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Rules changes for the 2001 season

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 7, 2001

1. Instant replay has been renewed for three seasons.

2. Fumble recoveries have been added to the "momentum" rule, which now states that if a defensive player intercepts a pass or catches or recovers a fumble, backward pass, scrimmage kick or free kick and his momentum carries him into the end zone where the play is declared dead in his team's possession, the ball belongs to the defensive team at the spot the ball was intercepted, caught or recovered.

3. A team flagged for illegal substitutions will be assessed its penalty (5 yards) according to when the foul occurred (either before or after change of possession). Previously, if the penalty occurred against the defense after a change of possession, the ball was returned to the offense 5 yards beyond the original line of scrimmage.

4. A play in which a receiver catches an illegal forward pass, or in which an illegal receiver catches a pass, will now be allowed to continue and not be automatically ruled dead. Which means if the offense fumbles the ball after an illegal pass, the defense now has the option to take the result of the play (i.e., get the ball).

5. Player head coverings not approved for medical reasons, such as bandanas, stocking caps and other unapproved head gear, will not be permitted.

6. Clubs will not be required to declare their 45-man active roster until 11/2 hours before kickoff, rather than having to declare four players inactive on Friday.

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