What changes to the NFL rules would you like to see?

[boffo]

Football fans, what rule/play changes would you like to see in the NFL? Please stick with realistic options that would still be recognizable as football. Not "Add trampolines," "Replace the players with bears shooting harpoons," or, "Award two points every time they throw a ball through a hoop

Comments

[robbbbbb]

In order:

(1) Interesting idea, and one I haven't heard floated before. I like it; but it also benefits a team that gets sacked late in a game. There are some unintended consequences there.

(2) The scramble has its moments, but injury risk is the big one. Are you talking that the players would race side-by-side, or directly at each other? Also: if it becomes popular in the NFL, it may trickle down through college and high school. Injury risk there becomes more problematic.

(3) I don't think college style will fly because of the NFL's TV contracts. However, I think there are significant improvements available. The NFL's instituing a new policy for OT in the playoffs where a TD ends the game on the first possession. Otherwise, the opposing team gets a chance to score. My solution is similar but slightly different: First team to score 5 or more points wins the game. Otherwise, highest score after 15 minutes.

(4) Yeah, if everything's reviewable that could be okay. However, you'd need a limit on reviews. And coaches need to be told that they aren't going to win many "judgement call" kinds of calls. Like pass interference and roughing the passer.

(A) Playing a man down would be a brutal penalty. I'd be in favor of it for personal fouls, in exchange for the 15 yarder. Maybe. But the modern NFL moves so fast and so hard that it would be an invitation to either a huge gainer for the offense on the next play, or the defense is going to stuff whatever the offense is throwing.

(B) In what way? More closer, or more farther away? Because if you say more for a closer FG, then you're rewarding a team for a longer drive, but the FG's easier. And vice versa. I think the risk-reward for a 3 point FG is about right currently.

(C) I like the extra point. A blown extra point is a big deal, and I like the two-point conversions, that add an extra dimension to game play.

My big change? It's not a rule change, but I think coaches need to go for it more on fourth down. They're too risk-averse. Going for it on fourth, especially when you're deep in enemy territory, can get you a TD instead of a FG. Even if you blow it, you've still got the other guys pinned deep.

[boffo]

However, you'd need a limit on reviews.

I would want to keep the current red flag rules. Just expand what it's used for.