Report: NFL discussing targeting rule, could vote Tuesday

The NFL is working on the language for a new targeting rule that could be presented to team owners for a vote as early as Tuesday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Teams and execs say they've identified an uptick in the illegal use of helmets.

"In our ongoing study of how to make the game better, we just seemed to see more lowering of the head," Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said at the league meetings, according to Pelissero.

" ... When you look at the plays where the players are dropping their head, we're doing a good job of catching it after the fact with fines and things of that nature, but (we) probably can do a better job of making the call on the field that hopefully we'll even emphasize more."

Pelissero reports that the rule has come together quickly, but the specifics still need to be hashed out in terms of both language and enforcement.

College football already has a targeting rule. In the NCAA, a player is ejected for using the crown of his helmet or making contact with the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent.