ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -The NFL has passed rules to further protect defenseless players, including ball carriers who lose their helmet during a play.
Seven of the eight rules proposals have been approved Wednesday by the 32 owners. Several owners say they also expect the modified overtime for the playoffs that passed the previous day to be revisited in May to include the regular season.
No longer can a defenseless player be hit in the head or neck area by an opponent who launches himself and uses his helmet, shoulder or forearm to make contact.
NFL rules also will now echo those in college when a player running with the ball loses his helmet. The whistle will blow immediately and the ball will be placed at the “progress spot” where the helmet came off.
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