PALM BEACH, Fla. — NFL owners passed the playoff overtime rule for the regular season Wednesday.
All games that go to overtime now can’t end on a field goal on the first possession. The opposing team must get one series, and if it also kicks a field goal, the extra period continues.
Of course, if it fails to score it loses and if it gets a touchdown, it wins. The rule has not come into play since it was instituted in 2010, with only two playoff games going to OT. One ended on the first play, Tim Tebow’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas for Denver over Pittsburgh. The other had several possessions for each team before the Giants beat the 49ers in the NFC title game.
The vote on adopting the overtime was 30-2.
Owners also have given the replay official permission to review turnovers just as he reviews all scoring plays.
Other rules changes: a team will lose a down for illegally kicking a loose ball; too many men on the field becomes a dead ball foul; and a player receiving a crackback block is now considered a defenseless player and the hit will result in a 15-yard penalty.
Jacobs reaches terms on one-year deal with 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO — Veteran running back Brandon Jacobs and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal.
Jacobs was released March 9 by the New York Giants after he failed to reach agreement on a restructured deal. He is expected to play behind Frank Gore and could share the backup role with Kendall Hunter.
Jacobs, 29, spent seven seasons with New York, winning two Super Bowls and beating the 49ers 20-17 in overtime of the NFC championship game at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22. He ran for 571 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a backup to Ahmad Bradshaw.
Around the league
BUCCANEERS: Cornerback Ronde Barber is returning to Tampa Bay for his 16th season. He started 16 games last season for the Bucs, starting every game since Week 10 in 1999 - the longest active streak in the NFL. Barber has 43 career interceptions and 27 career sacks, making him the only player in NFL history with 40 or more picks and 25 or more sacks in a career.
VIKINGS: Minnesota re-signed receiver Devin Aromashodu to a one-year deal. In his first season with the Vikings last year, Aromashodu caught 26 passes for 468 yards and three touchdowns.
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