Every year the NFL makes a few rule changes or clarifications and this year is no exception, although there are fewer of them this year. The changes for 2008 are as follows:

The first is the Marion Barber Rule (not official name): The Cowboys already have a rule named after one player and this should be the second. This rule is aimed at eliminating the wild punch-like stiff arm that Barber is known for throwing. The rule isn’t new, nor will it be interpreted any differently, it will just be called more often. Anytime a player, not only a running back, delivers a shot to the head of another player, it will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and 15 yards loss.

Elimination of incidental facemask penalty: Previously, there were two varieties of facemask penalties – intentional (15-yard penalty) and incidental (5-yard penalty). Officials will no longer penalize incidental facemasks.  These occur when one player's hand hits another's facemask, grabbing it accidentally but immediately releasing it. The 15-yard intentional penalty will still be in effect, characterized by the grabbing and twisting or turning of an opponent's facemask.

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Elimination of force-out call: On sideline catches, officials will no longer judge whether a receiver is forced out or not, meaning if the receiver would have placed both feet inbounds if not hit by a defender. Catches on the sideline will only be called inbounds if the receiver has control of the ball and gets both feet down. The only exception will be when a receiver is physically carried off the field by a defender.

Defensive headset communication (otherwise known as the stop Bill Belichick from cheating rule): For the first time one defensive player on the field will be able to wear a speaker-equipped helmet to hear sideline communication with the defensive signal caller. Teams will designate two players - a primary and a backup - to have the communication device in their helmets, although only one of the two can be on the field at a time. If the primary player leaves the game and the backup enters, the backup must alert the referee of the switch. If both players are on the field at the same time or the backup fails to notify the referee, the team will face a five yard illegal substitution penalty. Chances are the backup player will have two helmets, one with and one without the speaker. The helmets with the speaker are usually marked with a green dot.