Changes I'd Like to see the NFL Make

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?

[GpaVader]

The only comment on the kick off piece is that it doesn't really allow for onside kicks.

Sometimes they are predictable, behind by a possession or more with time running out. Other times they come out of the blue like in the SB with NO and Indy. A coach see's something or wants to roll the dice...

Personally, I think they should give the coach's one more challenge and let them challenge anything, anytime. Same rules apply if you are wrong you lose a time out and if don't have a time out, you don't have any challenges. Really think the roughing the passer is getting out of hand. Next thing you know the QB will have to wear flags...

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I thought about the onside kick. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It doesn't happen very often and I'd say that 95% of the time everyone knows it's coming.

I have mixed feelings about that one.

Yes, roughing the passer does seems to be called too much. A lot of the times I think it's just a bad call.

[Stu from NYC]

Not going to happen but shorten the game with less and shorter commercials

[Badger 2006]

Agree with at least 1 coaches challenge for anything. Too many missed or bad calls that can impact the game outcome. Since the ref’s on the field are going to get critical calls wrong, or flat out miss a call sometimes, and the zillion cameras will almost immediately expose the error, possibly an off field ref that has the ability to make a missed call, or reverse a bad call would help.

[Badger 2006]

Not going to happen but shorten the game with less and shorter commercials

That’s tapping into the networks revenue stream, so that’s not going to happen.

[MarkD1981]

Always having the visitors bat first in baseball makes sense because it is more exciting for the home team fans since the game is over once the home team has the lead in the final inning. With football, there are really two decisions. Who gets the ball first and what end zone do you defend first. Deciding can be a meaningful advantage especially in bad weather.

[jedalton]

I like it

[Two Bills]

I think that any franchise making their team wear pink, should have to give all their players a $million bonus.
Plus.
All teams playing against Patrick Mahomes should be given a 14 point start, because he's that good!

[George Page]

All teams playing against Patrick Mahomes should be given a 14 point start, because he's that good!

Better yet, start the season presenting the Super Bowl trophy to whatever team has Brady and cancel all the games.

[Worldseries27]

get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?
1. No hash marks.
Useless marker.
2. Wider field
3. Penalties away
from the play

cannot negate it
4. Qb can throw a
field goal from 70
plus yards
5. Pass interference
only called if their
is grabbing of
players body or
uniform

[rrtjp]

Get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?

Eliminate all the celebration BS in the end zone

[NoMo50]

Change the scoring values for field goals, which would add strategy to the game:

From 1 to 25 yards = 1 point
From 26 to 40 yards = 2 points
From 41 to 55 yards = 3 points
Field goals over 56 yards = 4 points

[Sparky6236]

Better yet, start the season presenting the Super Bowl trophy to whatever team has Brady and cancel all the games.

No Super Bowl trophy for Tom Baby this season.

[Fredman]

[QUOTE=Dr Winston O Boogie jr;2154141]Get rid of the coin toss. like in baseball.

I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty.
It is not controversial they do move the ball to the 25 yard line.

[Notsocrates]

Get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?

The coin toss decides who kicks. The loser decides which part of the field to defend. The wind is a big factor especially in the 4th Q. Which 20 yard line would you use?

[PoolBrews]

I want the coach to be able to throw his red flag for a facemask. This happens way too often and is missed many times. Directly related to player safety. It's a black and white call - very obvious. Your player comes out and says " I had a hand in my facemask, and my head was pulled around violently" Easy call to throw the flag.

Right now, it's not reviewable, yet it's a huge safety issue.

[PoolBrews]

I also hate half the distance to the goal when it's offense. If they false start or delay game, it only costs them inches. When inside the 10 yard line, the defense should be able to take away a down instead of taking the inches.

[GoneFishing]

Not going to happen but shorten the game with less and shorter commercials
Agree 100% with the less and shorter commercials.

[williep]

Just DVR the game and watch it later. No commercials or half time BS. Just don't watch sports news until after you watch the game.

]

[Maker]

Get rid of all penalties for offense jumping early, invalid formation, failure to report, etc. Allow any movement as along as it doesn't cross the line of scrimmage.

[MrFlorida]

Get rid of those captions on the back of their helmets, team names excluded.

[Tom M]

When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.


How about those penalties when offense is on the 2 yard line they only get 1 penalty yard on defensive penalty but get penalized a full distance on offensive penalties? Perhaps if you only get half the distance if the defense commits a penalty you only get "twice the distance from the goal" on an offensive penalty?

And defensive penalties in the last 2 minutes (especially last 30 seconds) can be more impacted by the time the play took than the yards. Give the offense the option of having the time put back on the clock rather than the yards.

[Maddog7]

I like the idea of 1 challenge for anything. I hate when you can’t challenge a non reviewable play when it is critical to the outcome. In OT, the team that loses the toss should get a chance to score a TD if the coin toss winner scores a TD on the first drive.

