NFL rules: What needs to be adjusted? (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.

THIS. The idea that this should be a spot foul because it keeps defenses from intentionally interfering with the receiver is ridiculous and doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Too many PI calls are judgement calls that have a major impact on games because they are spot fouls. Maddening. College gets it right (again). 15 yards and automatic first down.I would also like to see the pros adopt the off sides rule similar to college. If a player breaks the LOS it is a penalty. Period. This would eliminate all the ridiculous pointing you see in games, and return the snap count edge back to the offense (which is what the NFL wants anyways).

So if you're a safety and realize you're about to give up a 60 yard bomb for a TD, you should be able to throw yourself into the WR to illegally prevent the catch/TD, and only give up 15 yards and a first down?

 

[Sarnoff]

To assist replay:

1) The league should operate a second set of cameras, in addition to what the network provides. Some of these should be in fixed positions, locked into a certain view: along the sidelines from each end of the field, along the goal line from each sideline, along the back line, etc. These cameras should be mounted at a zero angle, similar to how hockey has a fixed camera to use to see if the puck enters the goal. You can't judge certain elements of a football replay from a camera that's at an angle; the ref has to make a judgement call about whether or not the ball crosses the line or a player steps out when the camera isn't at a zero-degree angle. So eliminate the error from perspective and mount fixed cameras along all the lines.

2) Put a GPS-like chip in the ball. Set up a "local positioning system" within each stadium's field and you can be accurate to within fractions of an inch (you'd actually need two chips in each ball at the focii because of its oblong shape). The system should be able to tell where the ball is at any time, and know if it's crossed the goal line. Using a timing system in sync with the cameras mentioned above, it'd be a lot easier to tell if someone crossed the goal line before they were down... many times it's hard to see the ball on replay, so, just watch the knee, and if the GPS-like system says the ball hasn't crossed yet at the time code that the knee is down, you know it's no score.

3) Either mount small cameras pointed straight up, or, use some kind of visible laser on each goal post for the monster FG kicks that sometimes sail over short posts, and lead the back judges to look at each other all confused... "was it good? what did you see?" If we're not going to extend the posts any higher in this age of guys kicking with horse legs, we need to do something else to determine if the ball went between the invisible line stretching up from the uprights.

 

[David Yudkin]

As far as pass interference goes, I am just sick to death of the P.I. calls on balls that are insanely underthrown and most likely not even close to catchable, but since the receiver knows the ball is coming they get the benefit of the doubt when the defenders bumps them. The way things are called now, any receiver should just stop on a dime and a flag will be thrown against the defender.

 

[Froglova]

Make OT "first to four points"If an offense is backed up against their own goal line and are penalized, instead of just "half the distance", add the remaining yardage to the distance-to-go. A 5-yard penalty on the 2 yard line on 1st and 10 (must get to the 12) is currently just backed up 1 yard, to 1st-and-11 (still need to get to the 12). Instead, back them up 1 yard and add 4 to the distance marker, making it 1st-and-15 from the 1 (must get to the 16 for a first down).

I don't how many of you know this, but this is the rule now. They changed it this year. A FG doesn't end OT. A FG gives the other team a chance to score a TD. If that team scores a FG, then it goes to whoever scores 1st again.

Actually, that is not the rule this year. There were no changes to the regular season OT rules. They changed the rules for post season OT. And a team most assuredly can win without scoring 4 points (the game can end with a safety and the winning margin can also be 3 points).

I can live with a saftey ending it. I'd personally like to see a variation of the college OT. Maybe start at your own 40.

 

[The Hank]

Probably been mentioned before, but the Calvin Johnson rule needs to be abolished.

Refs are confused now more than ever what a TD really is.

 

[GregR]

5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.

THIS. The idea that this should be a spot foul because it keeps defenses from intentionally interfering with the receiver is ridiculous and doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Too many PI calls are judgement calls that have a major impact on games because they are spot fouls. Maddening. College gets it right (again). 15 yards and automatic first down.I would also like to see the pros adopt the off sides rule similar to college. If a player breaks the LOS it is a penalty. Period. This would eliminate all the ridiculous pointing you see in games, and return the snap count edge back to the offense (which is what the NFL wants anyways).

So if you're a safety and realize you're about to give up a 60 yard bomb for a TD, you should be able to throw yourself into the WR to illegally prevent the catch/TD, and only give up 15 yards and a first down?

