What would you change in the NFL?

[skinsane]

Whether it be rules, or things that officiating teams need to pay more attention to.

1: I would not allow quarterbacks that are in shot gun formation to have mini epileptic seizures, which they claim to be "hard counts", as they are just done in an attempt to gain an advantage by identifying upcoming blitzers. Brady does this all the time, and he gets away with it.

2: Find a way to allow the defense to get a communications receiver in a players helmet like the offense. I know they voted this one down last year. Who do you give the receiver to, and what do you do when those players sub in and out? I say you have to have a few players on defense with the receivers and work it out amonst themselves.

3: Re-evaluate how the refs are protecting the quarterbacks. One way is to allow a challenge on roughing the passer calls. Too many times defenses are being hit with roughing the passer calls, that don't deserve to be.


I don't want the nfl to evolve into the CFL south. You can't make it so advantageous for teams to throw 75 percent of the time. Football should still be a physical game that requires a running game to some degree, that does not elliminate the risk in throwing the ball. Curious to hear other opinions.

[DGreenistheBest]

First and foremost, eliminate the asinine rule preventing players from advancing squibbed or on sides kicks recovered by the kicking team. Absolutely pointless.

[the krabber]

Helmet-to-helmet and INTENTIONALLY attacking the knees (not being blocked into them) should be the only "roughing the passer" penalties. Dont necessarily make them challengeable by the coach, but let the replay official upstairs have the authority to overrule an obvious non-penalty.

Note: Im not including the Late Hit penalty, because that is a penalty in and of itself and applies to everyone on the field.

Edit: OT rules should be college with an edit. Both teams should get a chance for the ball, but the ball should be marked further back than college rules.

[pjfootballer]

1) Push in the back on KO/PR- Call clipping below the waist

2) Call face mask/hands to the face on ball carriers. If the defense can't grab the cage, neither can the offense.

3) Dump the tuck rule. He pulls it back in, it's a fumble. Hand goes forward, incomplete.

4) Team celebrations allow. Get rid of the assinine individual celebrations.

5) No sliding for the QB. You take off, prepare to get smacked.

6) Unintentional head slap to the helmet when trying to block the pass, should be able to be reviewed to see if it was unintentional.

7) Kickoff/onside is a live ball. Let the kicking team recover and advance it.

8) On encroachment/offsides. Don't blow the whistle unless a player touches another or the defender is unabated to the QB. You hardly ever see a "free play" anymore.

9) Move the Umpire behind the QB with the referree. He gets in the way and it worked in preseason.

10) New England and Dallass can never win a SB ever again.

11) Once the players are set, you cannot call a timeout to ICE the kicker.

All I can think of right now. I may come back for more ideas.

[Optimus Primeskins]

I HATE the NFL overtime rule ... Do it like college does. Each team gets at least once chance !

[BurntToast]

tuck rule blows.

[the krabber]

1) Push in the back on KO/PR- Call clipping below the waist

2) Call face mask/hands to the face on ball carriers. If the defense can't grab the cage, neither can the offense.

3) Dump the tuck rule. He pulls it back in, it's a fumble. Hand goes forward, incomplete.

4) Team celebrations allow. Get rid of the assinine individual celebrations.

5) No sliding for the QB. You take off, prepare to get smacked.

6) Unintentional head slap to the helmet when trying to block the pass, should be able to be reviewed to see if it was unintentional.

7) Kickoff/onside is a live ball. Let the kicking team recover and advance it.

8) On encroachment/offsides. Don't blow the whistle unless a player touches another or the defender is unabated to the QB. You hardly ever see a "free play" anymore.

9) Move the Umpire behind the QB with the referree. He gets in the way and it worked in preseason.

10) New England and Dallass can never win a SB ever again.

11) Once the players are set, you cannot call a timeout to ICE the kicker.

All I can think of right now. I may come back for more ideas.

1. Meh.
2. Agree.
3. AGREE!
4. Agree, with an edit. Allow team or individual to celebrate. Just have a time limit.
5. Meh...Ill let the QB slide. But if the defender is in the process of making a tackle before the QB goes down, he shouldnt get penalized.
6. Agree.
7. Agree.
8. Agree.
9. Not really sure what you are talkin about.
10. AGREE!
11. Agree. Also, go back to only allowing the players to call TO's. If the coach wants a TO, he can accidentally let the red flag "slip" and explain it came out when he was scratching an itch on his bum with some extra exuberence.

