NFL Dropping the "Tuck Rule"

When the NFL owners hold their annual meetings in Arizona next week, a major topic of discussion will be the abolition of the "Tuck Rule," according to the New York Times. 24 of the 32 owners must approve the change for it to take effect.

The Tuck Rule reads as follows in the NFL rule book-"When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble."

This rule is credited for launching the Patriots' dynasty under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. In the 2002 AFC Divisional playoff game, Tom Brady began his throwing motion but did not pass the ball. As he tucked the ball back to his body he was hit and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Oakland Raiders. The referees changed the call due to the Tuck Rule, saying that he hadn't completed tucking the ball back in. New England ended up tying the game on a field goal, winning in overtime, and eventually winning the Super Bowl.

The proposed change would eliminate the tucking portion from protection. Under the new rule if a quarterback is hit while his arm is going forward for a pass, that would still be ruled an incomplete pass. If, however, the quarterback has already done that and is tucking the ball back in, it would no longer be considered part of the throwing motion. If he is hit while tucking the ball in that would now be ruled a fumble.

Rich McKay, one of the rules committee chairmen, told the Times that officials have said they'd be comfortable with the rule change. "We just felt like with the officials being more comfortable and being almost assertive that they think they can call it and they understand when a passer lost control of the ball and still trying to throw it versus trying to begin to tuck the ball."