That's how it is in college now.I like having two versions, a flagrant and an incidental. Flagrant is a max of the spot or set distance, if you haul the guy down, really blatantly interfere on a ball that was going to be in the guy's hands, etc.Incidental can before the current calls where the ref calls it today but the receiver doesn't end up even getting his hands on the ball and he was hauled down.

 

[GregR]

Probably been mentioned before, but the Calvin Johnson rule needs to be abolished.Refs are confused now more than ever what a TD really is.

The rules on what is a catch are very straight forward. Three years ago there was some ref confusion with things like a player knocking the ball free after the receiver goes to the ground, but those have been cleared up since. There are always going to be borderline calls... did Calvin's ball come out while he was still in the act of going to the ground or afterwards as he was getting up is the heart of that call. It was right on the borderline so it could have been called either way. A third of a second earlier it would have been clearly coming out from going to the ground, a third of a second later and it would have been clearly after he'd gone to the ground and was standing up.There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

 

[David Yudkin]

There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

I think the issue many fans have is that there is still a perception that the same rule is not enforced the same way. Megatron hits the ground and the ball comes out = no TD. Aaron Hernandez hits the ground as the defender rips the ball out (this year against the Jets I believe) and that is ruled a catch. In both cases, the receiver hit the ground and the ball came out. Yet one is ruled a TD and the other is not.To many casual fans, those plays were the same. The one distinction in the NE game is Hernandez landed on his back with the ball and then after hitting the ground the defender was able to rip the ball out. But to some fans, they wanted Hernandez to have to stand up with the ball in his possession for it to be a TD.

 

[Fensalk]

I would like to see something like a field goal being worth 4 points if it is really long. I'm not sure where I'd draw the line.

 

[FavreCo]

in the regular season, what was so terrible about a game ending in a tie?

I would go for this in almost all sports. There is enough wear & tear as it is, save the extra time for the playoffs but make it fair at that point (both teams get at least one possession).

I also think bringing back ties would clear up the playoff picture in a much fairer way. When you get down to strength of victory, that's a bit beyond the control of each team. It's not like they chose their schedule.

I'm all for making total points scored the tie breaker. No more laying down with a big lead and more fantasy action. Hell, the Saints already got the memn the long plays and play clock, don't just extend the time on the play clock, stop the game clock. More plays. All teams need to be averaging over 70 plays a game like the Saints.

 

[GregR]

There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

I think the issue many fans have is that there is still a perception that the same rule is not enforced the same way. Megatron hits the ground and the ball comes out = no TD. Aaron Hernandez hits the ground as the defender rips the ball out (this year against the Jets I believe) and that is ruled a catch. In both cases, the receiver hit the ground and the ball came out. Yet one is ruled a TD and the other is not.To many casual fans, those plays were the same. The one distinction in the NE game is Hernandez landed on his back with the ball and then after hitting the ground the defender was able to rip the ball out. But to some fans, they wanted Hernandez to have to stand up with the ball in his possession for it to be a TD.

I don't recall the Hernandez play and whether it was a good call or not. But I definitely agree that some people's perception is that plays aren't called the same. But from what I've seen on the boards here, perception is that way mostly because people don't know what the rule is. What you said is a good example. Anyone who thinks you have to control it until you stand up doesn't understand the rule, and doesn't understand why Calvin Johnson's play was ruled incomplete.

 

[infantsam]

1. Make people get into the end zone completely for a touchdown. None of these half assed reaches to score. I'd make it like going out of bounds. You need to have two feet in the endzone for it to be a touchdown.2. Find whoever made up this whole "you have to control the ball on the way down for it to be a catch" or whatever it is and fire him. Too many outstanding circus catches were called incompletions this year due to this ####ed up rule.3. Blatant helmet to helmet blows get a minimum 6 game suspension. Same with stomping on a guy's arm.4. "First to 6" OT rules.5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.6. Institute a "close enough" call on catches that go out of bounds. If the guy catches the ball with the tips of his fingers, yet it looks like the guy's left middle toe is 2 millimeters out of bounds, say "close enough" and give him the freakin' catch.

I like a bunch of these.

 

[infantsam]

Increase player safety by continuing to refine the hit rules and anything to keep the stars on the field. I spent $2000 going to Pittsburgh to watch Charlie Batch. Ben's injury was normal but still - reduce injuries. We need to accept that this will take time. And don't give me that let them play BS and it's part of the game. No one wants THEIR QB or WR done for the year. I won't look - but I am pretty sure injuries are a much bigger part of the game then they were 30 years ago.

