NFL Notes: Slow pace has Colts arguing change in the rules

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL finally figured out how to slow down Peyton Manning — change the rules.

Apparently, the changes are now under further review.

One day after Manning drew two penalties for illegal snaps at Green Bay, Colts coach Jim Caldwell pleaded with league officials to re-evaluate a change that forces players to wait for the umpire to get into his new position before the ball can be put in play.

The league wasted no time in responding to all the complaints.

“The movement of the umpire to the offensive backfield will happen in the regular season,” league spokesman Michael Signora said in a statement given to the Associated Press on Friday. “We continue to analyze and review the impact of the change in the preseason, and we may announce some adjustments to the mechanics of the position prior to Week 1.”

Colts players and coaches think refinements are an absolute necessity after Thursday night's debacle in Green Bay.

Over the past decade, Indy has been one of the NFL's highest-scoring teams in part because of the no-huddle offense. The Colts have been so good running it that receivers and running backs learned to take the ball straight to the umpire to save time, and when defenses dared to make changes, Manning often caught them in the act.

But during the offseason, the NFL's competition committee voted to reposition the umpire behind the deepest player in the offensive backfield. Previously, the umpire stood behind defensive linemen and closer to linebackers, which occasionally had him in the middle of a play.

The reason: Safety.

What the Colts objected to Thursday were the delays between getting the ball spotted and the umpire getting in position to start the play, which visibly frustrated the only four-time MVP in league history.

“The one (illegal snap) on me I thought was ridiculous. Down there by the goal line when you're snapping the ball to keep them from potentially getting a replay,” Manning said after the game. “Also, they're unsettled. To throw a 5-yard penalty is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. So I think that's one thing that will be re-evaluated — at least a do-over of some sort, or a warning, but a 5-yard penalty, that's ridiculous.”

Lions place DeVries on injured reserve

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have placed defensive end Jared DeVries on injured reserve, meaning he will miss a second consecutive season because of injury.

DeVries signed a one-year contract in April. He had been released in February after missing last season following surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Dixon to take snaps with starters

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be the Steelers' starter for the second straight week, though coach Mike Tomlin says his top three quarterbacks will play Sunday night in Denver.

Dennis Dixon will get his first extensive playing time with the starters in the Steelers' next-to-last preseason game and could follow Roethlisberger. Byron Leftwich also will play.

Dixon has started only one NFL game, and he is expected to be Leftwich's backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger is suspended. However, Tomlin said Dixon has played well enough to earn some time with the starters.

• Sam Bradford will finish the preseason as the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback, at least partly because veteran A.J. Feeley might not be ready to play.

Bradford had a big game in his first start, going 15 of 22 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 36-35 victory at New England on Thursday night. The overall No. 1 draft pick from Oklahoma played the first half and completed his first six passes, earning another start on merit.

— The Associated Press

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