[BALLz]

Illegal contact should be 5 yards but not an automatic 1st.

Ditch the force out rule. If you don't get 2 feet in then the pass is incomplete.

Considering refs make more than 2 mistakes per game teams should be giving more than 2 chances to challenge. Bump it to 3 and if you win them all you get a 4th.

Challenges should be decided by a both offiicial or officials.

Cameras should always be set up to look down the goal line and sideline. I can't belive the number of time there is a close play on the goal line and they don't have a camera positioned to get a good angle.

[CM916]

Either call a penalty all the time or don't call it at all.

Get rid of the damn salary cap so we can have truly great teams again.

[DGreenistheBest]

Ditch the force out rule. If you don't get 2 feet in then the pass is incomplete.

That's one way to kill the passing game.

[BigMike619]

PJ sure had some opinions on that one. I bet he is thanking you for starting this thread.

I would personally make it so that Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin could NEVER commentate again.

I would also make it so that I had a button on my remote, and every time a commentator said something idiotic I could shock the heck out of them!! Collinsworth and Emmitt wouldnt make it past week 1.

I would make it so that the next person who brings up ST in a story about the Redskins gets punched in the baby maker. He isnt a story folks, its a tragedy!! I dont need to hear about his "tragic ending" whenever we are on the tv. its getting old in my book.

[JaimeDeCurry]

The pass interference rules suck. Also, I agree that illegal contact should not be an automatic 1st.

[BALLz]

Oh, I also think the NFL should perform test on all supplements and vitimans that are currently available and on all new supplements as they come out.

They should then create a brand specific list of legal and illegal supplements.

That way the whole arguement of "must have been something in the vitimans i was taking" will be out the window.

You see a product you want, look up the product you want and if it's not on the legal list, don't get it.

[pjfootballer]

1. Meh.
2. Agree.
3. AGREE!
4. Agree, with an edit. Allow team or individual to celebrate. Just have a time limit.
5. Meh...Ill let the QB slide. But if the defender is in the process of making a tackle before the QB goes down, he shouldnt get penalized.
6. Agree.
7. Agree.
8. Agree.
9. Not really sure what you are talkin about.
10. AGREE!
11. Agree. Also, go back to only allowing the players to call TO's. If the coach wants a TO, he can accidentally let the red flag "slip" and explain it came out when he was scratching an itch on his bum with some extra exuberence.

4. If you allow everyone to celebrate, then the umpire should place the ball down and start the playclock. If you aren't ready, then you waste a TO.

9. In preseason, they experimented with putting the Umpire to the left of the QB and putting the Referee to the Right of the QB to keep the umpire out of the middle of the field so he wouldn't get in the way of routes or get hit with the ball.

[pjfootballer]

Illegal contact should be 5 yards but not an automatic 1st.

Ditch the force out rule. If you don't get 2 feet in then the pass is incomplete.

Considering refs make more than 2 mistakes per game teams should be giving more than 2 chances to challenge. Bump it to 3 and if you win them all you get a 4th.

Challenges should be decided by a both offiicial or officials.

Cameras should always be set up to look down the goal line and sideline. I can't belive the number of time there is a close play on the goal line and they don't have a camera positioned to get a good angle.

I like the 5 yard not being an automatic

I like the forceout rule also as long as they don't hit the WR before he catches it.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

I disagree on force out being eliminated. To me, I can tell about 95 percent of the time if it's a force out. You'd basically be rewarding a defender for not making a play and just shoving someone out of bounds. I think it's enough to say they have to control the ball all the way to the ground. Or if no force-out, then go to one foot.

I am starting to believe that pass interference should be split up like face-masks and kicker contact. A regular call could be 10 or 15 yards (or spot of foul if it's shorter) and deliberate or egregious penalties could be the spot foul farther downfield. I also believe that 'overt' PI penalties should be challengeable plays. Basically, if the ref throws a flag for a 50 yard bomb late in the game, then the team gets ONE Pass interference challenge (it would be separate from normal challenges.)

Some of the changes aren't in the wording of the rule but the way it's officiated. I think they need to go back to allowing incidental contact downfield and stop calling illegal contact on everything.