Get the running game back involved. PI should be fifteen max - not spot of foul. Much more holding needs to be called - good pass rushers get held almost every play. Lets force QUALITY action. LT blocks the DE correctly - DE gets by anyway - DE does not head to head QB btu does pressure him and WR must actually get oof the line and make a play for the ball.

The list after Shady, Foster and Rice gets pretty slim. I like passing as much as anyone - but bubble screens and short slants play after play - that's arena crap.

 

[infantsam]

5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.

THIS. The idea that this should be a spot foul because it keeps defenses from intentionally interfering with the receiver is ridiculous and doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Too many PI calls are judgement calls that have a major impact on games because they are spot fouls. Maddening. College gets it right (again). 15 yards and automatic first down.I would also like to see the pros adopt the off sides rule similar to college. If a player breaks the LOS it is a penalty. Period. This would eliminate all the ridiculous pointing you see in games, and return the snap count edge back to the offense (which is what the NFL wants anyways).

So if you're a safety and realize you're about to give up a 60 yard bomb for a TD, you should be able to throw yourself into the WR to illegally prevent the catch/TD, and only give up 15 yards and a first down?

How many times can he actually do that.On the bomb you are usually either beat for the TD or it's a jump ball/contested catch and best man wins. In the case where speedy WR is waiting for the ball - and said safety/CB decides to plow him to prevent the TD - then the QB threw so poorly that he only deserves a 15 yd /FD award. I don't think there would be too many cases where the WR just gets plowed to avoid the guaranteed TD.

 

[kolejo]

1.defenseless receiver rule is total BS, if it's not a hit to the head then let it be, that one get's me red in the face constantly even if it's a team i hate. They basically are telling the defense you have to let him catch it!

2. Brady rule BS, so you have to only hit the QB above the waist, but a receiver you can only hit low? Which one is it, make a decision.

 

[Katana]

Many legitimate sacks became unnecesary roughness this year. Something should be done to this.

 

[FavreCo]

As far as pass interference goes, I am just sick to death of the P.I. calls on balls that are insanely underthrown and most likely not even close to catchable, but since the receiver knows the ball is coming they get the benefit of the doubt when the defenders bumps them. The way things are called now, any receiver should just stop on a dime and a flag will be thrown against the defender.

Same goes with helmet to helmet vs the QB. If the QB sees a defender coming and can't escape, the best thing to do is attack the defender with his helmet. Instant 1st down.

 

[Hov34]

Overtime: Just play a 10 minute quarter and be done with it. In playoffs if that doesn't end it you can have the current format.

Field: Increase the field width by 10 yards. Players today are too big and fast. Someone will soon be decapitated.

Catch: The whole what is a catch is a catch thing has gotten ridiculous. Megatron's non-catch was a catch.

 

[Da Guru]

There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

I think the issue many fans have is that there is still a perception that the same rule is not enforced the same way. Megatron hits the ground and the ball comes out = no TD. Aaron Hernandez hits the ground as the defender rips the ball out (this year against the Jets I believe) and that is ruled a catch. In both cases, the receiver hit the ground and the ball came out. Yet one is ruled a TD and the other is not.To many casual fans, those plays were the same. The one distinction in the NE game is Hernandez landed on his back with the ball and then after hitting the ground the defender was able to rip the ball out. But to some fans, they wanted Hernandez to have to stand up with the ball in his possession for it to be a TD.

Here is the Calvin "no td" catch again. It really needs to be changed. CJ makes the catch..one foot down..two feet down..body down at that points it should be a TD and the play over just like a RB diving for the pylon and losing control. In faxct this seems more of a TD than reaching for the pylon with one arm touching it and losing control with their whole body OB.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-P77TjbENQ

 

[David Yudkin]

There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

I think the issue many fans have is that there is still a perception that the same rule is not enforced the same way. Megatron hits the ground and the ball comes out = no TD. Aaron Hernandez hits the ground as the defender rips the ball out (this year against the Jets I believe) and that is ruled a catch. In both cases, the receiver hit the ground and the ball came out. Yet one is ruled a TD and the other is not.To many casual fans, those plays were the same. The one distinction in the NE game is Hernandez landed on his back with the ball and then after hitting the ground the defender was able to rip the ball out. But to some fans, they wanted Hernandez to have to stand up with the ball in his possession for it to be a TD.

