The NFL rule shortfalls

[Exterous]

Yeah the OT rules are kinda shitty to the coin toss looser so I would be in favor of a short OT period - say 8 minutes or something like that.

As for the rules about QBs - come on - its a contact sport. Is it risky to play? Yes. If you don't like it - don't play. I am pretty sure there are at least a couple of QBs out there who have played entire careers without the protection of these new rules

 

[zinfamous]

http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_11_08_04.html

from 1974-2003, the team that won the toss won the game 52% of the time. the bias isn't that strong. I wouldn't mind seeing college style OT be implemented in the NFL because I think it's more exciting, but I also don't see a strong need to change current NFL OT rules.

hmm. that's interesting. Sudden death still sucks, though--and they still allow ties.

even if there is no strong bias, I remember the situation (granted--completely odd and will likely never happen again), where the ref botched the coin toss call from Pittsburgh, thinking he called "tails" when everyone watching the game at the stadium and at home, and all the players on the field clearly heard him call "heads"

totally lost the game for Pittsburgh. really, really fucked up and they should never have been placed in that position. I'm not a Steelers fan, either.

 

[Via]

I say ten minute OT with normal clock, and then turn off the game clock until someone wins.

That being said, it's sort of an illusion that NFL OT benefits the team that wins the toss. I think it's like 50/50 who wins.

It does suck when your team loses without an offensive touch.

 

[zinfamous]

This would be such a change to the way we play the game, it wouldn't happen. Period. Many people argue rubgy vs. football, but quite simply, the hits laid out in football are brutal compared to the way you play rugby because of what you say. The sport is becoming softer in the way basketball is - they're removing defense by adding the small penalties that make it become ticky tac.

As for overtime, I agree - I hate it.

but the hits in football are, for the most part, completely unnecessary and BAD FOOTBALL, more or less. They don't lead to tackling as much as real tackling would. You end up with far more broken tackles and HUGE plays from the offense that otherwise wouldn't have happened if the shit-for brains defender actually went for the tackle over some nonsensical "big hit."

I know this has been my soapbox for a few weeks now, but it really does need to change. I don't mind some big hits here and there, but the game, the media, the fans...have all encouraged big hits over playing the game. It's nonsense as far as the game goes, and it's nonsense in terms of leading to pointless, career-ending injuries.

 

[zinfamous]

Good idea, that way the Lions can just fly the white flag out in front of Ford Field and save everyone the trip

Bwahahahaha

 

[sao123]

OT - just play afull 5th quarter.

 

[zinfamous]

I think OT should be 5 on 5 with the coach playing QB.

I've always thought the coaches should meet at midfield and wrestle for the win.

 

[Genx87]

Agreed... and I still think P. Thomas didn't get that first down.

Yeah, at first I thought he did. But the ball was dislodged from his hands and pushed back. It was close though.

 

[Fizzorin]

I think there are few glaring shortfalls in the NFL rule system, starting with the way overtime works... sudden death overtime gives enormous value to the coin toss. I disagree with that fundamentally. I understand this would inevitably extend the length of some games, but I'd rather that than the bad taste in my mouth every time a game ends because of a lucky or unlucky heads/tails call. It really takes something away from otherwise amazing games.

If the #1 overall defense, #1 pass defense, and #8 run defense can't stop the #9 overall offense, #2 pass offense, and #32 run offense I don't think that's "coin flip luck".

 

[zinfamous]

Yeah the OT rules are kinda shitty to the coin toss looser so I would be in favor of a short OT period - say 8 minutes or something like that.

As for the rules about QBs - come on - its a contact sport. Is it risky to play? Yes. If you don't like it - don't play. I am pretty sure there are at least a couple of QBs out there who have played entire careers without the protection of these new rules

There sure are...but have you ever looked into the types of lives these quarterbacks have after retiring? And remember...retirement age for a hall of fame QB is around 38-40. super young.

Namath's arm is practically vestigial at this point, and this isn't that unusual. For O Linemen, the knees are fucked for the rest of your life.

Few people actually pay attention to this, but life after the NFL for these guys is anything but rosy. You may see them hamming it up in front of the camera endorsing whatever, or commenting before or during a game, but life is often hell outside of the public eye.

 

[Via]

Yeah, at first I thought he did. But the ball was dislodged from his hands and pushed back. It was close though.

It would be impossoble to determine whether he did or didn't.

Remember - it's forward progress, so you'd have to measure the tip of the ball before it got dislodged by the defenders helmet. How could you do that accurately?

 

[imported_Champ]

I think I'm the only one who likes it...if your defense can't stop a team from scoring on a sudden death drive you don't deserve the win.

Defense win championships

from a broncos fan...

 

[Genx87]

It would be impossoble to determine whether he did or didn't.

Remember - it's forward progress, so you'd have to measure the tip of the ball before it got dislodged by the defenders helmet. How could you do that accurately?

