NFL, NFLPA announce "greater emphasis" on five player-safety rules this season

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have announced a greater emphasis on enforcing five player-safety rules during the upcoming season. These rules include hip drop tackles, horse collar tackles, launching, hits on defenseless players, and blindside blocks. Players who accumulate three violations of these rules throughout the season will face a one-game suspension.

Additionally, teams with a high number of health and safety violations will face fines. Coaches will also be required to attend meetings with the NFL when players are close to reaching the suspension threshold. If a player is fined for one violation and avoids further fouls, they will receive 50% of their fine returned at the end of the season.

To oversee player discipline for these violations, former Panthers and Commanders head coach Ron Rivera will join the panel of former players who will hear appeals.

Brief written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.