Here are the new NFL rule changes

• A rushing defender cannot forcibly hit a passer who has one or both feet on the ground in the knee area or below, even if the initial contact is above the knee. It is not a foul if the defender is blocked (or fouled) into the passer and has no opportunity to avoid him.


• Down by contact now can be reviewed by instant replay. For instance, no longer will the ability to determine if a player was down before or after a fumble be nullified by a whistle.


• The time limit on replay reviews have been reduced from 90 to 60 seconds.


• Horse-collar tackling has been expanded to prohibit grabbing a ball carrier from behind by the inside of the jersey, as well as the shoulder pads.


• A defender no longer can line up directly across from the snapper on a field-goal attempt.


• Blocking in the back above the waist is no longer allowed by a member of the kicking team while the ball is in flight during a scrimmage kick.


• The first training-camp roster reduction this summer will be to 75 players. Previously, teams were allowed to keep 65, plus any player who played in NFL Europe for the cut after the third preseason game.

There’s an old saying: If it isn’t broke don’t fix it. People love NFL football, it’s the most popular sport on the planet, and it doesn’t need any tweaking. I don’t like the rules on hitting the quarterback, we already see too many stupid roughing calls in a game. As for the celebration rule, I think it’s funny how the league will crack down on things like this that don’t matter to anyone, but never in a million years stiffen penalties for players who break the law in “real life.” Who cares what lives are ruined through DWI’s or drug trafficking so long as they don’t celebrate on Sunday, and we can still watch them play. This is almost as funny as the NBA’s dress code. Stop concentrating on bells and whistles, and start enforcing penalties that count.