NFL teams submit two separate proposals to adjust overtime

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The league announced Wednesday that it had received two proposals from teams to adjust overtime, following months of discussion about the advantage of winning the opening possession.

The proposals can be put to a vote later this month during the annual league meetings, but they have not yet been endorsed by the competition committee.

Both the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles want to have at least one possession in overtime. If the team that opens overtime with the ball scores a touchdown and converts a two-point attempt, the team that gets at least one possession will win the game.

Rule changes need approval from at least 24 teams.

If the team that opens overtime with the ball scores a touchdown, the team that gets at least one possession will win the game. It has come under scrutiny because of the advantage it gives teams that win the overtime coin toss, especially in the playoffs, and the issue returned to the public sphere when the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated the Buffalo Bills from the divisional playoff round last season by scoring a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime

At the scouting combine, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he favored playing out the entire overtime period, regardless of scoring, similar to basketball and other sports that don't have sudden death. There was no indication that the Baltimore Ravens, who have made several overtime proposals in recent years, have made any submissions for 2022.

Next week, the competition committee will make any suggestions of its own, endorse a club proposal or recommend no changes.

There is a chance that the owners and competition committee will compromise on a change for the playoffs. Since the requirement for an opening-possession touchdown was instituted in the 2012 season, teams winning the coin toss have won 50% of the time. The number has gone up since the league shortened overtime from a maximum of 15 to 10 minutes.

There has been an increase in the number of playoff games. Seven of 12 overtime games have been won on the opening possession, and 10 of those 12 were won by the team that won the coin toss.

Four teams submitted a resolution to adjust the league's anti-tampering policy in a way that would allow teams to retain their personnel through the draft. Teams would have to allow non-executives to interview with other teams after that point.

In exchange for dropping the ability to block movement after the draft, the change would allow teams to maintain continuity in their draft preparations rather than lose staff members during a key part of the off-season.