1990 NFL Season - Major Rule Changes

Major Rule Changes

• The rule for unnecessary roughness penalties is clarified so that any player who butts, spears, or rams an opponent can be ejected from the game.
• The penalty for an illegal forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage is enforced from the spot where any part of the passer's body is beyond the line when the ball is released.
• The following changes are made to try to speed up the game:
  • The time interval on the Play Clock (the time limit the offensive team has to snap the ball between plays) after time outs and other administrative stoppages has been reduced from 30 seconds to 25 seconds (the time interval between plays remains the same at 45 seconds).
  • Whenever a player goes out of bounds, outside of the last two minutes of the first half and outside of the last five minutes of the second half, the game clock immediately starts when the ball is spotted for the next play and the Referee signals it is ready for play.
  • Outside of the last two minutes of the first half and outside of the last five minutes of the second half, the game clock also starts following all declined penalties.