Protection of quarterbacks was a priority during discussions at the CFL rules committee’s annual meeting, which concluded Friday in Toronto. The committee proposes the following rule changes:• Giving the Command Centre the ability to upgrade a roughing-the-passer penalty from 15 to 25 yards when there is a direct blow to the quarterback’s head or neck with the helmet. That would apply when the player has a clear view of a quarterback who does not end up ducking his head before contact is made. “There is a real focus here on player safety in general and the health of quarterbacks in particular,” Darren Hackwood, the league’s senior director of officiating, said in a media release. The rules committee is comprised of head coaches, general managers, team presidents, league officials and a representative of the CFL Players’ Association.

Source: National Post March 22, 2019 20:03 UTC