The NFL’s competition committee has proposed a policy change that would allow teams to formalize head coaching hires when the coach’s original team is playing in the postseason.

The change would relieve decision-makers from waiting weeks to formalize hires.

Set to be voted on next week during the NFL owners meeting, the proposal would help teams avoid the predicament faced by the Indianapolis Colts last month. The Colts had agreed to terms with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace Chuck Pagano in mid-January, but under current NFL rules, could not execute a signed contract until after the Patriots’ season ended. The Patriots continued playing through Super Bowl LII. Two days later, McDaniels informed the Colts that he planned to remain with the Patriots, forcing the Colts to scramble to hire Frank Reich instead.

Under the proposed change, the Colts would have been able to give McDaniels a contract to sign at the same time they agreed to terms. Had McDaniels declined to sign, the Colts could have moved more quickly to make another hire.

The proposal was among a long list of potential rule changes the NFL will consider when the meetings open Sunday. Some were previously reported, including a significant change to the catch rule, a proposal from the New York Jets to make pass interference a 15-yard penalty unless it is “intentional and egregious” and the authority for the NFL’s centralized officiating office to eject players for non-football acts during games.

NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said Wednesday that the Jets’ pass interference proposal had gained momentum during a week of competition committee meetings.

The full list of proposals, released publicly Thursday night, also includes:

• Allowing coaches and players to view video on league-issued tablets on the sideline or the coaches’ booth during games. Currently, only photographs are allowed to be viewed — either printed or on tablets. Available video could significantly enhance the process of in-game adjustments and evaluations.

• Eliminating the requirement that a winning touchdown at the end of regulation, or overtime, to kick an extra point.

• Proposals, from the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Redskins, to expand replay review to include personal fouls, including roughing the passer and hits to players in a defenseless posture. They are not endorsed by the competition committee and are unlikely to earn approval.

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was among those viewing as Sam Darnold was slinging in the rain Wednesday at USC.

Haslam was one member of a large contingent present to evaluate the quarterback the Browns are pondering taking with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. In an unusual twist, Darnold chose to keep throwing after a heavy rain started a few minutes into his workout. He received generally favorable reviews from analysts for his footwork, arm strength and accuracy.

Those Browns in attendance for the workout included Haslam, general manager John Dorsey, coach Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. Haslam sat with Darnold’s parents during part of the workout. On Tuesday night, the Browns took Darnold out to dinner. Haslam was not present to scout Darnold, but more to get to know him with the rest of the Browns staff.

“He’s a great guy,” Darnold said of Haslam on the NFL Network. “That whole staff is awesome. I was able to meet with the Giants as well [on Monday]. Just meeting with both of those organizations, like I said before, those people are at the top of the world right now and I’m trying to impress them but at the same time be myself. So there is a fine line between that, and I just tried to find that and do my best.”

When: April 26-28
Where: Arlington, Texas
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Darnold said during an interview with ESPN that he’s eager to go to a team that wants him. He is well aware that the Browns traded for Tyrod Taylor to be the team’s starting quarterback.

Give Barcelona an inch, and the five-time European champion will take a mile.

Few sides will understand that better than Chelsea, who on Wednesday slumped out of the Champions League last-16 stage courtesy of a 3-0 second-leg defeat at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi gave the host a third-minute lead, and instead of withdrawing into its habitual defensive shell, Chelsea was on the front foot. Eden Hazard, Willian, and Olivier Giroud were the principal parts of an attack probing Barcelona’s backline in search of an equaliser, and the Blues appeared the more likely of the two sides to score next.

And then, for the umpteenth time in a celebrated career, Messi happened.

The magical Argentine found a surging Ousmane Dembele, whose first goal for the Catalan giant doubled its lead in the 20th minute, giving Barcelona a 3-1 advantage on aggregate.

Same story, different half, as Chelsea showed attacking intent after the break only for Barcelona to take full advantage of the littlest opportunities. Cesar Azpilicueta played an uncharacteristically poor pass under pressure from Andre Gomes that Jordi Alba intercepted and found Messi, who like Dembele’s goal, found the back of the net with an effort that Thibaut Courtois will regret. It meant 3-0 to Barcelona, 4-1 on aggregate, tie done.

It was Messi’s 100th Champions League goal in just 123 appearances, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to bag a century of tallies on the continent.

That’s now a record 24 victories against English opponents in Europe’s top-tier tournament, and the 11th season on the trot where Barcelona has made the last eight.

Chelsea will feel like it deserved better, especially after Willian gave the west London lot a surprise lead in the first leg at Stamford Bridge only for Messi to level matters. For a team that has been known to fancy a false nine and a compact midfield, Chelsea was expansive at the Camp Nou, and could have drawn a penalty in the second half when wing-back Marcos Alonso was brought down in the penalty area by Gerard Pique.

It wasn’t to be, nor was progression to the last eight for the first time since 2013-14. Such is the plight of a side faced with the unenviable task of beating Barcelona on club football’s biggest stage.

Barcelona will now await Friday’s draw, with Ernesto Valverde’s lot set to face one of Real Madrid, Sevilla, Liverpool, Manchester City, Juventus, Roma, or Bayern Munich.