NFL owners vote to not black out any games in 2015

The NFL will not block any games from local television next season.

The league said Monday at the owners’ meetings in Phoenix that team owners voted for a one-year suspension of the long-standing blackout policy for the preseason and regular season. There were no blackouts last season, because the minimum number of tickets was sold for every game, and the league had only two blackouts in 2013.

“The blackout issue has been one of those seen as a negative about the league,” said Marc Ganis, president of a Chicago-based consulting firm. “The FCC says there shouldn’t be blackouts and the league says it would affect attendance. This is the perfect time, with no blackouts from last year, to test whether a no-blackout rule adversely affects the attendance at games.”

• Owners are considering a proposal to stop games when a medical adviser sees a player displaying obvious signs of disorientation.

It would allow a medical spotter upstairs to communicate with the officiating crew when a player appears unstable. The game would be halted to remove the player, who then would undergo sideline examination at the very least.

• Next year’s Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu, the frequent site for the all-star matchup, and will be held Jan. 31, the Sunday before the Super Bowl. Beyond that, just about anywhere seems to be in play, with Brazil at the forefront.

• Arizona GM Steve Keim won executive of the year honors after the Cardinals made the playoffs despite 109 games missed by injuries.