One proposed NFL rule would add a decimal to the play clock in every stadium

In their last two games against the Bills, the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker has made a field goal with no time on the clock.

Butker drilled a 62-yard kick that capped a 16-second drive at the end of the first half in October’s game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Months earlier, his field goal finished the most famous 13-second drive in NFL history and forced overtime in the AFC Championship Game.

The next Chiefs’ drive in the final seconds of a half could include a clock that shows tenths of seconds.

At the NFL’s annual meeting next week the league will consider proposed rule, bylaw and resolution changes.

The Philadelphia Eagles would like to see tenths of seconds added to game clocks at the end of each half.

This is from an NFL news release on the proposal: “The game clocks will display game time in accordance with all NFL Playing Rules and will count down in one second increments except in the last 30 seconds of the 2nd and 4th quarter, when the clocks will transition to a countdown in tenths of seconds.”

In theory, Butker and other kickers would be able to line up for a kick with :00.1 seconds on the clock, which would be cool.

But the Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler reported the addition of another decimal to the clock could be a problem.

“Some NFL stadiums use fixed-digits displays in addition to the fully digital displays to show some of those four required game clocks,” Kahler wrote. “The fixed-digit display has a specific area designated for each number.”

Those clocks, which are in either end zone and both sidelines, couldn’t show 9.9 seconds or less, Kahler noted.

“The fixed-digit display for tenths of a second likely would not meet the NFL’s standards and would require replacement scoreboards,” Kahler wrote, “an investment that would significantly impair the chances that this proposal makes it out of the competition committee and to an ownership vote.”

Other proposals of note

  • The Eagles also want zero to be an option for player jersey numbers.

  • The Rams are proposing that roughing-the-passer penalties are open to review.

  • Another Eagles proposal would give teams the option of running a fourth-and-20 play from its 20-yard line instead of trying an onside kick.

  • The Competition Committee wants the ball to be placed on the 25-yard line if there is a touchback on a punt.