Rich Mckay

DANA POINT, Calif. - Tom Brady hasn't even thrown a pass in his comeback, and he's already affected change for the 2009 NFL season. In part because of the season-ending left knee injury that Brady suffered in the Patriots' 2008 season opener against the Chiefs, the league's Competition Committee adopted a clarification of the current rule on hits to a quarterback in the knee area or below. The clarification specifically prohibits a defender on the ground who hasn't been blocked or fouled directly into the quarterback from lunging or diving at the quarterback's lower legs.

The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union was not pleased with. Falcons president Rich McKay , chairman of the competition committee, said Tuesday at an owners meeting in Atlanta that because this is a playing rule, the league can apply it unilaterally. "We have a vote of the membership and can implement," McKay said. "Some of us felt we were remiss that we took it out of the rule book - high school and college makes it mandatory - and in our mind that is how it should be and will be in 2013.

The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union was not pleased with. Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, said Tuesday at an owners meeting that because this is a playing rule, the league can apply it unilaterally. "We have a vote of the membership and can implement," McKay said. "Some of us felt we were remiss that we took it out of the rule book — high school and college makes it mandatory — and in our mind that is how it should be and will be in 2013.

The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union was not pleased with. Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, said Tuesday at an owners meeting that because this is a playing rule, the league can apply it unilaterally. "We have a vote of the membership and can implement," McKay said. "Some of us felt we were remiss that we took it out of the rule book — high school and college makes it mandatory — and in our mind that is how it should be and will be in 2013.

Tim Tebow laughed a few times, smiled steadily, and stayed polite and composed. If being surrounded by dozens of cameras and scores of media people made him nervous, the New York Jets' new backup quarterback didn't show it. He was cool and calm - exactly how he looked during those hair-raising comebacks last season with the Denver Broncos. His message: I'm here to help, not to create another Jets controversy. "It's an honor for all of you to show up to hear me say a few words," a grinning Tebow told a pack of more than 200 reporters.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Remember all the talk about how the Patriots used a loophole in the rules to hire Josh McDaniels as an offensive assistant -- right before the team played the Broncos, his former team? Well, the NFL didn't apparently think it was very controversial. Competition committee chairman Rich McKay said Monday that the situation -- a fired or released assistant coach being hired by another team before the season was over -- was discussed by the committee, but no rules change is coming.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL concluded its annual league meetings today at The Breakers will votes on several rule and bylaw proposals. The most significant change is that the overtime rules for the postseason — each team gets a possession unless a touchdown is scored on the initial possession, basically — has been adopted for the regular season as well. The other major modification is that all turnovers are subject to booth reviews, just as all scoring plays are. Here's a rundown on what passed and...

Bruce Allen took over as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday, accepting the challenge of improving a team that missed the playoffs after winning last year's Super Bowl. "We got the best man for the job," owner Malcolm Glazer said at the team's headquarters in Tampa. "He's going to take us to great heights. " Allen, son of Hall of Fame coach George Allen , replaces Rich McKay , the architect of the team that won its first NFL title last season.

The NFL made thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for the 2013 season, something the players' union was not pleased with. Falcons president Rich McKay , chairman of the competition committee, said Tuesday at an owners meeting in Atlanta that because this is a playing rule, the league can apply it unilaterally. "We have a vote of the membership and can implement," McKay said. "Some of us felt we were remiss that we took it out of the rule book - high school and college makes it mandatory - and in our mind that is how it should be and will be in 2013.

NFL owners ratified the agreement between the league and players' union that takes away $36 million in salary cap space from the Redskins and $10 million from the Cowboys. Other than Dallas and Washington, no club voted Tuesday to oppose the agreement, which raised the salary cap for 2012 from about $113 million to $120.6 million. The Cowboys and Redskins have sought arbitration, which will be conducted by University of Pennsylvania professor Stephen Burbank. Both teams were penalized for overloading contracts in the 2010 uncapped season despite league warnings not to do so. Each must take...

