Tomlin to provide clarity on Steelers, rule changes at owners meetings

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A lot of attention in the football world is geared toward draft preparation this time of year, and for good reason. The draft is the crown jewel of the NFL offseason.

But, for the next few days, attention will shift from free agency and draft prep to focus to the owners' meetings, or officially dubbed the NFL's annual meeting.

This year, all 32 owners and many high-ranking figures from each franchise will spend Sunday through Wednesday at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando. Outside of any unofficial meetings on the golf course, this is the time of year when the owners and competition committee take care of tabled business that can affect the on-field product for the upcoming season.

However, all of that will take a back seat to just about everyone in Pittsburgh. In case you've been living under a rock, the Steelers have had quite the offseason thus far, including a complete overhaul at quarterback and the signing of a top-of-the-market linebacker.

Art Rooney II's presence is obvious since this is the owners' meetings, and he's expected to address local reporters at the conclusion of Tuesday's meetings. However, Mike Tomlin will be part of the Steelers' contingent at the meetings, and not only because he's a part of the competition committee.

This is the time when Tomlin will break his silence with the media. The last time he spoke with reporters was his end of season press conference. And in that time with the media, Tomlin expressed a lot of faith in Kenny Pickett. So much so, when asked if his quarterback in 2024 was already on the roster -- the only one at the time was Pickett -- Tomlin simply answered, "Yes."

That faith, which was reinforced by Rooney and Omar Khan, apparently soured between mid-January and now. Thus, when Tomlin addresses local reporters Sunday afternoon and the media at large early Monday morning during the AFC coaches' breakfast, he'll certainly field several questions regarding what happened to the franchise's view of the quarterback position over the past few months.

Those questions will also be pointed at Khan, who will also be addressing local reporters on Monday evening. Even though Khan spoke publicly as recently as three weeks ago at the Combine, the Steelers have been very active in free agency. That'll prompt a multitude of new questions for the Steelers' general manager. 

Of course, Khan should and will also field questions regarding the upcoming draft. The Steelers' 2023 class was praised from all around the league, and the franchise sure could use an encore. While some positions have been addressed during free agency, such as quarterback inside linebacker and cornerback, the Steelers still desperately need to address center, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and could use more youth at cornerback. And, when the Steelers upgraded at cornerback by trading Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson, it created a gaping void at receiver.

While Khan won't tip his hand, we should get some insight into how the Steelers are prioritizing things moving forward. Remember, when he addressed the media at the Combine, Khan was very blunt about improving the inside linebacker position. Just a couple weeks later, the Steelers made a huge splash in free agency and signed Patrick Queen.

Both Tomlin and Khan should provide some clarity to the Steelers' current mindset and how they intend to make 2024 a better season than its predecessor. But, there is actual business to take care of over the coming days, as well.

Among the several proposals for rule and bylaw changes, none might be more publicized and debated than the competition committee's suggestion to eliminate the "hip-drop" tackle.

The hip-drop tackle is defined as a defender grabbing the runner with both hands or wrapping the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee.

Ahead of the annual meeting, the NFL Players Association has already publicly rebuked any attempt to outlaw the "hip-drop" tackle, which thrusts this particular proposal into the limelight:

The competition committee has also submitted a proposed that would allow replay to review when there is clear and obvious visual evidence that the game clock expired before any snap. Another proposal from the committee would expand the crack-back block prohibition to players that go in motion and move beyond the center to block a defender at or below the knee.

Of all the topics Tomlin will address, he will surely provide some insight to the reason for the competition committee's stance on these issues.

As for the Steelers' involvement in the meetings, they are among six franchises that have submitted bylaw proposals to move back the trade deadline. 

The NFL's trade deadline currently takes place the Tuesday following the Week 8 games. The Steelers are proposing moving the deadline back one week, to the Tuesday following the Week 9 games. The reasons for the proposal is quite simple: To make the trade deadline at the midpoint of the NFL season.

Five other teams -- the Browns, Lions, Jets, Eagles and Commanders -- have proposed moving the trade deadline back two weeks, to the Tuesday following Week 10 games.

It makes a lot of sense for the trade deadline to be moved. It has remained in the same spot on the schedule, even after the season was expanded to 17 games. All three of the other North American professional sports leagues have their trade deadline take place after the midway point of the season, while the NFL's deadline is currently ahead of it.

Also, consider the situation the Steelers were in a season ago. They were decimated by injuries on defense, specifically at the inside linebacker position. But, because both Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander got injured after the trade deadline, the Steelers' only options to fill the void was internally, survey other teams' practice squads or sign free agents such as Myles Jack, who came out of a brief retirement to sign back with Pittsburgh.

Among several proposals, one more worth noting is another from special teams coordinators (through the competition committee), who have suggested major changes to kickoffs. This included allowing teams to only attempt an onside kick in the fourth quarter if they are trailing, as well as complete change to traditional kickoffs. Under this proposal, coverage teams would set up at the opposing 40-yard line with the receiving team lined up at the 35-yard line, and teams getting the ball at the 35-yard line if the ball is kicked into the end zone in the air and at the 20 if it lands short and rolls into the end zone:

The proposals will be discussed and perhaps voted on over the coming days, beginning Sunday. For any proposals to pass, 75% of the league's owners would have to vote to approve the change.