At the NFL Owners' Meetings many rule changes were made. Luckily, the proposal for reseeding the playoff teams based on records alone was withdrawn before it even reached the voting process. That is a good thing for the league. Despite Jacksonville getting screwed two years in a row--being in the AFC South, a division dominated by Indianapolis--having to play at Pittsburgh last year and at New England the year prior. Sure the current system is flawed, but the proposed system would take away the luster of winning your division. The most exciting part of a season is the last couple weeks when division races are hot, and well of course the quagmire that is wild card races.

Other rules that were passed are:

• Eliminating forceout receptions (a receiver now must get in both feet regardless of being pushed out by a defender)
• Allowing teams to differ their decision to the second half after winning the coin toss
• Making field goals and extra points reviewable plays
• Any direct snap from center untouched by the quarterback will now be ruled a fumble (opposed to the previous rule of a false start)
• There will no longer be a 5-yard facemask penalty. Only the more serious 15-yard grabbing and twisting of the facemask will be called

Additionally, the owners approved the use of communication devices in the helmet of defensive players (which may even the playing field).