[Two Bills]

I like the idea of 1 challenge for anything. I hate when you can’t challenge a non reviewable play when it is critical to the outcome. In OT, the team that loses the toss should get a chance to score a TD if the coin toss winner scores a TD on the first drive.

Absolutely.
Both teams should receive in overtime, otherwise they might as well decide the game on a toss of the coin.

[ccrider]

With the big bucks they are giving the pro teams (and the college conferences), you will probably see more commercials A couple weeks ago, I stated watching a college game that started at 12:30 PM. I had some things to do, so I turned it off at about 1:00. I came back to the game at 3:00 expecting it to be well into the 4th quarter. Nope - they were just kicking off to start the third quarter. Too many commercials, too many "reviews" by the officials. Good games have become booooring!!

[Tom M]

With the big bucks they are giving the pro teams (and the college conferences), you will probably see more commercials A couple weeks ago, I stated watching a college game that started at 12:30 PM. I had some things to do, so I turned it off at about 1:00. I came back to the game at 3:00 expecting it to be well into the 4th quarter. Nope - they were just kicking off to start the third quarter. Too many commercials, too many "reviews" by the officials. Good games have become booooring!!

Agree! And they let the clock continue running for most of the game after incompletions (they didn't used to do that) so they can still get a game done in less than 4 hours with so many more commercials.

[RiderOnTheStorm]

Get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?

I would like the NFL to get rid of conflicted felons, wife beaters and anyone who didn't salute our flag during the playing of the national anthem. Then I might watch again.

[coralway]

Good grief …. Leave the game alone. It’s bad enough baseball is slowly, but surely, incorporating new rules. Presumably to speed the game up. If the game is taking too long for you, change the channel.

These proposed changes would have Vince Lombardi rolling in his grave.

[Babubhat]

No blitzing and quarterback can’t cross line of scrimmage. Tired of joker quarterbacks running around like the stooges. College clown show. Their function is to throw

[Tom M]

Good grief …. Leave the game alone. It’s bad enough baseball is slowly, but surely, incorporating new rules. Presumably to speed the game up. If the game is taking too long for you, change the channel.

These proposed changes would have Vince Lombardi rolling in his grave.

The past changes would. It used to be two feet down for a completed pass. Now you have to have both feet down and take several steps. Changes to the kickoff, onside kick, ball on the 25, extra point kicks of 40 yards, 2 point conversions. Lots of changes since Lombardi.

[Worldseries27]

change the scoring values for field goals, which would add strategy to the game:

From 1 to 25 yards = 1 point
from 26 to 40 yards = 2 points
from 41 to 55 yards = 3 points
field goals over 56 yards = 4 points
agree

[George Page]

No Super Bowl trophy for Tom Baby this season.

I’ve heard that several times over the years!

[TOMTOFVIL]

5 yard penalty but no automatic first down

[Shimpy]

Get rid of the coin toss. The away team gets the ball first just like in baseball.
When a team is penalized and the penalty yardage is more than the distance they have behind them, move the ball halfway to the goal line but add the additional yardage at the other end. For example, a team is on their own 10 yard line and they commit a fifteen yard penalty move the ball to the five but move the sticks ten yards so they have to make it to the thirty for a first down. That way they are actually getting a fifteen yard penalty.
I know that this might be controversial, but because they are so concerned with player safety, especially on kickoffs, they've moved the touchback like to the 25 instead of the twenty. Since most kickoffs go into or over the end zone. I'd just eliminate kickoffs and place the ball on the twenty.
When there is a defensive penalty on a touchdown, it is applied to the ensuing kickoff which is meaningless because all it does is allow the kicking team to kick the ball out of the end zone. I'd place the ball on the 10 yard line and make it first and ten. If it was a fifteen yard penalty, it would be first and fifteen from the ten.
Any other ideas or comments?

QB spiking the ball to stop the clock should be the same as intentional grounding.

[eweissenbach]

I thought about the onside kick. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It doesn't happen very often and I'd say that 95% of the time everyone knows it's coming.

I have mixed feelings about that one.

Yes, roughing the passer does seems to be called too much. A lot of the times I think it's just a bad call.

The three most egregiously enforced penalties: pass interference, offensive and defensive, absolutely ridiculously inconsistent; offensive holding - call it all the time or eliminate the rule, it is like they say in basketball “you can’t call every foul or violation”, bullspit, call every one and soon see that the violations discontinue. Roughing the passer has gone from ridiculous to unbelievable.

[tophcfa]

No Super Bowl trophy for Tom Baby this season.

History says it’s not a good idea to bet against him.

