NFL Owners approved a change to the league's overtime policy, voting to reduce it from 15 minutes to 10 minutes at the NFL Spring Meetings in Chicago.
The change, which was originally proposed by the NFL Competition Committee at the NFL Owners Meetings in March, was done because of player safety.
The owners also voted to eliminate the first mandatory roster cut that went from 90 to 75 players. Instead there will be one mandatory roster cut, going from a 90-man roster to a 53-man roster.
Owners also passed the proposal to change the injured reserve rule. The new rule allows two players to be placed on the injured reserve/designated for return list. This would allow both players to return from injured reserve to practice after six weeks, and be activated after eight weeks. Last season the league adjusted the rule as well, not requiring the teams to identify the player designated to return in advance.
In addition, the NFL will be relaxing rules on celebrations to allow players to have fun following touchdowns and big plays.
Celebrations that will now be permitted include: Using the football as a prop after a touchdown; celebrating on the ground; and group demonstrations.
The league will still penalize players for demonstrations that prolong or delay the game, offensive celebrations, and ones directed at an opponent.
