THE NFLThe popularity of is at an all-time high.
They have become the Midas of the sports world: everything they touch, it seems, turns to gold. Whether it’s their merchandise, their games, or the draft, America can’t get enough of what the NFL has to offer.
But as great as they are, there is still room for improvement and change.
So I came up with five ideas and/or rule changes that would benefit both the on-field product and the off-field experience. These suggestions will impact fans no matter where they are: in the stands, on the couch or at the sports bar.
Some are a little more subtle, while others are wholesale changes to the “norm.”
But all are worth the debate.
“Illegal Contact” must be called any time contact is made between a defender and a receiver once they have traveled five or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage. And the quarterback is still in possession of the ball And inside the pocket.
The resulting penalty is five yards from the previous point plus an automatic first down.
And even if the rule itself is not in question, the punishment in its entirety is.
The penalty – five yards and an automatic first down – was a direct result of defensive players mauling receivers and essentially getting away with it, as long as the mauled player wasn’t a targeted receiver.
Supporters of the enhanced penalty – the automatic first down – argue that it is intended to discourage defensive players from playing too aggressively, allowing offensive players to move more freely through the defense. Of course, the rule as a whole would result in more points.
However, where punishment falls short is not only its application or inconsistency, but also the feeling that the punishment is not fit for the crime.
For example, a defensive player caught offside only costs his team five yards. Only if the infraction is within five yards of a first down will the penalty result in a first down, not automatically, such as illegal contact.
Additionally, receivers – and offenses as a whole – are more protected than ever thanks to the league’s emphasis on enforcing “helpless receiver” and “pass interference” rules. So I say if the league wants to emphasize these two rules, then they should relax the penalty for illegal contact.
Give the offense five yards, but make them gain the first down.
The current number of timeouts is six timeouts for the game, with three available in each half.
Under this proposed change, each team would be given five timeouts for the entire game to use at their discretion.
Overtime timeouts would remain unchanged, with each team having two.
So, if Team A only used one timeout in the first half, they would have four available in the second half. Conversely, if Team A uses three timeouts in the first half, they will only have two in the second half.
Consider the impact of one less wait time.
This would not only force teams to plan how to use their timeouts, but it would also potentially speed up the game and reduce the number of commercial breaks.
Coaches, meanwhile, would be under even more pressure to manage their time appropriately. They should debate whether to reserve a timeout to block a kicker late in the game, or use it to slow down a rushing opposing attack.
Quarterbacks would think twice before calling a timeout in the first quarter because of a defensive pattern they recognized, or to avoid a delay of game penalty because they inadvertently ran out the clock.
The repercussions of such a rule change would be significant on the football field, but perhaps even more so on the fan experience.
Isn’t that what the NFL really cares about?
The NFL Draft has become an unprecedented spectacle in sports.
Every April, fans from all corners of the United States, many dressed head to toe in their team’s clothing, descend on New York’s Radio City Music Hall to cheer or jeer at the selections of their favorite team.
But wouldn’t it be something if, instead of flying fans to the Big Apple to watch the draft, the NFL brought the draft to its fans?
Just as the league already rotates the Super Bowl site, it could also rotate draft sites in five regions across the United States, allowing more fans to experience the draft in person.
And for the sake of argument, here are the five sites I would choose:
Northeast : New York City
South East : Atlanta
Mid-West: Chicago
South West : Houston
West: Las Vegas
The cities listed above would allow fans of each NFL team to travel to their respective regional venues to watch the draft once every five years.
And better yet, think about the increased excitement and buzz such a rotation would create.
NFL players are masters of their craft.
So why, I ask, does the NFL feel inclined to crack down on them for celebrating their accomplishments?
I mean, football East entertainment, isn’t it? I say: let them dance!
That’s right. Let them dance, prance and boogie all over the field. After all, they’ve earned that right on the practice field and in the film room. Plus, they deserve it for putting it all on the line at every turn.
Some will say it’s showboating, others will say it’s unnecessary, but to me it’s part of the history of the league.
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Ickey Woods, Jamal Anderson. Just three of the many players who helped shape the NFL into what it is today with their iconic celebrations.
And no, celebrating does not take away from the integrity of the game, as the league claims. However, turning their back on an integral part of their past is a reality.
Cancel the rule. Let the dance begin.
And if the opposing players and fans don’t like it, don’t let the other team score.
The NFL’s “blackout” policy may not only be the worst rule in all of sports, but also the most hypocritical.
On the one hand, the NFL and its owners cry poorly when they beg and plead with their local communities fund the construction of stadiums only to turn around and demand that these same communities literally support their teams in order to watch them play on television.
This rule has come under increased scrutiny over the past four or five years due to the difficult economic climate facing many regions and cities. Regardless, the NFL insists the policy is necessary to protect its business.
In other words, we will build the stadiums on your ten cents, but don’t ask We for all documents.
This seems fair if you’re the team owner, but if you’re the taxpayer, forget it.
The NFL and its owners are betting that their product will always be in demand. So far this has proven true. But how much longer can this kind of mentality last?
Also, shame on the NFL for allowing dollars and cents to override common sense and civility.
I say remove the rule and give fans around the world the opportunity to watch their favorite teams play.
That’s what TV revenue is for anyway, right?
