NFL Owners Approve Helmet Rule, Tuck Rule Eliminated

Christian Petersen/Getty Images(PHOENIX) -- The NFL owners concluded their winter meetings on Wednesday.  Three changes to the rules are now in place.

The tuck rule has been eliminated, so any player that uses the crown of their helmet and is outside of the tackle box or at least 3 yards downfield will be penalized.

NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said the change to the crown of the helmet rule applies to a runner or a tackler.

"It applies when that runner or tackler ducks their head delivers a forcible blow with the top crown of their helmet," McKay explained.

Both the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins abstained from the tuck rule. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the only dissenting vote.

The tuck rule came into play during the 2001 playoffs, which involved Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the Oakland Raiders, which favored New England.

"It was a great session and I think we had a good opportunity over the last few days to get everybody on the same page on what are our priorities," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

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NFL Reinstates Gregg Williams

NFL via Getty Images(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- After being suspended for his role in the Saints bounty scandal, the NFL reinstated defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Thursday.

Upon his reinstatement, the Tennessee Titans hired Williams as their senior assistant coach for its defense.

"He will bring a great deal of defensive knowledge and energy to our staff. The decision to bring him here only came after going through a thoughtful and thorough process," Titans coach Mike Munchak said in a statement.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement that Williams has accepted his responsibility for his role in the bounty scandal and pledged he would not be involved in another pay for performance again.

Goodell also said Williams will be under "periodic monitoring to confirm his compliance."

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Roger Goodell Responds to President Obama's Safety Concerns, HGH Testing

Christian Petersen/Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the state of the NFL on Friday.  Goodell has been under much criticism for the way he has handled player safety as numerous former players are suing the league.

Goodell responded to President Barack Obama’s player safety concerns that he voiced in an interview in The Republic.

"I welcome the President’s comments because it has been a priority and we want to make sure people understand what we’re doing to make our game safer, not just in the NFL, but throughout sports," Goodell said on Friday.

"It's very important for us to maintain our integrity in our brand," Goodell continued.  "We expect the people that are involved with our game from the commissioners to the players to the coaches to make sure that they uphold those standards."

Goodell also said he believes HGH testing will happen prior to the 2013 NFL season in wake of the MLB announcing that they will begin in-season testing at the start of their season come April.

"It's the right thing to do for the players, for their health and well being long-term," said Goodell.  "It's the right thing to do for the integrity of the game and it's also the right thing to do to send the right message to everybody else in sports."

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Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Returns To Work

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images(MOBILE, Ala.) -- New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton returned to work Wednesday, a day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him following his season-long ban for his role in the team’s bounty program.

The 49-year-old Payton attended practice at the Senior Bowl as the team prepares for April’s NFL draft.

“Being reinstated now with all that is going on,” Payton said, “as soon as the season ends there’s a lot of work that begins towards the next year, so that’s helpful to us. Certainly we need to do a lot of things, but I am grateful for that opportunity, I’m excited to be back.”

Without Payton roaming the sidelines this season, the Saints finished 7-9.

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NFL Reinstates Saints' Head Coach Sean Payton

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has announced that he has reinstated New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton after serving a season-long suspension.

The decision was made after a meeting between Goodell and Payton on Monday in New Orleans. Payton is now allowed to attend Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., this week and can get back to his duties as the team's head coach.

Goodell was suspended before last season for his role in the team's bounty program under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

"Sean fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during the suspension. More important, it is clear that Sean understands and accepts his responsibilities as a head coach and the vital role that coaches play in promoting player safety and setting an example for how the game should be played at all levels," Goodell said in a statement. "We are committed to delivering football that fans love and the safety players deserve. Coach Payton agrees and I look forward to working with him going forward to do that."

Payton joined the Saints as their head coach in 2006. He won the Super Bowl with the team in 2009.

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Jonathan Vilma's Lawsuit Is Dismissed

Stacy Revere/Getty Images(NEW YORK) --  NFL spokesman Greg Aiello announced Thursday that a federal judge has dismissed New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against league Commissioner Roger Goodell.

