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The NFL may not have a new collective bargaining agreement in place since both sides broke away from talks last week, but that hasn’t stopped the owners from coming to an agreement regarding some new rules changes that would go into effect whenever the players do decide to come back to work.

The 1st  rule change is something many coaches will be LOVING:

• All touchdowns will be challenged by a booth review upstairs no matter what, therefore saving coaches their much-needed challenge flags for other important plays.

This is critical in games because coaches only get 2 challenges per game, with a 3rd challenge being awarded if the first 2 challenges are successful.  In the past, coaches who have used up their challenges in earlier portions of the game have costed their teams dearly in the later stages when questionable touchdowns could’ve easily been overturned.

The 2nd rule change is something many coaches and players DISLIKE:

• Kickoffs will be kicked from the 35 yard line instead of the 30, therefore resulting in more possible touchbacks throughout the season and leaving return specialists like Devin Hester and Percy Harvin in a tough spot to bring back kicks down the road.

This rule was implemented to reduce the amount of injuries on kickoffs, even though there has been no statistical evidence showing that injuries have risen dramatically on kickoffs as opposed to standard offensive and defensive drives.

Free betting sites like Sportsbook.com and Oddsmaker have prop bets regarding what the new rules changes will do to the league and how it will affect games, so make sure to check those out as the season comes closer to possible kickoff.

These new rules changes listed above will be put into place whenever the NFL and the NFLPA come back to the bargaining tables to discuss a new CBA.

Right now, it doesn’t look like the two sides will be meeting any time soon, and for the first time since 1987 there have been actual talks of using replacement players to ensure the 2011 NFL season marches on.

“We have not had any discussions or consideration of replacement players,” Goodell said at a recent news conference. “It hasn’t been discussed, it hasn’t been considered, and it’s not in our plans.”

We hope to bring you more on this as the story progresses even more.

The CBA has come and gone and as of right now we officially don’t know if we’re going to see NFL action in the upcoming 2011 season – let alone any NFL betting, *sigh*.

In the latest controversy, the league and commissioner Roger Goodell are being slammed by the NFLPA for what the players see as “their demands for a massive giveback which would have resulted in the worst economic deal for players in major pro sports.”

This was in response to Goodell’s prior emails that were sent out to all the players representing the NFLPA to encourage them to come back to the tables to negotiate some type of deal that would prevent a work stoppage this season.  In particular, his closing line was SLAMMED by the Players’ Association:

I hope you will encourage your union to return to the bargaining table and conclude a new collective bargaining agreement.

Players who received the email were not pleased with the “your union” line, as it was taken as an insult to the NFLPA.  Though the players can now sue the NFL and have effectively dissolved as a union, the statement made by Goodell drew yet another battle line for the fight to produce an improved CBA for the next decade.

NFL owners will be heading to their own meeting this week in New Orleans, and it is still unclear what type of legal maneuvering and bargaining will be done down the road.

More to come as it’s reported to us everyone…

Peyton Manning has still not been formally offered a new contract by the Indianapolis Colts.  If I was a Colts fan, I know I would be extremely worried right about  now.

While he’s still slated to earn an unreal $23 million next season since he was slapped with the franchise tag by owner Bill Polian, Manning still has a lot to be concerned about considering he was hoping to get a new deal inked before the collective bargaining agreement ran out.

NFL owners and players are still entangled in a fierce battle over CBA renegotiations and despite having federal mediators assisting in matters, the old agreement is set to expire this week and there’s still no signs a deal will be struck in time.

If this happens and the NFL officially goes on strike, 4-time regular season MVP Peyton Manning will be stuck without a new deal and absolutely no leverage to even talk to other teams until something is negotiated on the collective bargaining agreement front.

While most Colts fans can rest easy the Peyton will be suiting up in blue and white for the next season – whenever that may be – they should be frustrated at Bill Polian, who isn’t expediting the talks any quicker.

Right now there aren’t any lines being pushed on popular NFL prop betting sites like BetUS or Bookmaker; however, if I was wagering on sports (or the NFL in particular), I would bet on Manning NOT being resigned to a “promised” long-term deal that was brought from Colts management last year guaranteeing their QB would be the highest-paid player in the league – even ABOVE Patriots QB Tom Brady.

Manning isn’t getting any younger and talks could be stalling on the sole fact that a long-term deal might not be worth it for the Colts to consider at this point, essentially back-tracking on their word made to the their star player at the start of the 2010 NFL season.

Regardless of what happens it shouldn’t be too much of a distraction if and when the 2011 season gets underway.  The Colts will undoubtedly be one of the preseason favorites to make the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Those who are used to NFL betting online, then it’s most likely you’ll be picking the Colts as one of the decent Futures favorites out of the AFC.

We’ll keep you all informed as the story progresses.

DC Sports Talk radio show host Chad Dukes went on a Hall of Fame tilt early Tuesday morning regarding his hometown Washington Redskins and their poor effort against the Eagles in their Week 10 game.  The 12-minute long diatribe describes the pain that most Redskins fans have had to endure for the last 10 years, as well as a strong message to the lackluster performances of many of the Washington players who seemed to roll over and quit during most of the game on Monday.

As you might recall, the Redskins were embarrassed on the national TV on Monday Night Football earlier this week, giving up 28 points to Michael Vick and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles in just the FIRST QUARTER alone.  The game ended up being a blowout of monumental proportions and patrons and even the most loyal Washington fans were seen jetsetting for the exits before the 2nd half even began.

If you have 10 or 12 minutes, please check the link and listen below and comment away – you truly won’t be disappointed.

DC Radio Show Host Blasts ‘Skins MNF Performance

The Pittsburgh Steelers, already embroiled in the recent mess that is known as Ben Roethlisberger, have decided to trade their up and coming wideout Santonio Holmes due to his off the field problems as of late.  He will find himself as one of the primary receivers of QB Mark Sanchez and the all-of-a-sudden AFC contender New York Jets.  The Jets have been making some big moves in the offseason and got the embattled receiver at a premium – only having to give up a 5th-round draft pick in exchange for Holmes.

The Super Bowl MVP had a breakout year in 2009, just one year removed from making one of the most amazing catches in NFL history when he snared the game-winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIII.  However, his recent offseason shenanigans didn’t escape the eyes of the Rooney family, who are one of the remaining “old school” ownership families left in the League today.  Known for being tough on players and asking them to be held to the highest standards, the Steelers decided to cut ties with Holmes after charges were dropped stemming from an alleged sexual assault.

This will be an interesting year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they once again have brought back a core group of players and are hoping to have a better performance than last year’s paltry record indicated.  The whole League and his peers will also be looking to see if franchise quarterback “Big Ben” can rebound from his recent exoneration after being accused of sexual assault in Georgia a few weeks back.  While the charges have been dropped by the state, he still faces punishment from NFL commish Roger Goodell, along with possible fines and penalties from the Steelers organization.