For all the Pats hate, it was the goddamn Colts and their whining (and to some extent the Rams of 2001) that forced the league to change the way that was called.

I also believe the rule allows players to come in and make contact with the ball if they were FORCED out of bounds. About half of those illegal touching rules involve a guy who was shoved out of bounds. Again, rewarding a defender for a cheap move. Allow touching if the referee believes it was a force out. Even if it wasn't, who cares really? It should be like the NBA---you have to re-establish position inbounds but once you do, you can touch the ball. Well, they could rule anyone who RAN out ineligible but not someone shoved out.

[skinsane]

1) Push in the back on KO/PR- Call clipping below the waist

2) Call face mask/hands to the face on ball carriers. If the defense can't grab the cage, neither can the offense.

3) Dump the tuck rule. He pulls it back in, it's a fumble. Hand goes forward, incomplete.

4) Team celebrations allow. Get rid of the assinine individual celebrations.

5) No sliding for the QB. You take off, prepare to get smacked.

6) Unintentional head slap to the helmet when trying to block the pass, should be able to be reviewed to see if it was unintentional.

7) Kickoff/onside is a live ball. Let the kicking team recover and advance it.

8) On encroachment/offsides. Don't blow the whistle unless a player touches another or the defender is unabated to the QB. You hardly ever see a "free play" anymore.

9) Move the Umpire behind the QB with the referree. He gets in the way and it worked in preseason.

10) New England and Dallass can never win a SB ever again.

11) Once the players are set, you cannot call a timeout to ICE the kicker.

All I can think of right now. I may come back for more ideas.



I can't say I strongly disagree with any of these. Especially:

5) The qb slide really ticks me off.
11)Icing the kicker stuff is getting stupid.
3) Tuck rule.
1)The NFL will dissagree on push in the back, as where do you define the arms being extended to form a push. I say, find a way gentlemen, find a way. If it is a push and not a block in the back or a clip, let it go. I am sure that guys are being told to turn around to draw this penalty.


I like the other ones, but see the NFL as never bending on them, like:
The stiff arm to the face
The advancing of a recovered kick.


The Ump in a new spot makes sense and would like to see it tried.

[pjfootballer]

Change the PI rule similar to college. Instead of spot of foul, mark it off 25 yards. College is 15, so the pros should get 25. Not too long and not too short.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

I think you guys forget the whole slide thing's origins. It's the only way to make sure we know the QB is 'giving up' and just going down on that play. Otherwise, defensive players will try to get hits even if the guy is on the ground. If the QB keeps trying to get yards then you can hit them as hard as you like. The slide is the only way to tell they are 'downing' the ball a la Westbrook.

Make jokes about dresses or skirts all you want but QBs are a HUGE investment for a franchise and fanbase and QB play is important to having a decent product in football. Have enough of them out and the product suffers. And they're more vulnerable than most positions ever find themselves.

[skinsane]

I think you guys forget the whole slide thing's origins. It's the only way to make sure we know the QB is 'giving up' and just going down on that play. Otherwise, defensive players will try to get hits even if the guy is on the ground. If the QB keeps trying to get yards then you can hit them as hard as you like. The slide is the only way to tell they are 'downing' the ball a la Westbrook.

Make jokes about dresses or skirts all you want but QBs are a HUGE investment for a franchise and fanbase and QB play is important to having a decent product in football. Have enough of them out and the product suffers. And they're more vulnerable than most positions ever find themselves.


What if they changed it to where the ball is dead at the spot where the qb took his last step before beginning the slide, not at where the ball was when the qb began the slide. Don't reward someone for a non football move. It could be the difference of only a yard, but I'd be for it.

[Oldskool]

Remove the excessive celebration rule.

Horse collar tackles/leading with the helmet/chop blocks/flagrant facemasks should all be on a 3 strike basis. If a player gets called 3 times in one year for either of them, they are suspended for the rest of the season.

[dallasfan]

Change the PI rule similar to college. Instead of spot of foul, mark it off 25 yards. College is 15, so the pros should get 25. Not too long and not too short.

