NFL owners vote passes to allow players to wear No. 0
On Tuesday, the NFL owners cast a vote in favor of allowing players to wear No. 0. The Philadelphia Eagles submitted the original proposal. This rule also allows a new venture for punter and kickers, allowing them to use any jersey number between 0-49 and 90-99, according to ESPN.
Atlanta Falcons CEO and chairman of the NFL committee, Rich McKay, gave his explanation on the rule change.
“I don’t think there was any discussion, and we voted. As someone who works for a team, we have real challenges in the number world right now,” McKay said, via ESPN. “Noting 16-member practice squads in addition to the 53-man roster.”
“This is one thing that could help us in that challenge, because we do have some players that tend to like the single digit,” McKay added, via ESPN. “Numbers are more problematic than they’ve ever been, so this one had very little pushback.”
“It makes common sense to us now because of the size of the practice squad and the fact you have these players all offseason,” McKay said, via ESPN. “Your coaches have invested all this time in developing them, they know your scheme, and they are going to be the players that get you through the season through [practice squad] elevation and IR replacement.”
One player has already gotten in on the action of wearing the big 0. Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars announced on his Twitter that he will be wearing the new number.
Other players have expressed their feelings of the number change and could be on the lookout for a new digit. Superstar linebacker Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys took his time to Twitter to hint at the new number and possibly a change.
The NFL also revealed rules that didn’t pass during the meeting. One major rule that wasn’t passed is the roughing the passer will stay non-reviewable. Another rule that wasn’t passed was the spotting of the ball at the 25-yard line on touchbacks of any kind. It will stay at the 20-yard line.
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