Rule change suggestions

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Interesting article, some points I can very much agree with. The only reason I posted here instead of in NFL Central is because of the tuck rule. Fun read, enjoy!

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=9386662#sport=NFL&photo=9377652

[Fireball77]

I don't care one way or the other about where this topic is is, but I am curious as to why in your opinion the tuck rule make it more appropriate to be put here? I do think the rule itself is idiotic and they need to dump it though.

I DO think PI has to be changed somewhat and I kind of like their solution to make it punative but not beyond the pale. That was just about Rex Grossman's entire repertoire in 2006...chuck and pray for PI. I am not sure that yardage amount is right, but it isn't bad.

I actually saw a stat on OT that said the team who won the coin toss last year won only 7/15 OT games..and not all of them were on the first possession either. I like the system as is just fine if that's how they are going to change it. The only way I would like to see it changed is if they just make a certain timed period, not as long as a whole quarter and just CONTINUE THE GAME. Eliminate sudden death totally. Add a timeout apiece for each team. If it is tied after that, it stays tied.

What else I want to see happen: pentalites that are called agains a team prior to a kickoff and to be assessed on the kickoff should allow the team who benefits from the penalty to decide if they want it to be marked off prior to the kick taking place or after it takes place. How is a 15 yard penalty REALLY a NET 15 yard penalty if all it does is move the kicker back 15 yards? It isn't in the true sense of a penalty.

I also want to see BOTH sides stopped ( I think that's safer than my real preference which is to let the play continue either way) when a penalty takes place. No more "offense gets a free play" when the D jumps offsides but defense gets NOTHING when the O jumps stuff.

I also want to see defensive penalties NOT result in an automatic first down when it is just a 5 yard penalty. Good lord, let the D have SOME semblance of fairness in rules!!!

I disagree 100% with records alone determining home games. The division winners, no matter HOW SUCKY THEIR RECORD...deserve something extra for winning the division...period.

lol @ their attribution of the "overofficious jerk" comment to Stram. It was Levy.

[guyinchesapeake]

"I also want to see BOTH sides stopped ( I think that's safer than my real preference which is to let the play continue either way) when a penalty takes place. No more "offense gets a free play" when the D jumps offsides but defense gets NOTHING when the O jumps stuff."

'Back in the day', a play, with few exceptions, ran to completion, with the non-offending team being offered the choice of letting the play stand or accepting the penalty. That included offensive procedure and motion penalties. I have no idea why they stopped that, but they stopped it in the very early 70s'. I think it stands in line with all rule changes that have been meant to enhance scoring and offense. The few times penalties were called with a whistle blowing it dead was when a defensive lineman charged across the LOS and blasted an Offensive lineman to the ground. That was REAL encroachment..

[Fireball77]

Thanks, Guy. I started being a fan as a kid in about 1979 and wasn't football cognizant of enough nuance wise to know that.

Maybe this is just a semantics thing, but it bugs the living EFF out of me that the refs bleat out "UNABATED TO THE QB" when a defensive player is egregiously offsides. As if that's all any defensive player is ever trying to do when they get a jump is assault the QB...good grief. I absolutely LOVE the attitude of guys like Maurice Jones-Drew. What we need is MORE offensive players who think and talk like he does...not fewer.

[Ccat]

"I also want to see BOTH sides stopped ( I think that's safer than my real preference which is to let the play continue either way) when a penalty takes place. No more "offense gets a free play" when the D jumps offsides but defense gets NOTHING when the O jumps stuff."

'Back in the day', a play, with few exceptions, ran to completion, with the non-offending team being offered the choice of letting the play stand or accepting the penalty. That included offensive procedure and motion penalties. I have no idea why they stopped that, but they stopped it in the very early 70s'. I think it stands in line with all rule changes that have been meant to enhance scoring and offense. The few times penalties were called with a whistle blowing it dead was when a defensive lineman charged across the LOS and blasted an Offensive lineman to the ground. That was REAL encroachment..

I've never thought about that before but I really like that idea. It really is kind of unfair now that I think about it.