Defense To Use Radio Signals; Preseason Opponents
dallascowboys.com
IRVING, Texas - With lots of different rule changes being discussed at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., one that actually passed on Tuesday might help clear up what has been an ongoing problem for the last several years.
The league passed the rule allowing a communication device to be installed in the helmet of one defensive player, equaling the offensive side of the ball, where quarterbacks have had use of the device for several years.
While the communication device will be installed in the helmets of two defensive players, only one of them will be allowed to be on the field at the same time. The ability to verbally send in the defensive calls should eliminate having to hand signal the majority of defensive signals from the sidelines.
One of the biggest stories of the NFL season last year involved the New England Patriots, who were reprimanded by the league and had to forfeit their own first-round draft pick for videotaping the defensive signals of the New York Jets in the season opener. The NFL is currently looking into the matter of the Patriots potentially taping opponents' signals for years.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who was fined $500,000 by the NFL for his involvement in the Spygate controversy, said he voted for passage of the new rule.
With 24 votes needed to pass any new rule, the NFL owners voted 25-7 in favor of using the communication device on defense. And it probably wasn't a coincidence that the seven teams who voted against the proposal - Green Bay, Oakland, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington - all have offensive-minded head coaches.
Last year, proponents of the new rule totaled just 22 votes, two short of the needed 75 percent the league mandates for all rule changes.
Not only was Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips in favor of the rule, but he said the Spygate issue could have been avoided had this rule been implemented earlier.
"They were filming signals," Phillips said of the Patriots. "If you didn't have any signals, it wouldn't have happened. I'm just happy to get something passed. That way you don't have to worry about it. People were putting towels up in front of people. You shouldn't have to play football that way."
The owners tabled the discussion for a new proposed rule prohibiting players' hair from blocking the nameplate and number on the back of the uniform.
Other rules being discussed at the owners meeting includes offensive players being flagged 15 yards for stiff-arms to the face of defenders and no longer allowing a reception on the sideline when a receiver in the air is forced out of bounds by a defender.
Preseason Opponents Getting Close
With the NFL expected to announce the entire regular-season schedule possibly in the next two weeks, it appears the Cowboys' four preseason opponents are close to being finalized as well.
The team's public relations staff confirmed the Cowboys will play their first two exhibition games on the road in San Diego and Denver.
With the Cowboys returning to Oxnard, Calif., this summer for training camp, it makes sense to travel less than three hours south to face the Chargers in the preseason opener.
The Cowboys will then return to Oxnard for a few days before heading to Denver for a couple of practices with the Broncos before meeting them in a preseason game at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The club will head back to Dallas of the game, with the final two preseason games to be played at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys have not officially announced the two home preseason opponents, but team owner Jerry Jones hinted this week Minnesota and Houston would likely play the Cowboys at Texas Stadium to round out the 2008 preseason schedule.