Here is the Calvin "no td" catch again. It really needs to be changed. CJ makes the catch..one foot down..two feet down..body down at that points it should be a TD and the play over just like a RB diving for the pylon and losing control. In faxct this seems more of a TD than reaching for the pylon with one arm touching it and losing control with their whole body OB.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-P77TjbENQ

According to the rules, it's not a catch. I won't argue with you that is should be considered a catch, but they need to change the rules first. And I certainly won't argue that it's a stupid rule.Johnson's real mistake was trying to stand up by pushing off with the ball. Had he just lay there it would have been a TD. Stupid, I know, but that's how they call it.The reason Megatron's play was ruled incomplete is that even though he got both feet down, they considered him falling down. Once they determined that, if at any point thereafter the ball hit the ground and came out it was going to be called incomplete. Again, dumb rule, but one that was called correctly.

 

[az_prof]

Many legitimate sacks became unnecesary roughness this year. Something should be done to this.

Agreed! And it adds an element of inconsistency since the roughness rule is very open to interpretation.

 

[GregR]

There will always be plays right on that cusp no matter how you word a rule. I think the biggest problem with the catch rules isn't the rule but that so many fans don't know what the rule is.

I think the issue many fans have is that there is still a perception that the same rule is not enforced the same way. Megatron hits the ground and the ball comes out = no TD. Aaron Hernandez hits the ground as the defender rips the ball out (this year against the Jets I believe) and that is ruled a catch. In both cases, the receiver hit the ground and the ball came out. Yet one is ruled a TD and the other is not.To many casual fans, those plays were the same. The one distinction in the NE game is Hernandez landed on his back with the ball and then after hitting the ground the defender was able to rip the ball out. But to some fans, they wanted Hernandez to have to stand up with the ball in his possession for it to be a TD.

Here is the Calvin "no td" catch again. It really needs to be changed. CJ makes the catch..one foot down..two feet down..body down at that points it should be a TD and the play over just like a RB diving for the pylon and losing control. In faxct this seems more of a TD than reaching for the pylon with one arm touching it and losing control with their whole body OB.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-P77TjbENQ

According to the rules, it's not a catch. I won't argue with you that is should be considered a catch, but they need to change the rules first. And I certainly won't argue that it's a stupid rule.Johnson's real mistake was trying to stand up by pushing off with the ball. Had he just lay there it would have been a TD. Stupid, I know, but that's how they call it.The reason Megatron's play was ruled incomplete is that even though he got both feet down, they considered him falling down. Once they determined that, if at any point thereafter the ball hit the ground and came out it was going to be called incomplete. Again, dumb rule, but one that was called correctly.

Or if he hadn't tried to jump up so fast it wouldn't have been an issue. I think that is the heart of it really. All he has to do is control the ball through the bulk of the momentum of hitting the ground and it's a catch. Instead of letting that momentum die when he hit, he tried to use that momentum to roll over and rise which extended the amount of time he had to control the ball.A good example is comparing a receiver who lands flat on his back versus one who makes a diving catch that results in him rapidly rolling over a few times. The first guy doesn't have to control it as long because "the act of going to the ground" ends sooner for him. The latter guy has to control the ball through the rolling until the bulk of the energy is done. CJ trying to pop up so quick made himself into more the latter than the former. Even so it was really close.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

No rule change could have fixed the Broncos/Steelers blown quick whistle call. The official simply blew it by whistling it dead too quickly. You can't award a team possession for recovering (what is later ruled) a fumble after the play is blown dead.

They already do it for down-by-contact plays, why not for incomplete pass plays as well? It's the exact same issue yet in one case they let you recover the ball after the whistle and in the other case they don't.

 

[dollarbill13]

This isn't really a rule change but how refs should handle certain situations with down-by-contact/fumble plays.

Refs seem to be doing the correct thing by letting the play go on to see who recovers the fumble. But they should then go back and make an initial ruling based on whether they thought the play was actually a fumble or not. They seem to be taking the position that it's the fumbling team's responsibility to challenge even on plays that are seemingly obvious. An example is the fumble in the Packers-Lions week 17 game where the guy was clearly down before the ball came loose but the refs let the play go on and the Packers recovered. The play couldn't be overturned by replay because the ball wasn't actually visible by any of the cameras. They really need to let the play go on to see what *would* happen if the fumble stands but then go back and make their best judgement of what really happeend.

