New NFL rule changes

The NFL passed several new rules yesterday:

• The owners eliminated the forceout rule on sideline pass receptions or interceptions. If a player does not get both feet in bounds, even if he can't because he is forced out by the opposition, there is no reception or interception.

• Decisions on the opening coin toss can be deferred, the same as it has been in college football for a while. The winner of the coin toss can now defer his choice to start the second half of the game rather than the first.

• 5-yard penalties for minor facemask infractions were eliminated.

I like eliminating the forceout rule. Old way was too subjective. Wasn't reviewable (in regards to interperating whether the guy would come down with his foot in). This takes the refs out of the judgement call situation

Guess I have no opinion on the coin toss.

I've been trying to find something more on the 5 yard facemask rule being eliminated. Does this mean that all facemask penalties will be 15 yard, personal fouls OR does it mean that a little grab of the mask won't result in a penalty but if the head spins, then it's 15 yards and a first down. I THINK that it means the little grab of the mask will go unpenalized.

 I already don't like the no-force-out rule.  This gives way too much power to the corners / safeties in the 2-minute drill.  Think about it... any pass thrown in the air either in the endzone or elsewhere within 3 yards of the sideline is going to be incomplete.

Bye bye dramatic comebacks.

Of course, I could be saying that due to Calvin Johnson's tendency to leap at sideline passes... but that's beside the point.

 Guess I would assume that it means the endzone as well but it doesn't say that for sure.

Folkerts:

Think about it... any pass thrown in the air either in the endzone or elsewhere within 3 yards of the sideline is going to be incomplete.

yeah, you're right. Guys like Chris Carter and Jerry Rice aren't in the league anymore. A great receiver will catch a ball with both feet in plenty enough times to keep the comebacks dramatic.

I'm still for it. I see your point but any time you take subjectivity out of a sport, it's a good thing. (whistle gaff in the Wild game last night. Stuff like that).  

 as far as i understand the changes to the facemask rule should result in an incidental facemask grabbing NOT being penalized but i guess that remains to be seen. my fear w/ this rule is that incidental facemasking will, more often than not, result in a 15 yard penalty which i fins ridiculous.

 the force-out rule change is gonna be a wait and see proposition. personally i thought they should either allow replay on those plays or switch to a flat out college style one foot down in bounds rule

I don't like the new force out non-rule. The old play was not reviewable like you mentioned, but it usually was pretty obviously a force out if the referee called it. There weren't that many phantom force out calls that I'm aware of that raised a stink, so I wondered why this even came up this year. Sure, prolly a few happened along the line due to sheer number of pass plays, but it wasn't completely ridiculous or anything. At least I didn't think so anyway. I hated seeing WRs get pushed out when they never had a chance to complete it before the now-old rule was put in place. BUT out of bounds is out of bounds. If you're a receiver, just get farther away from the sideline if you don't want that to happen. 

It was kind of weird having a rule on the books where you may be allowed to get credit for something that's allegedly out of bounds (a force out catch ruling), which in a way defeats the purpose of having an out of bounds, y'know?

 So yeah, in conclusion, I may not like it but it makes perfect sense.