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NFL Encouraging Players to Not Think About Potential Penalties in Game, Play With 'Free Mind'

NEW YORK — The NFL doesn’t want players worrying about getting flagged or fined.

"You gotta play," NFL football operations chief Troy Vincent said Tuesday at the league’s fall meetings. "You hope that no player is thinking about a rule. We want them to play [with a] free mind where you’re just free and you play."

Chiefs rookie linebacker Breeland Speaks said he didn’t take Tom Brady down because he was concerned about a roughing-the-passer penalty in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s 43-40 loss at New England on Sunday night. Brady eluded Speaks and ran 4 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots the lead.