And I'm a Packer fan so don't accuse me of being a sore loser Lions fan.

 

[Jake22]

No rule change could have fixed the Broncos/Steelers blown quick whistle call. The official simply blew it by whistling it dead too quickly. You can't award a team possession for recovering (what is later ruled) a fumble after the play is blown dead. Officials just need to be more aware, especially considering how many teams now throw those quick passes/laterals. Notice how many WRs and TEs seemingly have rushes every week now (I see it all of the time now when looking at fantasy football box scores), and I would guess that most of those come from passes that end up being actual laterals/runs.

Really Did you watch the Saints vs. Lions game where that is EXACTLY what happened... An errant whistle blew the play dead BEFORE anyone recovered the ball.. Watching the replay you could see all the Saints players not even try to recover the ball as they believed it to be "dead.

Yet after the Refs conferred, they awarded the ball to the Lions.

Yup.. and last night the NFL sent a memo to Profootballtalk (I tihnk it was them) saying they were wrong to award the ball to the Lions. It should have been Saints ball at the point of the fumble or get a do-over (saints choice)....

Here is a short article written on allowing a fumble recovery "after" the whistle; http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-greatly-flawed-rule-on-recovering-fumbles-af?urn=nfl,207503"Since 2006, a whistle hasn't always been a whistle in the NFL. In that off-season the rules committee made the determination that teams can recover a fumble even after an official has blown the play dead. This was done to bail refs out of ruling a fumbling player down by contact, only to be contradicted by replays. After the rule change, the call could be reversed, enabling the recovering team to get the ball despite the premature whistle."

I should think any "Football Guy" worth their salt would be aware of this rule change ... but seems many are not.

In the case of the Broncos / Steelers game yesterday, the ruling was an incomplete pass (vs "down by contact" as the article above states... but one would think the same rule of recoving the ball after the whistle would apply since replay shows that it was actually a fumble).

Seems like the NFL is second guessing themselves here. Can you recover a fumble after a whistle or can't you???

DEN should have been awarded the ball where it was recovered without the opportunity to advance it (because of the faulty wistle).

Shades of the Steelers SB vs. the Seahawks yesterday. Would have been a huge issue had DEN lost in OT.

Hmmmm, In Denver vs. Pitt, I didn't see an 80 yard rushing TD the first play after halftime, or a double reverse WR pass for a TD in which there was no defense to be found, guess the refs really blew those calls huh??

 

[32 Counter Pass]

5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.

THIS. The idea that this should be a spot foul because it keeps defenses from intentionally interfering with the receiver is ridiculous and doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Too many PI calls are judgement calls that have a major impact on games because they are spot fouls. Maddening. College gets it right (again). 15 yards and automatic first down.I would also like to see the pros adopt the off sides rule similar to college. If a player breaks the LOS it is a penalty. Period. This would eliminate all the ridiculous pointing you see in games, and return the snap count edge back to the offense (which is what the NFL wants anyways).

So if you're a safety and realize you're about to give up a 60 yard bomb for a TD, you should be able to throw yourself into the WR to illegally prevent the catch/TD, and only give up 15 yards and a first down?

This is a very tired, old argument that does not stand up to scrutiny, as I said before. There is a huge body of evidence--the college rules-- that shows your assertion has no merit. It is very, very rare to see it happen in college, just as it would be in the pro game. And for that very rare exception it is the lesser of two evils, being that PI has become a judgement call that has a major impact on the game. Just note how many former coaches and players that are now commentators that disagree with PI calls during games. Seems like this is running at a 50% rate.

 

[Sebowski]

Let them dance! Somewhere Kevin Bacon is turning in his grave.

 

[delusional]

Allow more contact on WRs/TEs/RBs on passing plays.

No more tapping a QBs helmet is 15 yards auto.

Endzone celebrations allowed but nothing over the top.

Win a challenge, you retain that challenge.

Get the illegal hits straighten out. ( as is all refs on the same page )

Get rid of the fines for ticky tacky judgement calls.

 

[msommer]

One play that drives me crazy is when it is 4th and short or a goal line situation and the runner jumps and puts the ball out..then tucks it back in for fear of fumbling and is dropped a yard or two short of the first down or TD.Brees did this on Saturday..then knowing he was in danger of losing the ball brought it back it in and landed a yard short. Same thing when it happens on the goal line.