U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan in New Orleans had been holding off ruling on the case while waiting for Vilma to go through the process of appealing his season-long suspension by the NFL.

"Even though this matter has been pending only since May of this year, it feels as protracted and painful as the Saints' season itself and calls for closure," Berrigan said.

Goodell initally referred to Vilma as the ringleader in the Saints' bounty scandal, where the league said he offered cash to teammates for injuring opposing players.

Vilma appealed the suspension, only to have it upheld by Goodell.  Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped in and vacated the suspension, allowing Vilma to play in five games for the Saints this season.

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Paul Tagliabue Vacates Saints' Suspensions

National Football League(NEW ORLEANS) -- Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has vacated the suspensions of four current and former members of the New Orleans Saints as a result of the NFL's bounty investigation.

Earlier in the year, the NFL suspended Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, and Anthony Hargrove for their supposed role in the team's bounty program under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

A series of lawsuits put together by Vilma and the NFL Player's Association challenged commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling. In a show of good faith, Goodell appointed Tagliabue as an arbitrator in the ruling. That move turned out to be a victory for the players.

"We respect Mr. Tagilabue's decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary manners. This matter has now been reviewed by Commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Pannel, and Mr. Tagilabue as Commissioner Goodell's designated appeals officer," the NFL said in a statement.

Only the player's suspensions were vacated as a result of this process.

Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight games of the season, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt was suspended the first six games of the season.

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NFL Will Consider Ending Kickoffs

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The NFL may be taking another drastic move to improve player safety. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is considering the elimination of kickoffs.

Goodell along with Rich McKay, the head of the NFL's competition committee, discussed the idea and feel that it could become a reality.

Instead of kicking off, a team would have the ball at their own 30-yard line in a fourth-and-15 situation. The team would punt the ball away, or go for it to replace the onsides kick. If it failed to get a first down, the opposing team would have favorable field position.

"I belive that day will come," Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano told ESPN the Magazine of the possibility of elimination kickoffs. "Unfortunately, it will probably take more players being seriously hurt. But I think there's another way to do this."

Last season, the NFL moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line and also required the coverage unit to start within five yards of the ball, which closes the distance between the teams.

It seems to have worked so far. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 16.4 percent of kickoffs led to a touchback in 2010, last year it was 43.5 percent.

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Roger Goodell Won't Hear Appeals of Four Saints Players

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not hear the appeals of four Saints players involved in the bounty scandal, the NFL confirmed Friday.

Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will conduct the hearings of Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove, and Scott Fujita on Oct. 30.

"I have held two hearings to date," Goodell said, "and have modified the discipline in several respects based on my recent meetings with the players. To bring this matter to a prompt and fair conclusion, I have appointed former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to serve as the hearing officer for the upcoming appeals. Paul Tagliabue is a genuine football authority whose tenure as commissioner was marked by his thorough and judicious approach to all matters. He has many years of experience in NFL collective bargaining matters and an impeccable reputation for integrity."

"To be clear, I have not consulted with Paul Tagliabue at any point about the Saints matter nor has he been any part of the process. Furthermore, under our process the hearing officer has full authority and complete independence to decide the appeal and determine any procedural issues regarding the hearings. I will have no role in the upcoming hearings or in Mr. Tagliabue's decisions," he continued.

The Saints will take on the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday.

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ESPN: Scott Fujita's Career in Jeopardy with Neck Injury

NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has spent most of the NFL offseason fighting commissioner Roger Goodell, but now he's fighting to save his career. Fujita is dealing with a neck injury that could end his paying career according to ESPN.com.

Team officials and doctors fear that Fujita's neck injury could be serious enough that he should perhaps never play another game.

This news is rather surprising as Fujita played in the first four games of the season. He did miss this past Sundays' game because because of an apparent shoulder injury. Up until now, there had been no reports about a possible career-threatening injury.

The 33-year old Fujita was suspended by Goodell for his role with the New Orleans Saints bounty program. He was suspended by the NFL for one game, but has been embattled with the league and Goodell since the spring. The league initially suspended him for three games, then changed it to one game. Fujita is appealing his one game suspension.

Fujita played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs, Cowboys, Saints, and Browns.

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