Cheating a hot topic at NFL meeting

WASHINGTON — The owners of NFL teams were gathering in Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday for what promises to be a busy three days at the annual league meeting that begins today. The owners will get a chance to respond to commissioner Roger Goodell’s proposed crackdown on cheating, and they’ll vote on a set of recommended rule changes and intensify discussions about the approach they’ll take toward negotiations that could produce a labor confrontation with the players’ union.

The meeting officially begins this morning with an address by Goodell, whose remarks are likely to focus on what’s virtually certain to be the leading topic of conversation: the measures proposed in response to the videotaping scandal involving the New England Patriots last fall.

Those measures include unannounced inspections by league officials of teams’ locker rooms, stadium press boxes and in-game communication equipment; a lowering of the standard of proof necessary for discipline to be imposed for infractions; and annual certifications by clubs that they comply with all rules and report all violations. Goodell outlined his plans in a memo this month to the competition committee, which has endorsed the measures.

“We are determined to make sure our game is clean and competitively fair,” Ray Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations.

Goodell is empowered to enact several proposals without owners’ approval. But he is seeking input, just as he did before toughening the league’s policy on player conduct last year. Several owners have said they doubt that Goodell will receive much, if any, opposition to enacting any measure he deems necessary to preserve the sport’s integrity.

Goodell and the competition committee are endorsing a proposal to equip one defensive player per team with a wireless communication device in his helmet connecting him to a coach on the sideline during games. The proposal would eliminate the need for the hand signals for defensive plays that were taped by the Patriots. The coach-to-defense proposal must be ratified by at least 24 of the 32 teams and narrowly missed approval in each of the last two years.

In response to Goodell’s memo, the competition committee also has proposed a rule that would create a five- to seven-day window before the opening of the free agent market each year in which players eligible for free agency could negotiate with all teams. Under the existing rule, free agents can negotiate only with their current teams prior to the opening of free agency. But that rule is widely ignored, and league officials want to create an anti-tampering provision that they will be able to enforce.

There’s likely to be a vote on the competition committee’s reseeding proposal that would make wild-card playoff teams eligible for the third and fourth postseason seeds in each conference. Currently, the top four playoff seeds in each conference are reserved for division winners. Under the proposal, which needs 24 votes for ratification, division winners would get the top two seeds but the third through sixth seeds would go by record, with division winners getting the tie-breaking edge. The proposal is intended to reduce the number of late regular-season games that have no bearing on playoff seedings.

Also up for votes at this meeting are proposals by the competition committee to make most field goal attempts subject to instant replay review; to eliminate the “forceout” rule on catches, requiring a receiver to get two feet in bounds for a legal catch even if he’s shoved by a defender; to eliminate the five-yard version of the facemask penalty; and to allow the team that wins the coin toss to defer and receive the second-half kickoff if it chooses. The Kansas City Chiefs have proposed a rule prohibiting a player’s hair from covering his name or number.

The league is scheduled to announce its featured games on the opening weekend of next season, and the owners could discuss possible down-the-road measures for shortening the preseason and perhaps adding a week to the regular season.

There also will be plenty of conversation about the labor situation. The current labor deal between the owners and players’ union allows either side to reopen negotiations in November. Union chief Gene Upshaw has said he expects the owners to exercise that clause, setting the stage for a possible work stoppage in 2011. The tough talk already has begun, with Upshaw vowing that players won’t accept a new deal less favorable than the one completed in March 2006.

“This is it,” Upshaw said in a recent telephone interview. “This is the deal they made. The next deal they make is not going to be less.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls’ basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 capped second-half run, pushed No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

Area girls basketball teams tip off district action.

Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), who will be coached by his third offensive line coach in three seasons in 2025, lines up in Seattle's 20-17 win over San Francisco at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire shows they’re serious about offensive line

New offensive coordinator bringing in veterans with hopes of improving front.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs with after a catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Tyler Lockett’s future with Seahawks remains unclear

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald noncommittal 1 month before a possible decision point.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
O’Neil: The Seahawks will keep Geno Smith

The reasons for the Seahawks quarterback sticking around are simple and obvious.

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.