CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Roger Goodell announces a draft pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theater on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The NFL is preparing to make notable changes to both rosters and overtime this season at next weeks league meetings. The first change has to do with injured reserve, which has been tinkered with for the past few years.
Last season, the NFL allowed teams to take one player off IR midway through the season without having to declare which player would be chosenin advance. Thatmade it easier for teams to decide which player was healthy enough to return when first eligible.
Now the league may add a second slot for short-term IR. According to NFL Network, the league is expected to approve of a change that allows teams to activate two players off injured reserve during the season.
In addition to allowing teams to take another player off injured reserve, the league is expected to approve of shortened overtime periods. The proposal to go from 15-minute periods to 10 was brought up back in March at the league meetings in Phoenix, but it was tabled for a later date.
That later date is next week, when the change is expected to be approved. Preseason and regular-season overtime periods wouldbe cut down to 10 minutes, while postseason wouldstay at the traditional 15-minute time limit.
By doing this, the NFL hopes to reduce the number of snaps teamshave to play in a given week before takingthe field for the next game.Wear and tear is a real concern for players.
Fans probably wont like the change because itll lead to more ties during the regular season, which are never fun to see. However, player safety comes before everything else, as it should.
gallery:15 NFL position battles to watch as OTAs begin
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.