NFL wants radio link for defense

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- NFL coaches would have a radio link to one defensive player under a proposed rule change given an extra push by the New England Patriots taping scandal.

The league plans to convince owners to approve the change during the off-season, The Washington Post reported. National Football League owners are scheduled to meet March 30 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and chair of the NFL competition committee, said he is certain the rule change will be on the agenda. It had been gaining support for several years, before Patriots Coach Bill Belichick got into trouble for taping other teams surreptitiously.

Coaches already communicate with quarterbacks through a helmet radio transmitter. McKay said many in the NFL think games would go more quickly if coaches could communicate with the defense without physical signals.

Foiling future signal-stealing would be an added bonus.