I said the same thing. I'm okay with it at the goal line as all you have to do is break the plane. But when Brees leaped over the pile but then brought the ball back on his own, I'm not sure he got that first down in that case. Would it be a first down if a receiver was running along the sideline, stretched his arms out past the frist down marker, but then brought it back behind?

It should be on the basis of forward progress

 

[cheese]

Stop changing rules for a year. Instead, focus on consistent interpretations and calling of the existing rule book.

For example, IMO either rule is fine between a fumble being recoverable or not recoverable after a whistle. What is not OK is having it called 2 different ways by 2 different crews in the same season. There are plenty of cases like this. One crew is right and one crew is wrong. Use it as a teaching moment for all crews and GET MORE CONSISTENT.

 

[fightingillini]

IMO,

1) Illegal Contact/Def Holding shouldn't be an automatic first down.

2) Pass Interference should be a 15 yard penalty and not spot of foul. There is no guarantee that the ball would have been caught, so why get all the yardage?

3) Allow endzone celebrations, as long as there is no taunting the opposition.

4) I like the the first team to 6 points to win in OT. The playoff rule is OK, but the first to 6 points is better. The current regular season OT rules are a joke.

5) I would narrow the goalposts by about 20%. The FG kickers are so good that a 40 yarder is practically automatic given decent conditions. Reducing the goalposts by about 20% would make a 40 yarder about a 50-60% proposition, which IMO will make the game more exciting in that you will see more going for it on 4th down and more aggressive playcalling on 3rd and long and none of this running a draw play to set up the FG. This rule would essentially require a team to score a TD in OT to win if the rules were like in #4 above.

6) allow the referees to review any play they deem necessary, but give them only 45 seconds to review so that the game doesn't slow down too much. This is enough time for the referee to get a second or third look at the play and make a decision.

 

[GregR]

One play that drives me crazy is when it is 4th and short or a goal line situation and the runner jumps and puts the ball out..then tucks it back in for fear of fumbling and is dropped a yard or two short of the first down or TD.Brees did this on Saturday..then knowing he was in danger of losing the ball brought it back it in and landed a yard short. Same thing when it happens on the goal line.

I said the same thing. I'm okay with it at the goal line as all you have to do is break the plane. But when Brees leaped over the pile but then brought the ball back on his own, I'm not sure he got that first down in that case. Would it be a first down if a receiver was running along the sideline, stretched his arms out past the frist down marker, but then brought it back behind?

It should be on the basis of forward progress

You only get forward progress when the defense forces you backwards. Merely being brushed by a defender is enough to mark you down by contact, but not enough to give forward progress.I did think Brees was touched by a defender while he had the ball extended. But IIRC it was more like Brees' leg brushing the guy, who did not drive him back and who I doubt even realized he touched the ball carrier. So I agree, it shouldn't have been a first down. It should have been spotted wherever the ball was after Brees pulled it back.Nothing wrong with the rules that cover that, or goal lines, in my opinion. That's just a case of the ref missing a call. Which is going to happen no matter what.

 

[bryhamm]

Allow more contact on WRs/TEs/RBs on passing plays.

No more tapping a QBs helmet is 15 yards auto.

Endzone celebrations allowed but nothing over the top.

Win a challenge, you retain that challenge.

Get the illegal hits straighten out. ( as is all refs on the same page )

Get rid of the fines for ticky tacky judgement calls.

I like the bolded. Coaches can have unlimited challenges (or within reason), but lose all remaining ones once a challenge goes against them.

 

[GregR]

I would review all penalties that come with an automatic first down and rethink whether they should.

Have a re-air of the Pats and Broncos on in the background while I work. Denver's D got called for hands to the face, five yards an an automatic first down. The player did indeed have his hands up and and pushing on the blocker's helmet. The blocker also completely had the rusher stopped to where he had no impact on the play. Why should that be deserving an automatic first down?

 

[Fensalk]

I wonder if we'll ever see Arena football-style goalposts in the NFL. The goal is extra narrow, but has those nets on either side. A rebound off the net is a live ball.

 

[The Great Snook]

I would review all penalties that come with an automatic first down and rethink whether they should.Have a re-air of the Pats and Broncos on in the background while I work. Denver's D got called for hands to the face, five yards an an automatic first down. The player did indeed have his hands up and and pushing on the blocker's helmet. The blocker also completely had the rusher stopped to where he had no impact on the play. Why should that be deserving an automatic first down?

