Following a series of controversial roughing the passer calls this season, there is growing sentiment within the NFL that a new rule aimed at protecting quarterbacks should be applied differently by game officials the remainder of the season.
Multiple people familiar with the inner workings of the NFL competition committee said the language of the rule — which makes it a penalty for defensive players to land with all or most of their body weight on the quarterback — would not be altered this season but that the way it is enforced would change.
The new rule has been criticized by players as unduly harsh and unfair to defenders.