ORLANDO, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- New rules focusing on player safety were instituted by the NFL Wednesday, league officials said.
NFL owners meeting at the NFL's annual three-day conference in Orlando, Fla., adopted eight rule proposals aimed at enhancing players' protection.
Among the new measures was a move to expand a current rule outlawing hits on defenseless receivers. That prohibition will now apply to all players.
Another new rule requires that a play will be whistled dead when a player loses his helmet during the course of play. The situation will be treated similarly to a forward progress rule as to where to place the ball.
"We tried to keep ownership focused ... on the future of the game, how do we keep improving the game, keep innovating and how do we make sure that the fans become more and more engaged with our game," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
The other changes were considered minor.
