I-Rule Book Cover.qxd 06/04/2004 12:04 AM Page 3 2004 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page 2 2004 Rules Changes Rule-Section-Article Page 4-3-3 Allows the head coach to request a timeout ....................................................19 4-3-11 Gives the receiving team the option to extend the period following a safety kick out of bounds ...............................................................25 5-1-4 Wide receivers are permitted to wear 10-19 even when numbers from 80-89 are available....................................................................27 6-1-5 Receiving team will have the option of taking the penalty at the previous spot or at the succeeding spot................................................36 8-3-4 Personal fouls committed by the offense before a change of possession will also be enforced at the dead ball spot on plays involving recoveries of fumbles and backward passes, as well as interceptions of forward passes ........................................57 9-1-13 A scrimmage kick (punt or field-goal attempt) that is untouched by the receivers will become dead as soon as it touches the ground or a kicking team player on or behind the receiving team’s goal line ...........................................................................63 10-1-2 If there has been a fair catch signal by any member of the receiving team, any kick that is untouched by the kickers will become dead when caught or recovered by any member of the receiving team ........................................................................................67 12-3-1 Multi-player demonstrations and possession of foreign or extraneous objects will result in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties......................................................................................................85, 86 15-9 Continues instant replay for the next five seasons and adds a third challenge if team is successful on its first two challenges..................106 A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page i 2004 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner Edited by Larry Upson, Director of Officiating Operations A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page ii Preface This edition of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2004 NFL season. Member clubs of the League may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws. Any intra-League dispute or call for interpretation in connection with these rules will be decided by the Commissioner of the League, whose ruling will be final. Because interconference games are played throughout the preseason, regular season, and postseason in the NFL, all rules contained in this book apply uniformly to both the American and National Football Conferences. At many places in the text there are approved rulings which serve to supple- ment and illustrate the basic language of the rules. Each is headed by an abbreviation, followed by a number (e.g. “A .R. 32.0”). The letter “A” in an approved ruling indicates the team that puts the ball in play, and its opponents are designated by the letter “B.” Whenever a team is in possession of the ball, it is the offense, and at such time its opponent is the defense. Yard lines and players are indicated by numerals. Thus, for example: “A.R. 50.1 Third-and-10 on A30. During a run prior to an intended pass by quarterback A1, defensive player B1 holds flanker A2 on the A45…” Where the word “illegal” appears in this rule book, it is an institutional term of art pertaining strictly to actions that violate NFL playing rules. It is not meant to connote illegality under any public law or the rules or regulations of any other organization. The word “flagrant,” when used here to describe an action by a player, is meant to indicate the degree of a violation of the rules—usually a personal foul or unnecessary roughness—is extremely objectionable and conspicuous. “Flagrant” in these rules does not necessarily imply malice on the part of the fouling player or an intention to injure an opponent. Copyright © 2004 by the National Football League. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ii A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page iii Order of the Rules Page 1 Field.................................................................................................1 2 Ball...................................................................................................3 3 Definitions........................................................................................5 4 Game Timing.................................................................................17 5 Players, Substitutes, Equipment ...................................................27 6 Free Kick .......................................................................................35 7 Scrimmage ....................................................................................39 8 Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble .......................................49 9 Scrimmage Kick ............................................................................61 10 Fair Catch ......................................................................................67 11 Scoring ..........................................................................................71 12 Player Conduct..............................................................................77 13 Non-Player Conduct......................................................................87 14 Penalty Enforcement .....................................................................89 15 Officials: Jurisdiction and Duties.................................................101 16 Sudden-Death Procedures .........................................................109 17 Emergencies, Unfair Acts............................................................111 18 Guidelines for Captains...............................................................113 Penalty Summary ..............................................................................115 Index .................................................................................................119 Index of Phrases ...............................................................................125 Roster of Officials..............................................................................130 Official Signals ..................................................................................131 2004 NFL Schedule ..........................................................................137 iii A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page iv Plan of the Playing Field SIX (6') TYPICAL ALL AROUND BORDER ALL AROUND FIELD SIX (6') TYPICAL PYLON 6'-3" 30'-0" PYLON 6' 3' 3' 24' 24' 300'-0" 360'-0" 6' 6' 24' 24' 3' 3' PYLON P 6' 30'-0" 2'-0" 18'-6" 8" 12 YARDS PYLON YLON 70'-9" 6'-3" 70'-9" 9' 9' 160'-0" iv A-Rule Book TOC,Diagr.qxd 06/03/2004 11:52 PM Page v Field Markings 1. The playing field will be rimmed by a solid white border six Inbound Yard Markers feet wide along the end lines and sidelines. There will be an additional broken yellow line nine feet farther outside this border along each sideline in the non-bench areas, and 4" such broken line will be continued at an angle from each 30- 4" yard line and pass behind the bench area (all benches a minimum of 30 feet back from the sidelines) at a distance of 2' 4" 10" 10" 4" six feet. In each end zone, this broken yellow line is six feet 2' from the solid white border. These yellow broken lines are to be eight inches wide and two feet long with a space of one 1 YARD 1 YARD foot between them. 68'-9" 70'-9" In addition, within each bench area, a solid yellow line six feet behind the solid border will delineate a special area for coaches, behind which all players, except one player who is Dimensions for Numerals charting the game, must remain. Furthermore, a broken on the Playing Field white line four inches wide and four feet long with a space of two-foot intervals will be marked three feet inside the nine-foot restriction line on the sideline, extending to meet the existing yellow broken line six feet behind both end zones and at each television box outside the bench area. 6' 2. All lines are to be four inches wide, with the exception of the goal line and yellow lines, which are to be eight inches wide. Tolerance of line widths is plus one-fourth inch. 3. All line work is to be laid out to dimensions shown on the 4' 1'1' 4' plan with a tolerance of plus one-fourth inch. All lines are straight. 4. All boundary lines, goal lines, and marked yard lines are to be continuous lines. Dimensions for the 5. The four intersections of goal lines and sidelines must be Directional Arrows marked at inside corners of the end zone and the goal line by pylons. Pylons must be placed at inside edges of white TOP OF OUTER NUMBER lines and should not touch the surface of the actual playing 15" field itself. 36" 6. All lines are to be marked with a material that is not injurious to eyes or skin. 18" 7. No benches or rigid fixtures should be nearer than 10 yards from the sidelines. If space permits, they may be further 6" back. 8. Player benches can be situated anywhere between respective 35-yard lines. Where possible, a continuation of the dotted