Rule Changes (what would you change?)

[Mothman]

so after watching the bills, and after filming a lot of college football last year, I can think of a rule change I would really like to see implemented in the NFL. I think the hurry up offense should be disallowed except within 5 minutes of halftime or the end of the game. What is my reasoning you ask? First, it interferes with television coverage because there is no time for replays at all. Second it makes games last forever!!! I did a college game last year that was 4.5 hours. Both teams ran a hurry up offense, one QB threw the ball 70 times, the other around 60 times in that game and the clock stopped on every incompletion. I know there are people who really enjoy the "high flying" offensive approach (I am not one of them) but when it makes the game longer and less enjoyable to watch I think it needs to change. Plus its just ANOTHER advantage the offense has over the defense. For God's sake don't they have enough advantages by now? The defense should be allowed time for substitutions.

What rule change would you make?

I don't think the hurry up offense should be disallowed as you suggested since there are circumstances other than 5 minutes before halftime or 5 minutes remaining in a game in which a team might need to hurry up. However, I do think the officials need to control the tempo of the game and I think the NFL has said they intend to do that. I don't want to see NFL games like the college games you described above.

I'd change the instant replay system and get rid of the coaches flags. If replay is going to be a part of the game, the goal should be to get calls right and it shouldn't matter if a team has timeouts or a challenge flag remaining.

I'd also go back to the old sudden death OT rules. I don't like the current rules. They're a concession to gamblers and people who think football is all about offense!

For that matter, I wouldn't mind seeing the rules shirt a little in favor of the defense, especially defensive backs, who are barely allowed to breathe on receivers anymore.

[PurpleMustReign]

Get rid of the rule that says it isnt intentional ground if they are out of the pocket. It isnt fair for tye dlinemen who chased the more atyletic qb around the field just to have them throw the ball 40 yards out of bounds.

[Mothman]

Get rid of the rule that says it isnt intentional ground if they are out of the pocket. It isnt fair for tye dlinemen who chased the more atyletic qb around the field just to have them throw the ball 40 yards out of bounds.

... or just 5 yards in front of them into the turf. Once they're out of the "tackle box", I think they just have to get the ball past the line of scrimmage when they throw it away.

That's a good idea. I've never liked that rule.

[Eli]

Move kickoffs back to the 30 yard line and permit blocking wedges.

One that I expect few people will like: Receivers need to get only one foot in bounds. I've always wanted to see this rule in the NFL and think that beside effectively widening the field for the passing game, it would also make officiating sideline and endzone catches much easier. And with the recent rule change that a defender can force a receiver out of bounds on a reception (which, ironically, seems to be designed only to make officiating easier) I think it would also balance out how much easier it is now to keep a receiver from getting both feet down.

[PurpleMustReign]

Another one is I would either make a touchback start at the 30 or have them kickoff from the 25. I hate when the kickers nowadays kick the ball into the stands. Such a downer.

[jeg067]

Rules I'd like to change :

* On the field :
I don't like the fact that a team can gain yardage after they fumbled the ball.
If you recover your own (team) fumble in front of the position where it happened,
the ball should be placed wherever it happened for the next play.

* Off the field :
Players who are are with the team for a long time should get a "discount" regarding the salary cap.
(Probably not with those exact numbers, but something like :
If you're in your six year with the team, only 95% of your salary counts against the cap, seven, 90 % and so on...)

[PurpleMustReign]

Oh, I know another one.

No more icing the kicker. Number one, it doesn't work. Number two, it is annoying as hell and IT DOESN'T WORK. In fact last year in the Seattle/Atlants playoff game, it had the opposite effect. The ATL kicker MISSED the FG, but since Seattle stupidly tried to ice a veteran kicker they got to retry it. IT DOESN'T WORK.

[Eli]

Oh, I know another one.

No more icing the kicker. Number one, it doesn't work. Number two, it is annoying as hell and IT DOESN'T WORK. In fact last year in the Seattle/Atlants playoff game, it had the opposite effect. The ATL kicker MISSED the FG, but since Seattle stupidly tried to ice a veteran kicker they got to retry it. IT DOESN'T WORK.

Have head coaches always been allowed to call timeouts? I thought I remember that they could not back in the day. That would make icing a lot more tolerable, because the timeout would have to be called on the field. It's not only FG kicks where this is annoying (the head coach stands by a ref and calls timeout as the ball is snapped), but in many high-pressure situations. A play often happens, only to be waived off because an official off to the side claims a timeout was called.

[jeg067]

Oh, I know another one.

