NFL league meetings take place this week

The NFL league meetings are taking place this week in Phoenix, Arizona, running from Sunday through Wednesday.

These meetings are typically the time where the owners work through important league matters, such as potential rule changes. Speaking of those potential rule changes, there are a number of them that will be evaluated this week that were proposed, and this year there were 15 of them (though the Colts did not submit a proposal). Probably the most significant proposed change would allow coaches “to challenge any officials’ decision except scoring plays and turnovers” - meaning that penalties would be challengeable. That proposal, this year submitted by the Bills and Seahawks, would be a good change, but it’s unclear whether it will actually pass. Another rule proposal is to prohibit the “leaper” field goal block attempt where a player hurtles over the line of scrimmage to block a kick. The Redskins proposed placing the ball at the 20-yard line after a kickoff that goes through the uprights instead of the 25-yard line, while the competition committee also proposed shortening overtime to ten minutes. You can check out all 15 rule proposals here.

Another subject of interest this week at the meetings will be the potential relocation of the Raiders to Las Vegas, which would mark a third NFL franchise changing cities recently. If the vote passes, they’ll become the Las Vegas Raiders, and the signs point to it passing.

Perhaps the most relevant thing for Colts fans, however, will be the fact that owner Jim Irsay, head coach Chuck Pagano, and general manager Chris Ballard are all expected to be at the league meetings and are all expected to speak with the media at some point, so be looking out for any potential insights or nuggets that are learned from those times. It will be the first time any of them have spoken publicly since free agency began, so there’s a lot to talk about. With Pagano in particular, the AFC coaches will meet with the media at a breakfast on Tuesday morning (the NFC coaches are on Wednesday morning).

The league meetings aren’t the most exciting thing, but it’s still worth paying attention to. We’ll keep you covered on the biggest stories and Colts-centered notes from this week.