![The infamous "Jim Schwartz Rule" has also bitten the dust during these owners' meeting. Under the previous rule, coaches who threw a challenge flag on plays that would automatically be reviewed would be penalized by not having the play reviewed. This came to a head on a Thanksgiving game when Texans running back Justin Forsett's forearm clearly touched the ground, but was allowed by the officials to get up, and he ran it in for an 81-yard touchdown. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag in the heat of the moment, and thus the play, which certainly would have been overturned was never reviewed. Under the new rule, coaches will still be penalized, but that penalty would not negate a review of a play that would already be subject to automatic review, as it directly goes against the spirit of the review, which is to assure that they get the correct call.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/79/9b/1363813044_4211_3.jpg?itok=d0y2I8ax "The infamous "Jim Schwartz Rule" has also bitten the dust during these owners' meeting. Under the previous rule, coaches who threw a challenge flag on plays that would automatically be reviewed would be penalized by not having the play reviewed. This came to a head on a Thanksgiving game when Texans running back Justin Forsett's forearm clearly touched the ground, but was allowed by the officials to get up, and he ran it in for an 81-yard touchdown. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag in the heat of the moment, and thus the play, which certainly would have been overturned was never reviewed. Under the new rule, coaches will still be penalized, but that penalty would not negate a review of a play that would already be subject to automatic review, as it directly goes against the spirit of the review, which is to assure that they get the correct call."){kind=small}
![The infamous "Tuck Rule" is no more. According to the Tuck Rule, a quarterback who has finished his throwing motion and is in the process of 'tucking' the ball to his body is considered still in the act of throwing until his arm is at his side. Therefore, it was not considered a fumble if the ball is knocked loose while the quarterback is tucking the ball to his body. Although 11 years too late for Raiders fans, this is no longer the case. If the quarterback loses the ball at any time other than during a pass attempt while the arm is going forward, it is a fumble, just like any other player.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/f3/cc/1363813044_9869_1.jpg?itok=aoJMvS8J "The infamous "Tuck Rule" is no more. According to the Tuck Rule, a quarterback who has finished his throwing motion and is in the process of 'tucking' the ball to his body is considered still in the act of throwing until his arm is at his side. Therefore, it was not considered a fumble if the ball is knocked loose while the quarterback is tucking the ball to his body. Although 11 years too late for Raiders fans, this is no longer the case. If the quarterback loses the ball at any time other than during a pass attempt while the arm is going forward, it is a fumble, just like any other player."){kind=small}
The National Football League converged over the past two days in Arizona during the owners’ meetings, and one part of the process in these annual meetings is to vote on proposed rules changes.
This year in particular featured some high profile and controversial rules and changes to said rules, some of which have later become known by separate names—most notably the “Tuck Rule”, and more recently, the “Jim Schwartz Rule”.
There were four votes in particular that could have a significant impact in the NFL going forward, and all four of these measures passed with near unanimity. The Patriots, of course, abstained from voting on the “Tuck Rule”, who were famously the beneficiary of the much-maligned rule in the 2001-02 season that helped launch the New England dynasty of the first half of the last decade.
See which major rules were voted on and if they were changed here in the list.
Like this article? Then please subscribe to this author’s articles about the NFL by clicking the subscribe button next to the author’s name or here to receive an e-mail notification whenever a new article is posted.
![The infamous "Tuck Rule" is no more. According to the Tuck Rule, a quarterback who has finished his throwing motion and is in the process of 'tucking' the ball to his body is considered still in the act of throwing until his arm is at his side. Therefore, it was not considered a fumble if the ball is knocked loose while the quarterback is tucking the ball to his body. Although 11 years too late for Raiders fans, this is no longer the case. If the quarterback loses the ball at any time other than during a pass attempt while the arm is going forward, it is a fumble, just like any other player.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/f3/cc/1363813044_9869_1.jpg?itok=P89DgZyq "The infamous "Tuck Rule" is no more. According to the Tuck Rule, a quarterback who has finished his throwing motion and is in the process of 'tucking' the ball to his body is considered still in the act of throwing until his arm is at his side. Therefore, it was not considered a fumble if the ball is knocked loose while the quarterback is tucking the ball to his body. Although 11 years too late for Raiders fans, this is no longer the case. If the quarterback loses the ball at any time other than during a pass attempt while the arm is going forward, it is a fumble, just like any other player.")
![The infamous "Jim Schwartz Rule" has also bitten the dust during these owners' meeting. Under the previous rule, coaches who threw a challenge flag on plays that would automatically be reviewed would be penalized by not having the play reviewed. This came to a head on a Thanksgiving game when Texans running back Justin Forsett's forearm clearly touched the ground, but was allowed by the officials to get up, and he ran it in for an 81-yard touchdown. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag in the heat of the moment, and thus the play, which certainly would have been overturned was never reviewed. Under the new rule, coaches will still be penalized, but that penalty would not negate a review of a play that would already be subject to automatic review, as it directly goes against the spirit of the review, which is to assure that they get the correct call.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/79/9b/1363813044_4211_3.jpg?itok=zWgWNt-D "The infamous "Jim Schwartz Rule" has also bitten the dust during these owners' meeting. Under the previous rule, coaches who threw a challenge flag on plays that would automatically be reviewed would be penalized by not having the play reviewed. This came to a head on a Thanksgiving game when Texans running back Justin Forsett's forearm clearly touched the ground, but was allowed by the officials to get up, and he ran it in for an 81-yard touchdown. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag in the heat of the moment, and thus the play, which certainly would have been overturned was never reviewed. Under the new rule, coaches will still be penalized, but that penalty would not negate a review of a play that would already be subject to automatic review, as it directly goes against the spirit of the review, which is to assure that they get the correct call.")
Comments