No more icing the kicker. Number one, it doesn't work. Number two, it is annoying as hell and IT DOESN'T WORK. In fact last year in the Seattle/Atlants playoff game, it had the opposite effect. The ATL kicker MISSED the FG, but since Seattle stupidly tried to ice a veteran kicker they got to retry it. IT DOESN'T WORK.

Ha ha... I remember that, that was funny....

[Hunter Morrow]

I want clarification upon...

"Roughing the quarterback"
"Late hits" on the quarterback when it is apparent that the man is trying to slow down and the contact is minor and incidental
"Illegal hands to the face" on the quarterback, in the same context of a phony late hit.
"Unnecessary roughness" on the quarterback
"Leading with the helmet" on the quarterback
and "Driving with your weight" on the quarterback

I think in almost every case these are b.s. penalties. ESPECIALLY on the name brander quarterbacks.
The lesser QBs in the league are allowed to be turned into hamburger meat but the household names get
these roughing penalties called seemingly multiple times per game when it is most advantageous for them.

I've seen more games than I care to count that hinged upon a Roughing The Brady or a Roughing The Rodgers.

I want...

1. Less of this b.s. called. Let the boys play.

2. I think the penalty should be lessened to only what illegal defensive contact is.
5 yard penalty on things that are clearly not Unnecessary Roughness. I don't even know
if an automatic first down should be rewarded. Maybe just redo the play.

[The Breeze]

This isn't exactly on topic but I would like them to test everyone in the league for pot if they are going to test the players for it. They always say how being part of the NFL is a privelege so they should prove it and test coaches, GMs, owners and the executives as well. It's not a performance enhancing drug and therefore there is no logical reason that only players should be tested for it....except that it's in the CBA.

Either that or they should stop testing for it period.

[Eli]

This isn't exactly on topic but I would like them to test everyone in the league for pot if they are going to test the players for it. They always say how being part of the NFL is a privelege so they should prove it and test coaches, GMs, owners and the executives as well. It's not a performance enhancing drug and therefore there is no logical reason that only players should be tested for it....except that it's in the CBA.

Either that or they should stop testing for it period.

Why isn't random testing sufficient? It's what is done in virtually every workplace where they test for drugs. You have to be pretty stupid to light up, either way.

[The Breeze]

Why isn't random testing sufficient? It's what is done in virtually every workplace where they test for drugs. You have to be pretty stupid to light up, either way.

I don't care how they test for it as long as everyone collecting big checks from the league is tested for it.

[Skoltastic_Voyage]

1.) Get rid of forward progress.. This is the dumbest God damn thing I have ever seen. I remember back in the day defenses dragging (not spearing hoping to cause a fumble) runners and receivers back for losses, It was beautiful.

2.) Kick off goes back.. WTF did they move them for?

3.) Any incomplete pass that doesn't go beyond the line of scrimmage is a fumble. (This should be law)

4.) Pass interference. I think this rule should be tweaked. I'm sick of watching bad judgment calls and phantom PI. If the arms of the receiver or receiver himself is being held then it is clear PI. Pushing a receiver away from the ball is also PI but only if the defender himself is not making a play on the ball (either catching or deflecting).

5.) Icing the kicker should not be allowed. Worst waste of time ever.

6.) If the game is under 2 minutes knelling or spiking should be penalized by 15 yards each knell or spike. This you probably wont agree with but I can't stand to see close games washed because of 1 minute burns.

[tnvikesfan]

A few good ideas posted so far!

I'd really like to see the refs held accountable for bad/non calls they make. It should not matter if your QB is Rogers, Brady, Manning or Whatshisname, if they call it for one, they call it for all. Bad and slanted officiating has thrown super bowls and many, many games. Vegas anyone?

I could live with the 1 foot in bounds rule like college has, especially if the allowed force-out stays.

The Dallas Cowpies should be made to play in peach/lime green uniforms. NO Saints in baby blue/pastel pink. Their cheerleaders should be forbidden to shave their legs.

I would change the Coach's Challenge to 1 per half per team, but if you get it right, you get another - no matter how many times you throw the flag. If the refs suck that bad, then they need to be accountable. If on a challenge, the ref STILL gets it wrong, he should be required to appear before a review board to determine fines or competency. I know they're human, but they should know their job like everyone else has to.

Take the headsets out of the helmets, plays need to be called in like they used to, or WTH, maybe the QB and MLB can actually use their noodles and call their own plays!!! Lets up the ante for brains too.

I'm sure I can think of more later...