NFL League Meeting Agenda Set

The NFL will hold it's annual league meeting next week in Palm Beach, Florida, and there are several interesting items on the agenda. Here's one man's take on a few of the items being proposed:

1. Changing seeding procedures for the playoffs. The top two teams would be seeded 1-2, but the rest of the seeds would be determined by record and not by whether or not they won their division.

Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, a fixture on the NFL's competition committee, says this has been talked about ever since the league expanded to 32 teams and 8 divisions, and he doesn't think this rule would diminish the importance of winning the division.

I disagree.

Winning the division should mean more than just the ability to raise a banner and sell some t-shirts. In my opinion, division winners should get the right to host at least one playoff game. Hopefully, enough people in the NFL agree and keep this rule the way it is.

2. Implementing a 5-7 day period prior to free agency during which teams can discuss contract terms with the agents for pending free agents.

This is designed to stop teams from tampering with free agents. Ok, I get that. Now that Roger Goodell has punished a team for doing something that every team presently engages in, he has to do something to prevent it from happening in the future.

I just don't see how eliminating the period where teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their free agents is going to accomplish the integrity this commissioner seeks.

By putting a "5-7 day" period where teams can negotiate with the agents for pending free agents, the NFL would actually be opening the door for a different brand of tampering. What's to stop a team from calling the agent for a free agent on a division rival and intentionally inflating his value when they have no real desire to add that player?

Sure, it happens already now, but why create a league of tattle-tales?

3. Prohibiting long hair from obscuring a player's name on the back of his jersey.

Under the CBA, teams can make rules about personal appearance, they just can't enforce them. So this rule would require players to tuck their long hair into their helmet.

I just don't see what the big deal is. We're only talking about a handful of players that have hair long enough to obscure the name on the back of his jersey, and in some cases, it's a cultural thing that the NFL shouldn't concern itself with.

4. Eliminating the 5-yard penalty for minor facemask violations.

Under this rule, only serious 15-yard serious facemask violations would be flagged, which I kind of agree with, mainly because I think it's a cheap way for the offense to gain an additional five yards.

Plus, aren't we sick of ball-carriers looking for a flag every time someone's hand inadvertently touches their facemasks? Flag the serious ones, where the defender yanks or holds onto the facemask, but let the minor ones go.

5. Allow the use of instant replay to review field goals, except on those where the ball rises above the uprights because of camera angles.

Obviously, this is meant to right the wrong during the Browns-Ravens game last November, where the officials reviewed a non-reviewable play, extending the game which Cleveland eventually won in overtime.

Passing this rule makes sense, as long as it doesn't open the door for field goals that rise above the uprights to be reviewed.

NFL News and Notes

When wide receiver Jabar Gaffney became an unrestricted free agent, he was only interested in re-signing with the New England Patriots.

The Buffalo Bills re-signed three restricted and exclusive rights free agents.

What should the trio of decision-makers in the Miami Dolphins front office be called? If you want to vote on it, you can do so here.

New Pittsburgh Steelers center Justin Hartwig is well-versed in the history of Steelers centers.

The Cleveland Browns re-signed linebacker Kris Griffin.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay conducted a Q&A session in his office. During the session, Irsay mentioned that several months ago, team president Bill Polian had his contract extended by a few years.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Drayton Florence is excited to be back in the Sunshine State. (I know. That San Diego weather is just awful when compared to the hot, humid, muggy, hurricane-attracting weather that hits America's wang each summer.)

Former Buffalo Bills linebacker Josh Stamer agreed to a two-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.

Could the Titans choose a running back early in next month's draft? "It's a possibility", says Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.

The Houston Texans hope to sign free agent safety Nick Ferguson today. The Texans will also meet with cornerback Andre Dyson.

Denver Broncos center Casey Wiegmann was $180K cheaper than restricted free agent Chris Myers, who signed with the Texans. The Broncos offered kicker Olindo Mare a contract.

Texas A&M tight end Martellus Bennett will visit the Dallas Cowboys before next month's draft.

Jim Zorn's head coaching debut is going to be seen by everyone, as the Washington Redskins will open up the 2008 NFL season against the defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants. The game will likely be at 7pm on September 4th, to accommodate the final night of the Republican National Convention.

Free agent tight end Kris Wilson agreed to a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Green Bay Packers long snapper Don Davis is making the transition to a role in the team's front office.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto is planning a more balanced attack that puts pressure on the players and gives the quarterback the option to audible.

Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie will have a pre-draft visit with the Chicago Bears.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback/spectator Chris Simms has decided to not participate in the team's off-season workout program.

Here are 5 things you may not know about Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant is agreeing to two long-term deals this week. One with his employer, the other with his fiancee.

The Arizona Cardinals used some of the cap room freed up by the Larry Fitzgerald contract extension to sign free agent outside linebacker Clark Haggans, and re-sign defensive ends Joe Tafoya and Bo Schobel, as well as wide receivers Ahmad Merritt and Jerheme Urban.

Most of the 5th round draft picks the San Francisco 49ers have made in the last 10 years haven't had an impact.

Yesterday I linked to a story where a flight attendant was suing former St. Louis Rams defensive end Tyoka Jackson for $1.2M. A jury awarded him $3,000 for medical expenses.

Pro Day News and Notes

Brad Briggs of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that nobody ran well at the LSU Pro Day.

Rutgers offensive lineman Jeremy Zuttah tweaked his lower back during his Pro Day workout.