PALM BEACH, Fla. — NFL owners passed the playoff overtime rule for the regular season Wednesday. All games that go to overtime now can't end on a field goal on the first possession. The opposing team must get one series, and if it also kicks a field goal, the extra period continues. Of course, if it fails to score it loses and if it gets a touchdown, it wins. The rule has not come into play since it was instituted in 2010, with only two playoff games going to OT. One ended on the first play, Tim Tebow's 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas for Denver over Pittsburgh.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff PALM BEACH, Fla. — The NFL concluded its annual league meetings today at The Breakers will votes on several rule and bylaw proposals. The most significant change is that the overtime rules for the postseason — each team gets a possession unless a touchdown is scored on the initial possession, basically — has been adopted for the regular season as well. The other major modification is that all turnovers are subject to booth reviews, just as all scoring plays are. Here's a rundown on what passed and didn't: ...

NFL owners ratified the agreement between the league and players' union that takes away $36 million in salary cap space from the Redskins and $10 million from the Cowboys. Other than Dallas and Washington, no club voted Tuesday to oppose the agreement, which raised the salary cap for 2012 from about $113 million to $120.6 million. The Cowboys and Redskins have sought arbitration, which will be conducted by University of Pennsylvania professor Stephen Burbank. Both teams were penalized for overloading contracts in the 2010 uncapped season despite league warnings...

Tim Tebow laughed a few times, smiled steadily, and stayed polite and composed. If being surrounded by dozens of cameras and scores of media people made him nervous, the New York Jets' new backup quarterback didn't show it. He was cool and calm - exactly how he looked during those hair-raising comebacks last season with the Denver Broncos. His message: I'm here to help, not to create another Jets controversy. "It's an honor for all of you to show up to hear me say a few words," a grinning Tebow told a pack of more than 200 reporters.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Remember all the talk about how the Patriots used a loophole in the rules to hire Josh McDaniels as an offensive assistant -- right before the team played the Broncos, his former team? Well, the NFL didn't apparently think it was very controversial. Competition committee chairman Rich McKay said Monday that the situation -- a fired or released assistant coach being hired by another team before the season was over -- was discussed by the committee, but no rules change is coming.

Moving kickoffs up 5 yards last season did exactly what the NFL sought, reducing concussions. "The kickoff rule had an effect on the game," said Rich McKay, chairman of the league's competition committee. "There was a 40 percent reduction in concussions on that play. " The league repeatedly has said the change to kicking off from the 35-yard line was done solely for player safety. McKay said Monday at the owners meetings it served that purpose. But he admitted surprise that total kickoff returns dropped 53 percent.

Instant replay and injured reserve — the NFL's IRs — will be main topics as the owners consider several rules changes at their spring meetings this week. The Buffalo Bills have proposed having the booth official make all decisions on replay reviews instead of referees. Under another suggestion, the booth official also would be allowed to review all turnovers just as he now does for all scoring plays. "This is a proposal that will definitely, I think, generate discussion, but I think it was directed at trying to speed it up," said Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of...

The Atlanta Falcons have reached agreement to hire San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora as the team's head coach, a source said last night. The Falcons will make an announcement this morning, said a source close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mora, the son of former New Orleans and Indianapolis coach Jim Mora , was a finalist for the San Francisco job last year before the 49ers hired Dennis Erickson . Mora met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in his Buckhead office Wednesday for the first time.

Instant replay and injured reserve — the NFL's IRs — will be main topics as the owners consider several rules changes at their spring meetings this week. The Buffalo Bills have proposed having the booth official make all decisions on replay reviews instead of referees. Under another suggestion, the booth official also would be allowed to review all turnovers just as he now does for all scoring plays. "This is a proposal that will definitely, I think, generate discussion, but I think it was directed at trying to speed it up," said Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of...

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said Peyton Manning will not play in the final two games, but the franchise quarterback did take snaps last week. Polian made a rare postgame podium appearance yesterday after Fox Sports reported Manning had been throwing with running backs and receivers during the week and that the quarterback still hoped to play this year. The Colts were winless without the four-time NFL MVP until beating the Titans, 27-13. Polian confirmed that Manning threw in pads and a helmet after Wednesday's full practice ended.