The NFL’s Annual Meeting in Palm Beach broke up with a rash of rule changes being voted through following last week’s proposals to amend the league’s bylaws and resolutions.

While the controversial ‘Tush Push’ was given a stay of execution following a concerted effort by numerous teams to see it consigned to history, the owners approved a string of other proposals, including amendments to the ‘dynamic kickoff’ introduced last season, overtime considerations and the expanded use of replay reviews.

The NFL Competition Committee’s proposal to tweak the kickoff rules that aligned players on both teams closer together and restricted movement to reduce space and speed, as well as promoting more kick return attempts was granted, modifying the alignment of receiving team players in the setup zone and moving the dead ball spot after a touchback to the 35-yard line if the ball lands in the end zone, is downed in the end zone by the receiving team or goes out of bounds behind the receiving team’s goal line.

Similarly, the Competition Committee also saw the common sense suggestion of aligning the overtime rules for both post- and regular seasons approved, with both teams now getting an opportunity to possess the ball subject to a ten-minute overtime period in the regular season.

The expansion of Instant Replay’s ability to advise the onfield officials on specific, objective aspects of a play and address game administration issues was also given the thumbs-up, provided clear and obvious video evidence is present.

Bylaw changes were granted for clubs to designate two players ‘for return’ at the roster reduction to 53 players, and clubs participating in the postseason to receive two additional DFRs, increasing the maximum from 8 to 10. The third bylaw-related proposal was also approved, adding point differential as a third tiebreaker for awarding contracts.

For one year only, clubs will be permitted to have a single video or phone call with no more than five prospective unrestricted free agents during the ‘Two-Day Negotiation Period’, a change which also permits clubs to make travel arrangements with such players once they have agreed to terms.

The proposal put forward by Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Washington to permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs (the colloquially-named “K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs was given the green light, as was Washington’s suggestion that clubs that may qualify for the postseason get scouting credentials for two consecutive games (in Weeks 17 and 18) played by a potential postseason opponent. The ruling also requires clubs hosting Wild Card games to provide scouting credentials to all teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.

The call to ban the ‘Tush Push’ (or ‘Brotherly Shove’) was tabled until a future meeting, after voting resulted in 16-16 impasse between the opposing views when 24 votes in favour were required to force the change. Meanwhile, calls for an overhaul of playoff seedings and changes to the rules concerning onside kicks were also put on hold, pending further discussion. Detroit’s proposal to eliminate the automatic first down penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact was dismissed.