As soon as S.Moss gets 30 to 40 yards down field and someone tackles him, and the team gets rewarded 25 yards when it would've been twice as much, you'll want the rule changed back

[DCSaints_fan]

Offensive pass interference should be 10 years, PLUS loss of down. If you thinks thats too harsh, consider how harsh defensive PI is. I t assumes the offensive player would have caught ball had it not been for intereference. If you were going to equalize the penalties, then that means that you should assume a defender would get an interception.

I also agree that illegal contact/defensive holding shouldn't be automatic first down, because offensive holding isn't.

[snwbrdr585]

I HATE the NFL overtime rule ... Do it like college does. Each team gets at least once chance !

no, thats the dumbest thing ever. college overtime is the worst part of college. NFL OT is perfect the way it is

[RedskinsSuperBowl21]

First and foremost, eliminate the asinine rule preventing players from advancing squibbed or on sides kicks recovered by the kicking team. Absolutely pointless.

YEA and celebratipns are a great part of the sport. I think as long as its not taunting the other team then its ok with me.

[Gangsta Spanksta]

1) Get rid of the Crackback.
2) Get rid of the Emmitt Smith rule. To me that rule sucked some of the fun out of the NFL. I liked seeing the players, and it seems that rule only exists because Greenbay was on the competition commity.

[wysknz1]

Offensive pass interference should be a loss of down.

[skinsane]

One of the reasons many of us do not watch soccer is the flopping that takes place.

If coaches hear that a qb( cough cough brady cough) or any player at any position tries to exaggerate being hit in an attempt to draw a flag, they should be able to challenge it, and if proven, that player's team should be penalized 15 yards and loss of down. Of course it would have to be conclusive.

[pointyfootball]

Offensive pass interference should be 10 years, PLUS loss of down.

Wow, that's a little excessive isn't it? Michael Irvin would have been banned from the league until 2234!
:D

[cuchip703]

Get rid of the tuck rule..

forward progress rule near end of game. If the player gets out of bounds, even if he loses a few yards of forward progress...the game clock should stop...regardless

[stwasm]

I think the NFL should have an overtime system similar to that of college football where both teams get the ball. It's one of the few things college football has right, currently.

[pointyfootball]

My rule changes (in no particular order), and I'm serious:


1) Roster Size - I would game day reduce roster size to mid-30s range (or lower). This would force teams to have to play players both ways (better athletes), which would in turn result in the weight of players reducing, which would result in less injuries.

2) Instant Replay - only used for scoring challenges or turnovers. NOTHING else. TV timeouts are bad enough, giving them additional timeouts just kills the game continuity IMO.

3) Get rid of helmet communications. Give me a break, these guys have been playing football for years, are paid millions of dollars, have one coach per 3 players, start practicing in April and still need to have a lifeline?

4) Field goals > 50 yards = 4 points. Wouldn't that be fun?

5) Move kickoffs up at least 5 yards. I understand that most fans wanted to see more offense, but kickoff returns are probably the most dangerous times for players due to 10 players sprinting at the wedge. I'd almost guarantee the # of concussions on KOR has rocketed since they moved kickoff spot back.

6) Redo Tackling rules - Make defenders wrap ballcarrier; CALL spearing; stiff penalty for lowering the head in tackles.

7) Penalize yelling at the referee. Rugby and soccer get this right normally. Yeah referees stink at times, but no excuse for a professional sport which makes as much money as the NFL does to allow players to scream at referees.

8) Reduce Play Clock to 30 seconds. I'd even be happy with 35. Wouldn't you like to see 10 more plays a game? Maybe, just maybe, the OLinemen could JOG 10 yards downfield instead of walk.

9) Quit the overseas nonsense.

10) Don't allow Deion Sanders to interview TO ever again. Have you listened to the two of them? Painful.

I fully expect the rules committee to endorse and implement these by the start of 08. Going to be GREAT!

PF

[Riggo-toni]

1.Allow all players on the roster to be active
2.End the tuck rule
3.Guarantee one possession for both teams in OT.
4.Yes, you can advance an onsides kick
5.Some kind of qualified review on pass intereference
6.Allow FG reviews if any part of the crossbar,posts, etc. is hit. Heck, make it mandatory from the booth.
7.Lighten up on all the stupid celebrations regulations.

[praise_gibbs]

11) Once the players are set, you cannot call a timeout to ICE the kicker.

