The NFL is considering adding a “booth umpire” and a senior technology advisor to the referee to assist the officiating crew.NFL clubs received a list of potential rules changes on Thursday. Owners will vote on the proposals at the upcoming league meeting to be held by video conference on May 28.
If owners don’t approve adding a booth umpire and/or a senior technology adviser, the league could test a version of both rules in the preseason for possible future implementation. Onside kicks have become infrequent — and hardly ever successful — since the NFL changed rules on alignments for kickoffs.• Making permanent the expansion of automatic replay reviews to include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, and any successful or unsuccessful extra-point attempt.
• Expanding the defenceless player protection to a kickoff or punt returner who is in possession of the ball but who has not had time to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent.