NFL's latest 'No Fun League' rules will improve the game

The "No Fun League" struck again - but in a good way this time.

On Tuesday, the league announced eight new rules that will be implemented during the 2017 season. While they didn't do much to change the league's party pooper reputation, the owners made a few important steps toward actually looking out for player safety, and improving the game overall.

The first rule prevents the "leaper" from attempting to jump over the line of scrimmage to block field goals or PATs. This play has been entertaining to watch over the past few seasons, as teams like the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos have worked to perfect it.

But, as entertaining as it may be, the player leaping over the line is in a lot of danger if a blocker sticks their hand out and trips him up. Some players are willing to take the risk, but NFLPA president Eric Winston said the play is dangerous for both players involved, and wanted it banned.

"If you jump over the center, the jumper is in a really bad spot. He can land on his head," Winston said in early March. "I think the guys that are getting jumped over are going to end up getting hurt, with those guys landing on them.

"So I'll be very interested to see what they'll do there. I think something probably needs to be done."

While no official rule change was made surrounding headshots, the league is emphasizing to officials that they have the power to hand out harsh punishment for dangerous hits.

According to USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero, the league won't show progression in its disciplinary measures, meaning players could be ejected or suspended for a first-time offense. Officials have always had the power to remove players, but it will be made clearer to both them and teams, added Pelissero.

This doesn't solve the problem of officials using too much or not enough discretion, though adopting a targeting rule like the one used in the NCAA, which sees players ejected for a single headshot, could be a slippery slope for the NFL. The rule has its flaws, as players have been removed due to incidental contact and borderline dangerous hits - but it may be the next step if the change in emphasis doesn't yield results.

A more concrete way the league aims to prevent headshots is by outlawing crack-back blocks for players going in motion out of the backfield. The ruling is the direct result of the play that ended Buffalo Bills safety Aaron Williams' season, and possibly his career.

The initial reaction to blocks and hits like the one above, by Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry, is generally excitement, but this stuff is just straight up dangerous. While many fans love football for its physicality, no one wants to see a player motionless on the turf.

As the league made progress toward a safer version of football, it also made some changes that just make sense, like adding an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when a team commits multiple fouls on the same play in an effort to manipulate the clock. The San Francisco 49ers tried this against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, holding all of their receivers as time expired in the first half. It was a clever move by the 49ers, but it's clearly cheating.

Centralizing the replay system was another easy move for the league that will take on-field prejudice out of the process. Giving power to overturn calls via replay to officials in a separate location should create more consistency.

With ratings and popularity dropping, the NFL could have instead added more gimmicks, or ignored the obvious player safety issues, as they face pressure to woo fans. There are still plenty of problems to fix, but this was a good day for the league, although it may not have been a fun one.