The NFL is considering a significant rule change that could have impacted Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf during last year's matchup against the Detroit Lions. The competition committee has proposed five potential rule changes and three bylaw adjustments, set for a vote by NFL owners at their annual meeting in Phoenix next week.
One key proposal would allow the NFL league office to collaborate with on-field officials about potential ejections for flagrant actions, regardless of whether a flag was thrown. Currently, the league office can only intervene if a flag has been thrown by the officials.
This rule change comes into focus when considering Metcalf's incident on December 21, where he shoved Lions fan Ryan Kennedy during the first half of the game. Although the altercation was captured on TV cameras, it went unnoticed by the on-field officials. Metcalf continued to play but was later handed a two-game suspension.
Had this rule been in place, Metcalf might have faced ejection after league review of the footage. His suspension for the final two regular-season games resulted in a loss of over $550,000 in salary.
Despite appealing to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the suspension was upheld. The Steelers opted not to void his future guaranteed salary.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has filed a lawsuit against Metcalf, the Steelers, Lions, and Ford Field, seeking $100 million in damages for alleged assault and defamation. As of February, the Detroit Police continue to investigate, with no criminal charges filed yet.
This potential rule change underscores the NFL's ongoing efforts to ensure player conduct is held to a high standard, both on and off the field. If passed, it could lead to more immediate and impactful consequences for similar incidents in the future.