Point of Emphasis - The Jim Harbaugh Rule

[chargertom]

Each year, the NFL considers various rule changes, but also looks at "points of emphasis". A point of emphasis is taking an existing rule and enforcing it much more strictly. This year, sideline discipline is one such point of emphasis. NFL executive VP of football operations Ray Anderson discussed the changes:

"We need to be much more disciplined about where our coaches go in terms of the box and venturing out on the field beyond traditional markers is something that is just not appropriate. It can interfere and it can be viewed as intimidating, and we really are going to rein that in."

"There are borders, but, very frankly, they're loosely enforced. But they will be more aggressively enforced going forward because we need to rein it in."

People are already calling this the Jim Harbaugh Rule. Coach Harbaugh is no stranger to aggressively wandering the sideline. There is no doubt Coach Harbaugh gets particularly fired up during games and finds himself making his way onto the field to get his point across to officials.

In interviews, he has said he won't change his personality to suit some pre-conceived notion about how he is supposed to act. This is perfectly fine, but he will have to watch himself when it comes to going on the field. According to Anderson, coaches will get an "appropriate warning", and if they continue to venture past the boundaries, the team will be flagged. Repeat offenders could also get fined.

Coach Harbaugh addressed the topic on Friday. While he respects the rules, he also pointed to instances down near the end zone, where extra space is needed. The most notable instance is when the team is down near the goal line:

"Well, sometimes you have to go down to call a time out," he said. "The officials tell you to go down there. If they're down on the 10 (yard line) or the 5, you've got to go down there to get their attention because they're not looking over at the coaching box."

Coach Harbaugh said he had not yet seen the language of the point of emphasis. We'll see how this plays out as we head into the 2013 season.

[23skidoo]

[LongTimeOCBolts]

Originally Posted by 23skidoo

Looks like he was simply trying to call a time out.

[cthommes]

I want cake NOW!

[SillyBoltsFan]

Originally Posted by LongTimeOCBolts

Looks like he was simply trying to call a time out.

I thought he was coughing up a hairball...

<runs>

[AFboltfan]

That .gif never gets old

Coach's should be able to be anywhere on the sideline they want IMO, as long as they don't go out on the field and cause distraction. If you step on the field it should cost you a time out. Except in the case of an injury or other acceptable reason for being on the field.

[thumper300zx]

Easy -- personal foul if you come on the field or scream at the refs.

[cthommes]

Originally Posted by thumper300zx

Easy -- personal foul if you come on the field or scream at the refs.

Even if you're just asking them for cake?

[chargertom]

Demons be gone!

Hallelujah!!

[perryao]

Originally Posted by LongTimeOCBolts

Looks like he was simply trying to call a time out.

I thought he was trying to throw something like the guy in the Volkswagon commercial.