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ChicagoSports.com: League rejects 'Hester rule'





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League rejects 'Hester rule'
 Dan Pompei
 On the NFL

 April 2, 2008

 PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The NFL has no interest in doing Devin Hester any
favors, so there will be no "Devin Hester rule" passed any time soon.

 In recent weeks, the league considered legislating against punting
out of bounds—which teams did frequently when opposing Hester last
season. A survey was sent to head coaches and general managers to get
their reaction to such a rule, but the response was overwhelmingly
against changing what often is a strategic move to trap an opponent
inside his own 20-yard line rather than kicking into the end zone for
a touchback.

 The NFL's competition committee also had a discussion about enacting
a new rule, but it didn't go very far.

 "Directional kicking is a difficult thing to do," said Colts
President Bill Polian, a member of the competition committee. "We saw
no evidence that [punting out of bounds] is growing in use. So it's
not an issue we had a lot of concern about. Very few people can do it,
and the odds of it backfiring on you are pretty high. If you shank it,
it's 20 yards, not 40. It's a tough skill to execute."

 "I could tell you from our own personal experience that it's very
difficult to do. [Colts punter Hunter Smith] has an awfully hard time
with it."


Communication In a move that gave defenses a slight advantage they
previously did not have, the NFL approved the proposal that allows a
sideline coach to communicate with a defensive player on the field
through a wireless device.

 The league was two votes shy of adopting the rule a year ago, and it
passed this year, in part because it will help avoid future Spygates.
There will be no reason to give signals from the sideline if the
microphone and speaker system is working.

 There was one difference in the 2008 proposal from the 2007 proposal:
this time, it was proposed that teams may designate two players who
can wear the radio. But they can't be on the field at the same time
with the receiver in their helmets.

 Patriots coach Bill Belichick endorsed the rule change, but he points
out the defense still might not be on equal footing with the offense.

 "The problem is there is no quarterback on defense so logistically
you have to figure out a way to be able to do that," Belichick says.
"It makes it harder on defense because you don't always have one guy
out there. As an example for us, [inside linebacker] Tedy Bruschi
played a little over half the plays last year, so there are another
half the plays when he wasn't on the field. So now what? It's not
quite as clean on defense."

 The system should favor a team like the Bears who have a middle
linebacker in Brian Urlacher who never comes off the field.

 The league also voted to table a proposal that would force players to
cut or tuck in long hair that covers the names on the backs of
uniforms. NFL owners are expected to vote on the controversial rule in
May.


Spy talk There isn't anything of relevance new to report on the
Spygate front, and there might never be, but Belichick spent the
better part of his 50 minutes at breakfast with reporters answering
questions about it.

 Belichick said he expects no new revelations from former Patriots
video man Matt Walsh or anyone else. He also said he was interviewed
by the NFL again after the Super Bowl.

 "We've done a lot of things in our organization," said Belichick, who
was relaxed and comfortable. "We've reorganized a number of things in
terms of just making sure that everything's being done on a more
efficient, more accountable basis to make sure that a situation like
this never comes up again."


Money players The NFL announced that approximately $100 million was
distributed to players as part of the performance-based pay system.
Bears cornerback Trumaine McBride collected $275,524, the sixth
highest total.

 The system benefits lower-paid players who play a lot. McBride, a
seventh round pick last year, started nine games because of injuries.

 Other players of note who cashed in: Saints wide receiver Marques
Colston ($257,894), Browns quarterback Derek Anderson ($254,929) and
Panthers safety and former Bear Chris Harris ($250,963).

 dpompei at tribune.com

 Copyright (c) 2008, The Chicago Tribune