Good morn, everyone! Things have a been a tick quieter here the last few days. We’ve got some big things cookin’ at Go Long and I cannot wait to share with everyone soon.
In the meantime, the NFL Owners Meetings are being held down in Florida.
This is when new, dumb rules are typically added to a rulebook that's about 987 pages too long. If there’s anything we don’t need in society, it’s more rules and regulation that confuse all involved. So, let’s hear your best change to the NFL below. Maybe there is something logical that must be changed. After that instant classic between Buffalo and KC in the playoffs, a tweak to OT seemed overdue but Mike Tomlin, for one, is a “sudden death advocate”, a “traditionalist.” I do respect not wanting to get too crazy. (Nobody likes the guy in your fantasy league proposing bizarre changes 17 minutes before your draft, right?)
Also, stay tuned for more from Jim Monos this week. The longtime personnel man will share some of his best stories from the draft for subscribers. Here’s his look at free agency last week, icymi.
The NFL should give one point to the kicking team IF the kicker kicks the kickoff through the uprights on the kickoff. It would make kickoffs more interesting and give a point to special teams.
Just one playing rule: eliminate most of the protections on QBs. Knees, fine, but the idea that every scrape of a knuckle against a helmet is worth 15 yards needs to go.
Overtime: go back to old rules. 15 minutes, first score wins, no matter what.
What I'd really like to see would be for the NFL to realize the game is horribly weighted towards offense and action needs to be taken. The rules favoring offense are the cause of why people see a problem in overtime (well, that and Twitter crying). If the rules were fair to both sides, a team should feel they have at least a reasonable shot at getting a defensive stop.
The NFL started tinkering with overtime in the first place when certain people (Peter King in particular) didn't like that the first team with the ball could just kick a field goal to win. So my solution is: after the opening kickoff, no more kicks. No field goals, no punts, gotta go for it on 4th down and the first team that scores a touchdown (or safety) wins. Yes, it doesn't fix the Buffalo/KC game, but there's no way to ensure enough possessions for both teams unless you play a full extra period. And maybe in the playoffs that's what they should do. But I feel like my proposal solves the original problem.
It makes zero sense to have the new, adjusted OT rule be applicable ONLY for the playoffs and NOT for the regular season. The reason behind this avoidance is absurd: potential increased injuries if the OT sessions continue for a few more minutes. C'mon, please.....fairness should override injury concerns.
Football sometimes results in unfortunate injuries.....that's life in the NFL.
I think the coaches should have a silent bid on starting yard line in OT. Lowest bid gets the ball at that spot.
So Coach A says that he would start on the 10 yard line but Coach B says he would start on the 8. Imagine the second guessing: "LaFluer should have bid the 3yard line! He's got Aaron Freaking Rodgers!"
Each game has an official in charge of the game that is in the booth and handles all replay reviews. He has the authority to review plays within specific circumstances and can buzz down to stop play. He has 30 seconds to make a call or non-call. Specifics can be worked on, but I just hate a) horrible on-field calls that decide games, and b) the ridiculous amount of time it takes to have a ref come over and look at a tiny screen to make decisions.
Could not agree more with the college rule change on pass interference. The game on Thanksgiving between Dallas and Las Vegas (in Dallas) with the refs setting the record for pass interference yards should be evidence enough to at least test the rule for a year.
About overtime, it's easy. Just play a full 15 minute QTR and whatever the score is at the end is the final score. Don't have to worry about teams not having a fair shot. I don't want to hear about shortening the game. Most fans would love that OT rule. It's the NFL that seems to want to shorten the game as they subject the fans to long conferences by the refs after a call that can be made in seconds.
Another thing. If a receiver drops the ball any any point then it's not a catch. The ground can cause a fumble. This isn't College ball. If a RB or WR gets hit and hits the ground and fumbles, it's a fumble. If a player is running with the ball and falls on his own and hits the ground and loses the ball it's a fumble.
QB's are protected too much. A slight tap on a QB's helmet should not be grounds for a roughing call.
The NFL should give one point to the kicking team IF the kicker kicks the kickoff through the uprights on the kickoff. It would make kickoffs more interesting and give a point to special teams.
Just one playing rule: eliminate most of the protections on QBs. Knees, fine, but the idea that every scrape of a knuckle against a helmet is worth 15 yards needs to go.
Overtime: go back to old rules. 15 minutes, first score wins, no matter what.
What I'd really like to see would be for the NFL to realize the game is horribly weighted towards offense and action needs to be taken. The rules favoring offense are the cause of why people see a problem in overtime (well, that and Twitter crying). If the rules were fair to both sides, a team should feel they have at least a reasonable shot at getting a defensive stop.
The NFL started tinkering with overtime in the first place when certain people (Peter King in particular) didn't like that the first team with the ball could just kick a field goal to win. So my solution is: after the opening kickoff, no more kicks. No field goals, no punts, gotta go for it on 4th down and the first team that scores a touchdown (or safety) wins. Yes, it doesn't fix the Buffalo/KC game, but there's no way to ensure enough possessions for both teams unless you play a full extra period. And maybe in the playoffs that's what they should do. But I feel like my proposal solves the original problem.
It makes zero sense to have the new, adjusted OT rule be applicable ONLY for the playoffs and NOT for the regular season. The reason behind this avoidance is absurd: potential increased injuries if the OT sessions continue for a few more minutes. C'mon, please.....fairness should override injury concerns.
Football sometimes results in unfortunate injuries.....that's life in the NFL.
Fairness should be the deciding factor.
I think the coaches should have a silent bid on starting yard line in OT. Lowest bid gets the ball at that spot.
So Coach A says that he would start on the 10 yard line but Coach B says he would start on the 8. Imagine the second guessing: "LaFluer should have bid the 3yard line! He's got Aaron Freaking Rodgers!"
More touchdowns please
Who cares. More intricate rules allow the ref's to control the game more than ever before. PI is a joke just like the "Euro-step" in the NBA.
Each game has an official in charge of the game that is in the booth and handles all replay reviews. He has the authority to review plays within specific circumstances and can buzz down to stop play. He has 30 seconds to make a call or non-call. Specifics can be worked on, but I just hate a) horrible on-field calls that decide games, and b) the ridiculous amount of time it takes to have a ref come over and look at a tiny screen to make decisions.
Could not agree more with the college rule change on pass interference. The game on Thanksgiving between Dallas and Las Vegas (in Dallas) with the refs setting the record for pass interference yards should be evidence enough to at least test the rule for a year.
Use the college pass interference penalty of 15 yards instead of spot of the foul. Teams shouldn't gain 40-60 yards due to underthrown passes.
4-pt conversion!! From the 30-yd line.
Okay…no.
About overtime, it's easy. Just play a full 15 minute QTR and whatever the score is at the end is the final score. Don't have to worry about teams not having a fair shot. I don't want to hear about shortening the game. Most fans would love that OT rule. It's the NFL that seems to want to shorten the game as they subject the fans to long conferences by the refs after a call that can be made in seconds.
Another thing. If a receiver drops the ball any any point then it's not a catch. The ground can cause a fumble. This isn't College ball. If a RB or WR gets hit and hits the ground and fumbles, it's a fumble. If a player is running with the ball and falls on his own and hits the ground and loses the ball it's a fumble.
QB's are protected too much. A slight tap on a QB's helmet should not be grounds for a roughing call.