I believe it is a little thing called "player safety"

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

1. Make people get into the end zone completely for a touchdown. None of these half assed reaches to score. I'd make it like going out of bounds. You need to have two feet in the endzone for it to be a touchdown.2. Find whoever made up this whole "you have to control the ball on the way down for it to be a catch" or whatever it is and fire him. Too many outstanding circus catches were called incompletions this year due to this ####ed up rule.3. Blatant helmet to helmet blows get a minimum 6 game suspension. Same with stomping on a guy's arm.4. "First to 6" OT rules.5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty.6. Institute a "close enough" call on catches that go out of bounds. If the guy catches the ball with the tips of his fingers, yet it looks like the guy's left middle toe is 2 millimeters out of bounds, say "close enough" and give him the freakin' catch.

5. Pass Interference needs to be changed. I'd institute rules similar to the 5/15 yard facemask penalties. If the guy blatantly interferes with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, then put the ball at the spot of the foul. If it's not so blatant, make it 10 yards, auto first down. Too many questionable PI calls on 80 yard bombs as it is now, might as well just give the other team 6 points on the penalty. Agreed, way too many cheap yards\points given on lame\questionable pi calls.

 

[thayman]

As far as pass interference goes, I am just sick to death of the P.I. calls on balls that are insanely underthrown and most likely not even close to catchable, but since the receiver knows the ball is coming they get the benefit of the doubt when the defenders bumps them. The way things are called now, any receiver should just stop on a dime and a flag will be thrown against the defender.

Same goes with helmet to helmet vs the QB. If the QB sees a defender coming and can't escape, the best thing to do is attack the defender with his helmet. Instant 1st down.

No it doesn't. If the QB drops his head in the act of defending himself it's not Helmet to Helmet.

 

[Sarnoff]

Just saw the Rules Committee is looking at preventing a Josh McDaniels situation in the future where a coach changes teams during the season.

 

[Da Guru]

Why can`t the NFL get replays correct?

The replay of the Packers Greg Jennings fumble was conclusive that he fumbled..everybody on TV saw the replay, the announcer saw the replay. It was a fumble and everybody knew it was a fumble..yet the refs did not overturn the call. The announcers were baffled.

Are the refs on the field making this determination? Or is someone upstairs?

 

[Sarnoff]

Why can`t the NFL get replays correct?

The replay of the Packers Greg Jennings fumble was conclusive that he fumbled..everybody on TV saw the replay, the announcer saw the replay. It was a fumble and everybody knew it was a fumble..yet the refs did not overturn the call. The announcers were baffled.

Are the refs on the field making this determination? Or is someone upstairs?

Apparently, the replay was not "sufficiently conclusive".

The rule on being down is that no part of the body except the hands or feet can touch the ground. The rule is not "the knee" has to be down, or the elbow, or whatever. Anything that's not feet or hands.

So if his ankle joint hit the ground, he's down. Or his calf. Doesn't have to be the knee. And on the TV replay, Webster was blocking the feet, so the ref couldn't tell if the ankle was touching.

From what I understand about how it works, the head ref makes the call under the hood. There's a staff running the replays for him, and maybe someone who can refer to rule sections and make sure he's applying things correctly, checking the time & yardage, etc. But the head ref makes the call.

 

[Short Corner]

And on the TV replay, Webster was blocking the feet, so the ref couldn't tell if the ankle was touching.

 

[Sarnoff]

And on the TV replay, Webster was blocking the feet, so the ref couldn't tell if the ankle was touching.

http://deadspin.com/5876566/you-have-no-idea-whether-greg-jennings-really-fumbled-or-not-so-shut-up-already

 

[butcher boy]

In light of yesterday's game, I'm adding something to the list.

- Every play should be reviewable, EVERY play. It can't be that hard, for example, to take a look at a replay and see that a player was in fact still making forward progress when he fumbled and a whistle was blown prematurely. At the very least, make any call made by Ed "Guns" Hochuli reviewable.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

News from the owners meetings is that the playoff OT rules are going to be implemented the same for regular season games as well.

 

[Da Guru]

News from the owners meetings is that the playoff OT rules are going to be implemented the same for regular season games as well.

Every turnover will be reviewed starting next season. That will save challenges.http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/18108999/nfl-passes-overtime-rules-to-reflect-postseason-all-turnovers-now-reviewed

 

[IvanKaramazov]

News from the owners meetings is that the playoff OT rules are going to be implemented the same for regular season games as well.

This sucks.