The NFL on Thursday released 19 proposed rule changes for the 2016 season, and one of them could wind up being nicknamed the “Peyton Manning Rule.”
One of the rules proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs was almost certainly inspired by an infamous play in the divisional round of the playoffs when Manning fell down — intentionally, it seemed — and sprung back up to complete a big pass late in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s the wording of the proposed rule change, via Pro Football Talk:
11. By Kansas City; to amend Rule 8, Section 1, Article 2 (Legal Forward Pass) to prohibit quarterbacks from falling to the ground, getting up, and throwing a forward pass.
Manning felt pressure in that game from Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward, and it clearly looked like he gave himself up because of it. Had a Steelers player jumped on him, they would have risked being flagged for unneccesary roughness. You can watch a video of the play here.
It should have been ruled a sack, and the proposed rule change aims to make that clearer. Steelers fans and their quarterback are almost certainly all for it.
We already have the “Tom Brady Rule” that prohibits defenders from diving at the knees of opposing quarterbacks. It’s only fitting that Manning gets his own rule, too.
