The Facts:
Strikes have a completely different meaning for NFL umpires than their peers in baseball. Umpires were involved in more than 100 collisions during the 2009 season. Three suffered concussions. Two more required surgery for on-field injuries. “Those guys should have had combat pads,” Cowboys HC Wade Phillips said. Not anymore. The NFL hopes to better protect its officials by moving the umpire into the offensive backfield.
Reported by FOXSports.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
According to FOXSports.com's Alex Marvez, the switch won’t be noticeable to the casual fan, but could affect elements of the game such as hurry-up offenses, play-calling across the middle of the field and how penalties are flagged because of the change in vantage point. Umpires will now be positioned 12 to 15 yards deep in the offensive backfield parallel to the referee. That will sometimes slow how quickly the ball can be marked for the next snap. “A team that runs the hurry-up offense outside two minutes is going to be a challenge,” new NFL Vice President of Officiating Carl Johnson told Marvez. “It will take a little longer to get the football down. The (NFL’s) competition committee is aware of this. The reason we did this was safety, not to slow down any offenses.” The NFL feels that is a small price to pay for the physical toll being taken on its officials. Fantasy owners might not agree.
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