then bring three "K-balls" to each game to present for inspection along with the other footballs.
The reason listed is "to eliminate a burdensome and unnecessary process on game day."
Topic: Scouting Policy
Washington also proposed a resolution change to allow postseason qualifiers the opportunity to request scouting credentials for Weeks 17 and 18 that involve a potential postseason opponent. The Wild Card Round would also be included in the proposal.
Note: The NFL's Competition Committee also will present proposals for consideration.
One is to make permanent the kickoff rule implemented in 2024 but change the spot for a touchback from the 30 to the 35-yard line of the receiving team.
Another would allow an expansion of instant replay to include the ability to advise the on-field officials on "specific, objective aspects of a play and/or to address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present.
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