Why not? But, when the players are set on 1st and 10.. you can call a time out then? What is the difference? I know that this will become a rule (because the way the media bitches about it) but, I gotta say.. this one will be right up there with the 'Tuck Rule' as being the dumbest rule in the rulebook.

[KevinthePRF]

1. Eliminate the mandatory tv timeouts after kickoffs. It's annoying to have a slew of commercials, a kickoff, and another slew of commercials.

2. Defensive pass interference should be a 15 yard penalty.

3. Replay should only be allowed to dispute turnover or loss of possession on 4th down.

4. All TD celebrations should be allowed that don't cause a delay of game or taunt the opposing team directly.

5. All field goals of 55 yards or more should be 4 points.

6. Holding penalty should be 5 yards.

7. Only players on the field can call timeouts.

[Toe Jam]

Blow up Dallas.

Best change for the NFL in my opinion.

[pointyfootball]

4.Yes, you can advance an onsides kick

You're the third Redskin fan to propose this rule change. Wonder why? :)

[BALLz]

I disagree with limiting the plays that can be challenged. There are alot of plays other than just turnovers or scores that can have a huge affect on the game.

I think what needs to be changed is the way the plays are reviewed. When a challenge flag is thrown the ref should anounce that the play is being reviewed, but his fatass should remain on the field while the play is reviewed in the booth. The officials in the booth should be giving approx. 1 minute to review all camera angles and make their desicion. Which would then be relayed to the on field official via a nifty little ear peice where he can anounce the correct call.

This would save time as the ref would never have to leave the field, Would give the opportunity for multiple officials to view the play, and eliminate an chance of any ego getting in the way of a correct call being made.

[pjfootballer]

As soon as S.Moss gets 30 to 40 yards down field and someone tackles him, and the team gets rewarded 25 yards when it would've been twice as much, you'll want the rule changed back

Actually no. I hate seeing 70 yard penalties. I like when we get them now because the current rule is in place, but if everyone gets just 25 yds, I'm all for it. I've been watching college football for almost as long, and I actually like the 15 yard rule.

[pjfootballer]

I think you guys forget the whole slide thing's origins. It's the only way to make sure we know the QB is 'giving up' and just going down on that play. Otherwise, defensive players will try to get hits even if the guy is on the ground. If the QB keeps trying to get yards then you can hit them as hard as you like. The slide is the only way to tell they are 'downing' the ball a la Westbrook.

Make jokes about dresses or skirts all you want but QBs are a HUGE investment for a franchise and fanbase and QB play is important to having a decent product in football. Have enough of them out and the product suffers. And they're more vulnerable than most positions ever find themselves.

I'm just more old style football from the 40s to the 70's when the QB's were treated like men. My idea is that it will deter SOME QB's from running therefore making them pass. Making them pass in a tight situation may lead to more turnover's for the defense.

Funny how the rules have changed so much to protect the QB and they still get hurt and we still rant about having depth. Back in the 70's teams usually only carried 2 QB's. I can't say that I remember alot of them getting as hurt as they do nowadays. And they weren't protected.

[pjfootballer]

Why not? But, when the players are set on 1st and 10.. you can call a time out then? What is the difference? I know that this will become a rule (because the way the media bitches about it) but, I gotta say.. this one will be right up there with the 'Tuck Rule' as being the dumbest rule in the rulebook.

I see what you are saying. I guess the only way is to put a limit like when the play clock is under 10 seconds or 5 seconds, you can't call timeout.

[pointyfootball]

[QUOTE=BALLz]I disagree with limiting the plays that can be challenged. There are alot of plays other than just turnovers or scores that can have a huge affect on the game.[QUOTE]

Well...you're wrong.

Just kidding.

I dunno, I think reducing the time between plays, as well the number of stoppages would only improve the overall experience. Yes there are plays that are important that could be reviewed. However, there SEVEN officials. I think for the large part they are going to make the correct call. For the critical plays (scoring/turnovers) you always have the benefit of replay. Otherwise, what's next? Impregnating the football with magnetic material so they NFL could position MRI machines to allow officials to see through bodies and locate the EXACT location of the football? If Replay is so important, why have more than one ref? You could just have him set up with a good headset and then have the booths upstairs make all the calls and radio them down to him. :)