There was a perfect shot on replay. It was close though. Not enough to overturn the original ruling. But I didnt realize it until they started showing replays that the ball may not have crossed the first down marker due to being dislodged.

 

[Genx87]

I think I'm the only one who likes it...if your defense can't stop a team from scoring on a sudden death drive you don't deserve the win.

Defense win championships

from a broncos fan...

Anything can happen and the statistics are showing a very strong bias for the coin toss providing the winner since they changed the kickoff rules.

 

[mugs]

I think I'm the only one who likes it...if your defense can't stop a team from scoring on a sudden death drive you don't deserve the win.

Defense win championships

from a broncos fan...

Wait, I don't understand - you say "if your defense can't stop a team from scoring on a sudden death drive you don't deserve the win," but you like the current system? That doesn't make any sense - the current system doesn't require both teams to play defense, so it results in games where a winner is declared yet in your opinion no one deserved to win the game.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

I think I'm the only one who likes it...if your defense can't stop a team from scoring on a sudden death drive you don't deserve the win.

Defense win championships

from a broncos fan...

why does the team winning the flip always choose to receive? (hint - its NOT because defense wins championships)

OT rules are an embarrassment for sure

 

[Via]

There was a perfect shot on replay. It was close though. Not enough to overturn the original ruling. But I didnt realize it until they started showing replays that the ball may not have crossed the first down marker due to being dislodged.

It was an AMAZING job by Thomas to hold on to the ball, so I guess he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Doboji]

Yeah, at first I thought he did. But the ball was dislodged from his hands and pushed back. It was close though.

The important thing is he lost control of the ball, by rule he shouldn't get forward progress without control of the ball.

 

[Via]

The important thing is he lost control of the ball, by rule he shouldn't get forward progress without control of the ball.

Did he really totally lose control of the ball though? It was never free of his body.

 

[dank69]

It is up to the defense to step up and make the stop. GTFO of my NFL rules.

 

[speg]

I like the current OT system and don't wish for it to change. If what you say is true (coin-toss winners have a serious advantage), then you would expect coin-toss winners to win a significant portion of the time.

Yet, as the stats they flashed up before overtime suggest: Coin-toss winners are only 7-6 (now 8-6) in postseason play. Clearly not an "enormous" advantage.

 

[Doboji]

Just watched the Thomas replay about 12 times. Too close to call. First down is legitimate. Leber makes contact right at the line, but he goes through Thomas's face to get to the ball, so it's impossible to determine if it broke the line or not. Play should stand as called on the field.

 

[zinfamous]

There was a perfect shot on replay. It was close though. Not enough to overturn the original ruling. But I didnt realize it until they started showing replays that the ball may not have crossed the first down marker due to being dislodged.

I don't think the shot was a straight-on angle though of the first-down line. The best shot I saw was of the ball, and the ability to determine possession, but it was too close to actually see where he was in relation to the marker.

That shot was more of an angle, and really hard to determine exactly. it looked to me that he did indeed retain possession by pinning the ball to his thigh, and that the ball was certainly pushed down far enough and possibly before the down marker--but I think the issue is that it wasn't clear enough to overturn.

I could go either way with that one, but I think they made the right call.

 

[silverpig]

The college system for OT (which is also used in the CFL) is HORRIBLE and gives a huge advantage to the second team, much more than the coin flip in the NFL. Look at this situation:

1st team is 4th and 6 at the 20. What do they do? Kick a FG obviously.

2nd team is 4th and 6 at the 20. What do they do? Depends on what the first team did. If the first team scored a FG, then you kick the FG. But if the first team got a TD, you're playing 4-down football all the way.

The problem comes because the second team always has information about how the 1st team did, and the 1st team never has any information about how the 2nd team is going to do.

If you wanted to go with the college system, then there should be a 3 round system similar to a hockey shootout. Each team gets three rounds from the 35, most touchdowns wins. After that, rounds go one by one. No such thing as field goals or converts.

Either that, or a full extra quarter.

 

[SunnyD]

but the hits in football are, for the most part, completely unnecessary and BAD FOOTBALL, more or less. They don't lead to tackling as much as real tackling would. You end up with far more broken tackles and HUGE plays from the offense that otherwise wouldn't have happened if the shit-for brains defender actually went for the tackle over some nonsensical "big hit."

I know this has been my soapbox for a few weeks now, but it really does need to change. I don't mind some big hits here and there, but the game, the media, the fans...have all encouraged big hits over playing the game. It's nonsense as far as the game goes, and it's nonsense in terms of leading to pointless, career-ending injuries.

Thing is with all the wussy rules in place now, they're teaching defenders to go for the ball instead of a tackle, simply because there's far too many flags thrown for stupid shit if you actually try to make a stop. About mid-season, a lot of "top" teams were in the air because their defenses couldn't (wouldn't) tackle worth shit. THIS is why the big plays happen so often now - because defenses are being told not to go for the hit and wrap anymore.