Day 517

• The NFL is announcing to the public the new rules changes for 2021.

1. Cris Carter, who spoke for the league, made it clear that 2021 will be played in full stadiums.  We'll see about that!  I'm not even sure we get to Week One before someone puts the kibosh on that!!!   
2. No overtime in preseason.  I'm surprised that didn't go away sooner, in the same vein as agreed Spring Training ties!
3. The numbering rules for certain backfield positions are being somewhat relaxed.
4. To help the kicking team win an onside kick, at least two players must be behind their own 40 yard line before the ball is kicked.   Penalty is 5 yards.
5. An interesting rule change regarding penalties on extra points and 2-point conversions.  If a penalty is enforced and the team decides to change the type of try they attempt on the re-try, the penalty is still enforced.  This could mean that any defensive try foul on a missed kick may result in a 2-point attempt from the one yard line, as illustrated in the video.
6. The Tom Brady situation from last year was shown, and the loophole, as before publicized, closed.  All illegal forward passes are now 5 yards and loss of down.
7. A second forward pass in the end zone is a safety.
8. The next one is basically the "we don't want to go full TMO here, but..." situation regarding that New York CAN now buzz the officials on a specific set of "clear and egregious errors".  The video appears to show that out of bounds calls and the spot of the ball when the quarterback protects himself with a slide are at least two of them.
9. Low blocks (and specifically BLOCKS -- ball-carriers are exempted) are now only legal two yards wider than both tackles, five yards each side of the line of scrimmage.  Penalty is 15 yards and a probable league fine.  The bans on clipping, chop blocks, or crackback blocks still apply everywhere.
10. POINT OF EMPHASIS:  Taunting.  I'm not sure what you can do about the Taunting rules without basically making Taunting 15 and a toss on the first offense, and basically universally enforcing it (any action outside the realm of play, including spiking/Lambeau Leap/etc.) now constitutes Taunting.  Nothing else is working.  However, I think it might be an interesting exercise to see how many instances of Taunting go on in a game, even under present rules.  I'd put the over-under at about one or two every SERIES...  
11. And the video actually states a player can be SUSPENDED for taunting.
12. POINT OF EMPHASIS:  Use of Helmet.  Again, I think the only way you can increase that is to relax the ejection criteria.  However, I'd call the second one they used (Green Bay vs. Houston) an OFFENSIVE Use of Helmet foul on the Packers, as the Packer clearly lowers his head to initiate the Helmet to Helmet contact.  I almost wish they'd go to the college Targeting rule, but some defenses may no longer be able to field a team by the fourth quarter.   

• The NCAA has officially given Rapelor a pass on all the rape and sexual assault stuff.  Probation for other things -- BMOC's raping women is OK with the NCAA.  One of the reasons I call for the swift death of the entire organization -- both the NCAA and Baylor University!   
• Allegations of verbal and emotional abuse of players have prompted the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League to suspend their coach, Richie Burke.  If it's bad enough to suspend him, why keep him?   
• Corbin Burnes of the Brewers has become the third pitcher to strike out 10 batters in a row.  (Seaver and Nola the other two.)  He struck out the side in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings and got the first out of the fifth against the Cubs before Duffy singled.  Has 14 K's through 7, and only 77 pitches.