John Madden says: No need for OT (1 Viewer)

[bweiser]

In a recent Sirius XM radio show, John Madden said he thinks the NFL should end OT in regular season games.

Obviously, continue in playoffs, but no need to have OT in regular season.

One of his main issues was player safety, that he thinks if the league is serious about prioritizing player safety, they'd eliminate OT.

What do you think? Should the NFL eliminate OT in the regular season? I don't see player safety as a huge problem. Each team probably plays less than 15 extra minutes a season because of OT. But I don't care about whether there's a winner or loser. If, after 60 minutes, the game is tied, then it's a tie.

 

[Horses Mouth]

It is kind of pointless. End with a tie and it would all wash out over the season. I would imagine it has more to do with excitement than anything else.

 

[Statcruncher]

In order to evalute the correct postition I will need to know how much money the NFL earns from commercials during OT.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Ties sometimes actually eliminate some of the need for playoff tiebreakers by creating more final record possibilities.

 

[dennis.moore]

I think this might be the first time in my life that I have agreed with John Madden...

 

[Sam Quentin]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

 

[T J]

Disagree w/ Madden on this one. Fans want to see a game with a winner and loser. I personally think there should be a tiebreak mechanism so NO game can end in a tie. I much prefer the college rules of overtime.

 

[Mentos]

I like regular season ties.

 

[lbouchard]

I despise ties.

 

[shadyridr]

Mcnabb s head would explode

 

[cstu]

Disagree w/ Madden on this one. Fans want to see a game with a winner and loser. I personally think there should be a tiebreak mechanism so NO game can end in a tie. I much prefer the college rules of overtime.

Watching at home it's not that big of a deal, but it would suck spending hundreds of dollars to see a game live just for it to end in a tie.

 

[Sarnoff]

I despise ties.

Damn, I pulled your name for our Shark Pool Secret Santa. I guess I'll have to find a new present for you.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

Or the 1st? Just roll dice

 

[BigSteelThrill]

In order to evalute the correct postition I will need to know how much money the NFL earns from commercials during OT.

None.They have flat contracts with the broadcast companies.The broadcast companies, on the other hand, surely get a small uptick.

 

[otb_lifer]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

Or the 1st? Just roll dice

I'm all for an APBA fantasy/season simulation.

 

[Assani Fisher]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

You're missing the point- Its not about the length of playing it; Its about what you've prepared for.NFL coaches spend a lot of time/effort on knowing their players' endurance level well- they need to in order to optimally sub in backups throughout the game. I think its fair to say that each coach tries to push their superstars to play as many snaps as they can so long as there are no healthy risks and so long as the player's performance doesn't slip past the level of the backup's. And since they assume there won't be OT when making these decisions, some superstars legitimately are getting pushed too hard(for their health, both long and short term) when the game goes to OT.

 

[CalBear]

And since they assume there won't be OT when making these decisions, some superstars legitimately are getting pushed too hard(for their health, both long and short term) when the game goes to OT.

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?College used to have no OT. It sucked. Not only did games often end in ties, some teams wound up playing for ties late in games. So not only does cutting out OT lose a very exciting part of football, it makes the fourth quarter less exciting, too.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

Or the 1st? Just roll dice

I'm all for an APBA fantasy/season simulation.

Countdown to outrage from the Strat-o-matic community

 

[DoubleG]

I despise ties.

Damn, I pulled your name for our Shark Pool Secret Santa. I guess I'll have to find a new present for you.

Nicely played.

 

[lod01]

I like OT when my FF players are involved.

 

[DoubleG]

I like OT when my FF players are involved.

Free football? Screw that - MORE FF POINTS!!!! :confetti:

 

[Assani Fisher]

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?

I'm sure something like that has been studied, but no I don't have any evidence myself. Even if there weren't any such evidence, I still believe that more long term injuries are brought on by OT. As we study more and more(particular brain/concussion injuries) we see that its a cumulative effect of small little "injuries" that really does long term damage.fwiw I totally agree that no OT would suck for the fans. I'm not arguing we should necessarily get rid of it, but I do think its silly to think that OT isn't dangerous.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Look at hockey or soccer - allow ties, but disproportionally reward wins. 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss.

 

[CalBear]

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?

I'm sure something like that has been studied, but no I don't have any evidence myself. Even if there weren't any such evidence, I still believe that more long term injuries are brought on by OT. As we study more and more(particular brain/concussion injuries) we see that its a cumulative effect of small little "injuries" that really does long term damage.

