Rams to request NFL rule change to make roughing the passer, other personal foul penalties reviewable, per report

16-10-2022
4 min read
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This story has been updated from a previous version.

The Rams will submit a rule change to the NFL's competition committee to make all personal foul penalties reviewable, including roughing the passer, ESPN reports.

The impetus for the rule change request likely stems from two high-profile roughing the passer calls in Week 5 that incited league-wide outcry.

The first of those came in the Falcons-Buccaneers game, when a Grady Jarrett third-down sack of Tom Brady was overturned by a questionable call. The penalty gave Tampa Bay a free set of downs and allowed the team to run out the clock, stymying the Falcons' comeback attempt.

The second of those penalties occurred on "Sunday Night Football," when the Chiefs' Chris Jones ripped the ball from Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. However, the defensive tackle landed on Carr after stripping the ball, prompting another controversial penalty.

MORE: NFL roughing the passer rule, explained

The rule change likely will not go into effect for 2022, as it would head to the rules committee following the season. The committee — comprising six NFL owners/executives and four head coaches — previously vetoed a similar rule that would have made roughing the passer reviewable. That was done with a 9-0 vote, meaning the rule was never brought to the floor for discussion.

The NFL reportedly will consider the rule change on Tuesday when NFL owners meet in New York. Again, the meeting is not expected to result in any rules changes for the current season.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, appeared on ESPN's pregame show on Sunday to address the potential rule change. While Vincent said the NFL would welcome any rules change submissions, he mentioned the league's similar policy regarding pass interference — which had disastrous results.

Per Mark Maske of The Washington Post:

ESPN reports the league has seen a 45 percent reduction in roughing the passer penalties to this point of the season, year-over-year: 51 in 2021 to 28 in 2022.

But the nature of those penalties — including a Week 1 call against the Panthers for a hit on Jacoby Brissett, which helped lead to a Browns win — is again creating consternation over the league's most controversial rule.