[Retiredsteve]

Better yet, start the season presenting the Super Bowl trophy to whatever team has Brady and cancel all the games. Doesn't look like he is getting it this year.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Agree with at least 1 coaches challenge for anything. Too many missed or bad calls that can impact the game outcome. Since the ref’s on the field are going to get critical calls wrong, or flat out miss a call sometimes, and the zillion cameras will almost immediately expose the error, possibly an off field ref that has the ability to make a missed call, or reverse a bad call would help.

It didn't help the Saints with the most obvious pass interference violation I've ever seen not being called in the NFC Championship game a few years ago. It kept them out of the Super Bowl.

I like the idea of booth reviews which they may not have had at that time.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The coin toss decides who kicks. The loser decides which part of the field to defend. The wind is a big factor especially in the 4th Q. Which 20 yard line would you use?

You could go by the logo on the field or allow the home team to decide.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I also hate half the distance to the goal when it's offense. If they false start or delay game, it only costs them inches. When inside the 10 yard line, the defense should be able to take away a down instead of taking the inches.
Like I said, take away the inches and add the rest on the other end. The way it is now gives the offense liberty to take all kinds of penalties. First and ten from the four is not much different than first and twelve from the two. But it's a lot different than first and twenty from the two. The offense can hold, block from behind, grab face masks and do anything they want knowing that even if they get caught it's only a few yards.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

How about those penalties when offense is on the 2 yard line they only get 1 penalty yard on defensive penalty but get penalized a full distance on offensive penalties? Perhaps if you only get half the distance if the defense commits a penalty you only get "twice the distance from the goal" on an offensive penalty?

And defensive penalties in the last 2 minutes (especially last 30 seconds) can be more impacted by the time the play took than the yards. Give the offense the option of having the time put back on the clock rather than the yards.

If I'm not mistaken, most of those penalties also include automatic first down. If it's on a first and goal, they could add another down.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Change the scoring values for field goals, which would add strategy to the game:

From 1 to 25 yards = 1 point
From 26 to 40 yards = 2 points
From 41 to 55 yards = 3 points
Field goals over 56 yards = 4 points

I'd do just the opposite. Inside the from yard line 3 points. 10-20 yard line 2 points, over 20 past the twenty yard line 1 point. That would encourage teams to go for the first down more often and give them credit for all of the yards gained. Maybe give four points for inside the five yard line.

It's a team game. I think that the team should be rewarded for being about to advance the ball further down the field. Now, a team that gets the ball all the way to the one yard line gets the same reward as a team that only gets it to the 25. And if the team has an especially good long ball kicker, the rest of the offense doesn't have to play that well. Get the ball to the 40 and let the kicker put points on the board.

[Babubhat]

Horse collar tackles an immediate disqualification.

Long field goals worth LESS. 60 yard field goals are ridiculous. Teams should be rewarded for advancing the ball

[Fredman]

The past changes would. It used to be two feet down for a completed pass. Now you have to have both feet down and take several steps. Changes to the kickoff, onside kick, ball on the 25, extra point kicks of 40 yards, 2 point conversions. Lots of changes since Lombardi.

You only need 2 feet down, no need to take several steps.

[Fredman]

These posts are some of the craziest ideas I have ever heard. The game is fine as it is. If it isn’t broke don’t fix it

[Flyers999]

I want the coach to be able to throw his red flag for a facemask. This happens way too often and is missed many times. Directly related to player safety. It's a black and white call - very obvious. Your player comes out and says " I had a hand in my facemask, and my head was pulled around violently" Easy call to throw the flag.

Right now, it's not reviewable, yet it's a huge safety issue.

I agree. It's a dangerous injury. Eagles tight end, Dallas Goedert is still out after being fouled by a Redskin's defensive player. The guy held on to his facemask for five yards before dragging him down. No penalty called.

[Flyers999]

Eagles have been getting burned by this in just about every game. Happened again today. It's third and ten. Hurtz gains nine yards. The team runs up to the line and tries to run a Qback sneak on fourth and one. A defensive player falls down because obviously the defense wants to get more lineman in the game.

The league has finally handed out a fine for this to Saints defensive end Cam Jordan for last Monday night game.

NFL levies $550,000 in fines for allegedly fake Cam Jordan injury on Monday night - ProFootballTalk (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/10/nfl-levies-550000-in-fines-for-allegedly-fake-cam-jordan-injury-on-monday-night/)

The Eagles weren't actually burned today. On that fourth and one, Hurts pitched the ball out to Sanders who did an end run for 12 yards. This year, the Eagles can gain 12 yards by sneezing.

[threeonemiles@outlook.com]

Eliminate all the celebration BS in the end zone
Agreed. They do that even when they are losing by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Look at me, look at me! Such rubbish.
Give the ball to the official and get off the field. Act like you have done it before. If you want to dance, join the Rockettes.

[Davonu]

Eliminate all the celebration BS in the end zone
Yeah. One or the best football sayings I’ve heard…

When you get to the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.