The NFL competition committee finalized a set of wide-ranging rule proposals designed to mitigate chaos if replacement officials are used during a work stoppage, according to ESPN. These changes, set for owner review next week, would create a centralized officiating system where league staff in New York could intervene in specific situations. The proposals come as the NFL prepares to hire up to 150 replacement refs, a process initiated earlier this month. The current NFL Referees Association collective bargaining agreement expires on May 31st, heightening the risk of a work stoppage.

Key changes include allowing league staff to alert replacement referees about uncalled fouls like roughing the passer or intentional grounding, and to advise on whether a flag should be thrown based on clear video evidence. Staff intervention would also expand after the two-minute warning and in overtime, covering unsportsmanlike conduct involving punching or kicking, and determining if a foul should be classified as roughing or running into the kicker. The proposals also address specific on-field issues like onside kick timing and kickoff alignment rules.

While the primary focus remains on avoiding the 2012 replacement refs' chaos, the competition committee also proposed broader rule modifications, such as allowing teams to declare an onside kick at any time and closing a kickoff out-of-bounds loophole. The NFL has stated it was compelled to consider alternatives due to the union's lack of engagement in negotiations, a point contested by the NFL Referees Association. The rules require approval from at least 24 teams and will be voted on at the owners' meeting in Phoenix.