Troy Vincent confirmed Tuesday night that the NFL's competition committee is "exploring ways" to make "dangerous hits" result in immediate ejections, and possibly suspensions.
Vincent, the NFL's vice president of football operations, commented on the committee's plans Tuesday night. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the committee could suggest automatic suspensions for "egregious" hits at next week's NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.
The Committee is also exploring ways - including considering immediate ejections or suspensions - to take dangerous hits out of our game
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23) March 21, 2017
We'll communicate this to our coaches and players with video examples of flagrant hits that may result in ejection or suspension
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23) March 21, 2017
The NFL currently has a rule to protect defenseless receivers, Rule 12, Section 2, Article 7, that calls for 15-yard penalties on players who initiate "unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture." The rule states that players can be disqualified if the hit is considered "flagrant," but ejections rarely happen for such hits.
Vincent also tweeted that the NFL is putting together a video to show players the proper way to celebrate after taunting and excessive celebration fouls increased last season.
On the Competition Committee's agenda this week: player accountability. Taunting & excessive celebration fouls increased this past season pic.twitter.com/U1ZoXUguPi
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23) March 21, 2017
We're developing an educational training video for players to show clear examples of appropriate and inappropriate celebrations. pic.twitter.com/3yzBxAaQuk
— Troy Vincent (@TroyVincent23) March 21, 2017
ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported earlier this week that one of the items on next week's agenda is allowing referees more flexibility to warn players about borderline celebrations without penalizing them for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"What we've heard from our players, repeatedly heard from our fans, is they want to give the players the opportunity to celebrate and to do it in a way that's respectful," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said during an appearance on ESPN's Mike & Mike on Thursday morning. "Obviously, there are lines. I think everyone's got different lines. We try to define that.
"What I would like to do is get our officials out of that and allow our officials to officiate and focus on the important things in the game ... not judging whether they stay within the standards of the video or not. I want to reach out to our players and find out what are the right standards for us here, because it reflects on all of us."
Although no formal rule change would occur, the league will emphasize to referees that it wants players to engage in spontaneous celebrations as long as they are not prolonged or excessive. There were 30 such penalties in 2016, a small number that drew an outsized reaction from fans and media members.
Also on the agenda next week is a proposal recommending owners begin full-time officials, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. NFL Network, meanwhile, reported that owners will consider a proposal to shorten overtime periods to 10 minutes in the regular season.