If you don't have any evidence, you don't have anything. It seems unlikely in the extreme that an extra 5-10 minutes of football per year per player is a significant injury problem.

 

[DiStefano]

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?

I'm sure something like that has been studied, but no I don't have any evidence myself. Even if there weren't any such evidence, I still believe that more long term injuries are brought on by OT. As we study more and more(particular brain/concussion injuries) we see that its a cumulative effect of small little "injuries" that really does long term damage.

If you don't have any evidence, you don't have anything. It seems unlikely in the extreme that an extra 5-10 minutes of football per year per player is a significant injury problem.

In the interests of safety, we need one minute of football. Most games would then end in a tie, which would be solved by a coin flip. The NFL could save a lot of money that way. Replacement refs would be used and would have very little chance to screw up. Squads could cut to about 25 players, saving enormous amounts of money. We could cut coaching staffs, intercoms for the coach/qb, flight tickets, etc. The networks would make a lot of money if they had a chance to run 20 minutes of commercials after every play.The problem with Madden is he has no ambition. Half baked solutions just won't cut it.

 

[Assani Fisher]

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?

I'm sure something like that has been studied, but no I don't have any evidence myself. Even if there weren't any such evidence, I still believe that more long term injuries are brought on by OT. As we study more and more(particular brain/concussion injuries) we see that its a cumulative effect of small little "injuries" that really does long term damage.

If you don't have any evidence, you don't have anything. It seems unlikely in the extreme that an extra 5-10 minutes of football per year per player is a significant injury problem.

Why does it seem unlikely? I gave a perfectly reasonable explanation above that makes logical sense if you think about it. Moreover, as I said, I'm not speaking about "injuries" so much as I'm speaking about long term health concerns.Furthermore, I could say that if you don't have evidence then you can't prove it is safe. Its a two way street- we are having a debate, our intuitions differ on what the truth might be, and the only way for us to know for sure is to see some facts. Absence of those facts doesn't make me automatically wrong in the debate.To clarify my point that I made earlier: It has nothing to do with the amount of time and everything to do with the strategy used within that time. When teams are expecting to play a certain amount and use their players in accordance with that amount, it then becomes dangerous to instruct them to keep playing more, as you know the "spirit of football" will be for those over-exhausted players to suck it up and keep playing.

 

[daveR]

Do you have any evidence that there are more injuries per OT minute than per regulation minute?

I'm sure something like that has been studied, but no I don't have any evidence myself. Even if there weren't any such evidence, I still believe that more long term injuries are brought on by OT. As we study more and more(particular brain/concussion injuries) we see that its a cumulative effect of small little "injuries" that really does long term damage.

If you don't have any evidence, you don't have anything. It seems unlikely in the extreme that an extra 5-10 minutes of football per year per player is a significant injury problem.

Let's say OT lasts 20 plays, which it usually doesn't. At five seconds per play, your asking these people to "survive" maybe two full minutes of action, at the most.This injury argument is akin to safety rules at the public swimming pool that require kids to "rest" for 15 minutes every hour. Truth is, that's 25% of the time that the insurance company doesn't have to worry about while the kids are running around outside of the water.

 

[CalBear]

Why does it seem unlikely? I gave a perfectly reasonable explanation above that makes logical sense if you think about it. Moreover, as I said, I'm not speaking about "injuries" so much as I'm speaking about long term health concerns.

No, it does not make logical sense that adding 10 minutes to a season with 960 minutes of game time (not including pre-season or playoffs) could have a significant impact on long-term health issues for the players involved.

Furthermore, I could say that if you don't have evidence then you can't prove it is safe. Its a two way street- we are having a debate, our intuitions differ on what the truth might be, and the only way for us to know for sure is to see some facts. Absence of those facts doesn't make me automatically wrong in the debate.

You are the one making the extraordinary claim, therefore you have to provide evidence for it. The null hypothesis is that adding 1% to the amount of game time will increase injury and long-term health risk by approximately 1%.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Let's see.....eliminate OT.....yes, let's do what we can to make pro football more like soccer.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

Or the 1st? Just roll dice

I'm all for an APBA fantasy/season simulation.

I'm a Strat-O-Matic man myself.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

John madden also thinks its safer to drive 3000 miles in a bus than to fly in a plane.

 

[pizzatyme]

Let's see.....eliminate OT.....yes, let's do what we can to make pro football more like soccer.

Yes, penalty FGs! 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 yarders! Let's do this!

 

[daveR]

John madden also thinks its safer to drive 3000 miles in a bus than to fly in a plane.

