NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday he has proposed to the Competition Committee a new rule that automatically would eject a player called for two personal fouls in the same game. Giants co-owner John Mara had not heard of that one — Mara is on the committee — but likes the idea.
“Yeah, I think it would set a clear line and maybe take it out of the officials’ discretion,’’ Mara said.
If it passes, this unofficially could be known as “The Odell Beckham Jr. Rule’’ after Beckham was hit with three personal fouls penalties against the Panthers, but was not ejected in the Giants’ Dec. 20 game.
“Well, I think that’s a little unfair,’’ Mara said of naming the rule for Beckham. “I want to discuss it a little bit more at our committee. But I’m inclined to be supportive of it because it would remove some of the discretion from the officials and set a clear line. And I think players would be aware of that, that ‘Hey, I’ve got one. If I get one more I’m out of the game.’ I think there’s a lot of merit to that.’’
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt likened it to a soccer player being sent off after getting two yellow cards in a game.
“You don’t want to see somebody get carried away, where something bad happens on the football field, where now all of a sudden you are going from one thing to another and it leads to a bad set of circumstances and somebody gets hurt,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “I can see that being part of our discussions.”
The 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be announced Saturday night. The only lock is former Packers, Jets and Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, who retired following the 2010 season and is eligible for the first time.
Favre won three consecutive MVP awards and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading passer with 6,300 completions, 10,169 attempts, 71,838 yards and 508 touchdowns.
The other top candidates up for election are Kevin Greene, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Terrell Davis, Morten Andersen and Alan Faneca. The late Ken Stabler also is a Seniors Committee nominee, and Eddie DeBartolo Jr. is a contributor finalist.
Rivera said LB Thomas Davis (fractured right arm) and DE Jared Allen (foot) will both start on Sunday. Allen did not play in the NFC Championship game victory over the Cardinals. Davis had surgery the day after that game to insert a plate and 12 screws into his broken arm and will wear a specially-designed protective covering. … Broncos safeties T.J. Ward (ankle) and Darian Stewart (knee) will both start Sunday, coach Gary Kubiak said.
“The preparation has been good all week,’’ Kubiak said. “The only thing is if our safeties had been good to go for two weeks. But they’re ready for the game, so that’s what counts.’’
— With AP