News and notes 2006 NFL season

1 news , notes

1.1 major rule changes
1.2 officials uniform makeover
1.3 new nfl commissioner
1.4 return of duke football
1.5 sell-outs
1.6 new orleans saints go home
1.7 game highlights on itunes
1.8 death of lamar hunt
1.9 death of 2 broncos

news , notes
major rule changes

the seattle seahawks host green bay packers in snow @ qwest field, november 26, 2006



end zone celebrations became more restricted. players cannot celebrate using type of prop, or act in on ground. players may still spike, spin ball, or (until 2014), dunk on goal posts. dancing in end zone permitted long not prolonged or group celebration. lambeau leap, though, still legal.
defenders prohibited hitting passer in knee or below unless blocked him. rule enacted in response previous season s injuries cincinnati bengals quarterback carson palmer, pittsburgh steelers ben roethlisberger, , tampa bay buccaneers brian griese.
down-by-contact calls reviewed instant replay determine if player fumbled ball before down, , recovered it. previously, these plays not reversed once officials blew whistle.
the horse-collar tackle rule enacted during previous 2005 season expanded. players prohibited tackling ball carrier rear tugging inside jersey. previously, illegal if tackler s hand got inside player s shoulder pads.
to reduce injuries, defensive players cannot line directly on long snapper during field goal , point attempts.

officials uniform makeover

the 2006 season marked debut of new officiating uniforms supposed more comfortable officials wear in extreme weather on old polyester uniforms. uniforms designed reebok using proprietary material technology keep officials both warm , dry during winter months of season. on shirt, position , number removed front pocket , lettering , numbers on side black-on-white , smaller print , sleeve shows uniform number. officials wore full-length black pants white stripe during winter months stay warm, criticized media. first major design overhaul since 1979, when position name added shirt, later abbreviated in 1982.

new nfl commissioner

on march 20, 2006, paul tagliabue announced plans retire nfl commissioner. during nfl meeting in northbrook, illinois, on august 8, league team owners selected roger goodell, nfl s then-current chief operating officer, new commissioner. tagliabue continued serve commissioner until goodell officially replaced him on friday september 1.

tagliabue became nfl commissioner on october 26, 1989. during tenure, league has added 4 new teams; saw 4 franchises move (including 2 franchises—the rams , raiders—from los angeles, second-largest television market in u.s.); construction of seventeen new stadiums; began own in-house television specialty cable network, nfl network; has increased television rights fees broadcasters, including addition of fox network , nfl programming; , has maintained labor peace players union.

return of duke football

a philadelphia fumble recovered washington s ade jimoh, week 14

for first time since super bowl iv @ conclusion of 1969 season, official nfl game ball known duke in honor of wellington mara, family owns new york giants. son john current ceo of team. nfl first used duke ball in honor of mara in 1941 after then-chicago bears owner george halas , then-giants owner tim mara (wellington s father) made deal wilson sporting goods become league s official supplier of game balls, relationship continued sixty-fifth year in 2006.

duke ball discontinued after 1970 afl-nfl merger, , merged league began using different standardized ball made wilson. other time duke ball name used during 2 thanksgiving classic games in 2004.

one side of new 2006 duke football featured nfl shield logo in gold, words duke , , nfl commissioner s signature. obverse side has small nfl logo above needle bladder hole, conference names between hole, , words national football league in gold. per custom, specially branded balls used first week of 2006 season (the opening kickoff ) thanksgiving day, conference championships, super bowl xli , pro bowl games.

sell-outs

through week 11 of season, nfl games had been sold out, , 24th time, blackout restrictions had been lifted. streak ended jacksonville @ buffalo game in week 12.

the new orleans saints go home

the new orleans saints returned home @ louisiana superdome in week three. saints played home games during 2005 nfl season in san antonio, tx, baton rouge, la, , east rutherford, nj, due damage superdome caused hurricane katrina. saints finished 2006 regular season 10–6, clinched 1st round bye, , beat philadelphia eagles in divisional round of playoffs. chicago bears defeated saints in nfc championship, 39–14.

game highlights on itunes

starting september 18, fans able download highlights of teams games through apple s itunes store. each video costs us$1.99 each fans have chance of buying follow team season ticket brings every game of team fan $24.99.

also available nfl gameday, nfl network s comprehensive sunday night review features post-game reactions , game analysis, $1.99 show or $19.99 full season.

death of lamar hunt

lamar hunt died in dallas, texas on december 13 complications prostate cancer @ age of 74. credited challenging nfl formation of american football league, led subsequent merger of 2 leagues.

death of 2 broncos

at 3 a.m. on january 1, 2007, denver broncos cornerback darrent williams shot , killed in denver, within hours after last regular season game against san francisco 49ers. less 2 months after, on february 24, 2007, broncos running damien nash collapsed , died after charity basketball game @ high school. both players died @ age of 24.