 

[Eminence]

John madden also thinks its safer to drive 3000 miles in a bus than to fly in a plane.

Hahaha.

 

[DoubleG]

John madden also thinks its safer to drive 3000 miles in a bus than to fly in a plane.

Nicely played good sir.

 

[trader jake]

Some of you think this is a good idea?

Horrible.

 

[Insein]

If safety is a concern, why play the second half?

Or the entire game. This is a violent sport. People need to realize this. You are just as likely to end your career on the first play as the last. You step on the field and you take on risk. It's part of the game. This safety nonsense needs to stop. We aren't making the game any safer than before. We are just shifting where the injuries occur.

 

[Bud]

Ties aren't good for gambling.

The new overtime rules make it more likely to play a longer period in OT. If player safety is the major concern they should have left it as sudden death.

 

[Bud]

John madden also thinks its safer to drive 3000 miles in a bus than to fly in a plane.

So good!

 

[cvnpoka]

obv overtime makes injuries more likely. i feel bad for the intelligence granted to those who are arguing differently.

 

[grateful zed]

Madden Quotes:

“Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they’re bigger than everybody else, and that’s what makes them the biggest guys on the field.”1. “There’s a lot of letters in Ladanian Tomlinson”2. “A team should never practice on a field that is not lined. Your players have to become aware of the field’s boundaries.”3. “The best way to gain more yards is advance the ball down the field from the line of scrimmage.”4. “If you lose your best cornerback and punter, I’d say that’s a double loss.”5. “It’s 3rd and 20..They need a good play here.”6. “See, well ya see, the thing is, he should have caught that ball. But the ball is bigger than his hands.”7. “When you have great players, playing great, well that’s great football!”8. “Ruben Brown made that play there….well I mean he missed the guy completley but he was able to create just enough room for Thomas Jones by whiffing. The air he created on the miss gave Jones enough space to score.”9. “If the quaterback throws the ball in the endzone and the Wide Receiver catches it……. It’s a touchdown.”10. “If this team doesn’t put points on the board I don’t see how they can win.”11. “Whenever you talk about a Mike Shanahan offense, you’re always going to be talking about his offense.”12. “Some yards is better than none yards?”13. “Here’s a guy, here’s a guy who when he puts his contacts in, he can see better”14. “Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game.”15. “Mark Brunell usually likes to soak his balls before a rainy game.”16. “When your arm gets hit, the ball is not going to go where you want it to.”17. “They’re either going to run the ball here or their going to pass it.”18. “The Dallas Cowboys have 2 types of plays in their playbook. Passing plays, and running plays.”19. “When its raining the field gets wet, then all of a sudden everyones running slower”

http://thehonolulublue.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/dumbest-john-madden-quotes-of-all-time/

 

[Insein]

Madden Quotes:

“Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they’re bigger than everybody else, and that’s what makes them the biggest guys on the field.”1. “There’s a lot of letters in Ladanian Tomlinson”2. “A team should never practice on a field that is not lined. Your players have to become aware of the field’s boundaries.”3. “The best way to gain more yards is advance the ball down the field from the line of scrimmage.”4. “If you lose your best cornerback and punter, I’d say that’s a double loss.”5. “It’s 3rd and 20..They need a good play here.”6. “See, well ya see, the thing is, he should have caught that ball. But the ball is bigger than his hands.”7. “When you have great players, playing great, well that’s great football!”8. “Ruben Brown made that play there….well I mean he missed the guy completley but he was able to create just enough room for Thomas Jones by whiffing. The air he created on the miss gave Jones enough space to score.”9. “If the quaterback throws the ball in the endzone and the Wide Receiver catches it……. It’s a touchdown.”10. “If this team doesn’t put points on the board I don’t see how they can win.”11. “Whenever you talk about a Mike Shanahan offense, you’re always going to be talking about his offense.”12. “Some yards is better than none yards?”13. “Here’s a guy, here’s a guy who when he puts his contacts in, he can see better”14. “Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game.”15. “Mark Brunell usually likes to soak his balls before a rainy game.”16. “When your arm gets hit, the ball is not going to go where you want it to.”17. “They’re either going to run the ball here or their going to pass it.”18. “The Dallas Cowboys have 2 types of plays in their playbook. Passing plays, and running plays.”19. “When its raining the field gets wet, then all of a sudden everyones running slower”

http://thehonolulublue.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/dumbest-john-madden-quotes-of-all-time/

The sad part is I think these are all legit quotes.