Nfl Rules

2012
OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES
AND
CASEBOOK
OF THE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Roger Goodell, Commissioner

2012 Rules Changes
Rules-Section-Article

Page

5-1-1

Makes too many men in the formation a dead-ball foul.

21

12-2-2,9

Makes the recipient of a “crackback” block a defenseless player
and clarifies protection for the recipient of a “blindside” block.

62

12-4-3

Adds loss of down to the penalty for illegally kicking a loose ball.

72

15-9

Replay official will initiate reviews of certain “turnovers” throughout
the game. Expands reviewable plays to include the on-field ruling
of a runner out of bounds when the recovery of a fumble occurs in
the action following the fumble, and the on-field ruling of an
incomplete pass when a backward pass is recovered in the action
following the backward pass.

89

16-1-3

Both teams will have an opportunity to possess the football in
overtime for all preseason, regular season, and postseason
games.

91

2012
OFFICIAL
PLAYING RULES
OF THE
NATIONAL
FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Roger Goodell, Commissioner

Preface
This edition of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League contains all current
rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2012 NFL season.
Member clubs of the League may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable
voting procedures of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws.
Any intra-League dispute or call for interpretation in connection with these rules will be
decided by the Commissioner of the League, whose ruling will be final.
Because interconference games are played throughout the preseason, regular season,
and postseason in the NFL, all rules contained in this book apply uniformly to both the American
and National Football Conferences.
At many places in the text there are approved rulings which serve to supplement and illustrate
the basic language of the rules. Each is headed by an...