NFL’s roughing-the-passer rule isn’t changing, but it may be applied differently

Alex Brandon, The Associated Press Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) reacts to his penalty after tackling Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Landover, Md. Following a series of controversial roughing the passer calls this season, there is growing sentiment within the NFL that a new rule aimed at protecting quarterbacks should be applied differently by game officials the remainder of the season.

Multiple people familiar with the inner workings of the NFL competition committee said the language of the rule — which makes it a penalty for defensive players to land with all or most of their body…