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Rule changes you would like to see

SALARY CAP: SHOULD APPLY TO FREE AGENTS ONLY

If drafted players were exempt, we would have at least two more trophies in the case right now.
 
1, Define the catch

2. No more automatic replays of turnovers or scoring plays. Each coach gets 2 challenges per half and an extra if they are right on both. You can challenge anything from offsides to holding to pass interference to supposed helmet to helmet hits.

3. Create a minor pass interference call that is 5 yards and a 1st down. No more 50 yard penalties because the DB brushed the WR's arm. Give the big spot foul only for blatant pass interference where the ball was clearly catchable and the receiver seemed certain to make the play.

4. Get rid of radios in helmets. The game has gotten too reliant on coaches and being clever. Send in plays with a sub player or hand signals or let the QB call plays himself if you trust him.

5. Put the Extra Point and 2 point back the way it was.

6. Each team gets a possession in OT, the only exception would be if a team onside kicks. The way it is now is better than it used to be but there is still too much riding on the coin toss. Teams are tired in OT. It's easier to score. You need to give each team a chance.

7. Start the regular season in October. This would push the Super Bowl into March so more cold weather cities can host.
 
Steel Vanguard said:
GET RID OF THE THROW AWAY RULE

This is the WORST RULE IN ALL OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. It is legalized cheating. If the defense has done their job, they've rushed well and defended on the back end, they have EARNED their sack. They have EARNED their interception. Robbing defenses of their victories in this way make the NFL more into WWE style "sports entertainment" than a genuine athletic contest. The 5 yard chuck rule is similar in terms of tarnishing the spirit of fairness, but not nearly as bad.

Imagine the PGA gave every player a one stroke mulligan on every hole. Records would fall like crazy, but would you respect them? This is passing in today's NFL. Allowing QBs to cheat has tarnished the integrity of the sport, and no one has benefited more than stumble footed QBs like Tom Brady.

"But we have to protect QBs! It's about economics!" Ok. Let them ground the ball to avoid the hit, but MARK THE BALL AT THAT SPOT, not the original line of scrimmage. That would be fair, but of course QBs wouldn't do it because then they'd just look like giant *******. Well guess what Tom, we see you. And you look like a giant ***** already.
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100% agree. They really have to tighten up what is considered an attempted pass and what is intentional grounding. It is getting embarrassing. Brady, Manning and surprisingly Russell Wilson are the worst.
 
Make helmet to helmet contact to Vontaze Burfict.....legal.
 
I think the football should actually have to cross the goal line entirely for a TD. All this bullshit with the guys reaching out to just touch the pylon in any way for a TD is dumb.
 
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hook said:
I think the football should actually have to cross the goal line entirely for a TD. All this bullshit with the guys reaching out to just touch the pylon in any way for a TD is dumb.
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So you'd spot the ball with the nose of the football on the goal line?
 
Go back to leather helmets and less padding. And watch the big violent hits go away. If that is what the NFL is interested in.
 
My main change has been mentioned already.....WHAT THE HELL IS A CATCH????

While we are at it, let's define "FOOTBALL MOVE".
 
Steelerlyn said:
My main change has been mentioned already.....WHAT THE HELL IS A CATCH????

While we are at it, let's define "FOOTBALL MOVE".
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Two feet down and control. If his cleats make contact, and the ball has stopped moving in his hands, that should be a catch.


CHALLENGES: I favor a one challenge system. If you win the challenge, you get it back. As long as you're right, you get as many challenges as you want. If the video is inconclusive, it stands but you get your challenge back. No more taking away a timeout, either. Lastly, all plays and calls should be challenged, which would be easier if you simplified the rules.

HOLDING: There is a simple way to solve this one: blockers may not close their hands or hook an opponents arms. That's it. Easy breezy.

SAFETY WHISTLE: Abolish it. Plays should run to their logical conclusion, all this early whistle stuff has cost many a defense a great play.
 
Steel Vanguard said:
GET RID OF THE THROW AWAY RULE

This is the WORST RULE IN ALL OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. It is legalized cheating. If the defense has done their job, they've rushed well and defended on the back end, they have EARNED their sack. They have EARNED their interception. Robbing defenses of their victories in this way make the NFL more into WWE style "sports entertainment" than a genuine athletic contest. The 5 yard chuck rule is similar in terms of tarnishing the spirit of fairness, but not nearly as bad.

Imagine the PGA gave every player a one stroke mulligan on every hole. Records would fall like crazy, but would you respect them? This is passing in today's NFL. Allowing QBs to cheat has tarnished the integrity of the sport, and no one has benefited more than stumble footed QBs like Tom Brady.

"But we have to protect QBs! It's about economics!" Ok. Let them ground the ball to avoid the hit, but MARK THE BALL AT THAT SPOT, not the original line of scrimmage. That would be fair, but of course QBs wouldn't do it because then they'd just look like giant *******. Well guess what Tom, we see you. And you look like a giant ***** already.
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Yep, 100% agreed. I know everyone here hates Soccer but the yellow and red cards are a great deterrent to stop this crap folks like Burfict pulls. One outrageous personal fouls gets you a red and ejected from the game....two yellows gets you a red and out of the game. Any red card automatically gets you suspended for one game...no exception. An in-game or next game suspension also forfeits applicable game checks. A yellow card will be carried to future games meaning you could get a yellow card in game one and not get another until week 5...you have then accumulated 2 which becomes a red and suspension for one game. Extreme? Yeah, but it will stop the BS.

Also, a rule to stop the constant whining after a play. Watching Brady and Gronk cry every single play that doesn't go their way is ridiculous. 5 yard penalty for arguing a call. I call it the "The Patriots are ******* ******* Rule".
 
If the NFL actually cared about player safety, they would've implemented the college ejection rule for launching already. I wouldn't like to see it taken this far but I like the idea of 2 personal fouls and you're gone. It would've prevented a lot of the Bungle crap that game if players knew they'd be gone after personal foul #2.

I don't see how we can make penalties reviewable. They're so much of a judgement call that they'd be hard to overturn. It's typically more controversial when there ISN'T one called than when one is so I don't see how that would fix it. You could probably call some kind of penalty on almost every play.
 
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Annual "down by contact" post comin'... I hate this rule. In every other level of football, when you hit the ground, you're down. Did he slide? Did he "give himself up?" Who knows? Did the DB's fingernail scratch his pinky toe? . These are professionals, STAY ON YOUR FEET...doesn't matter if you were touched or not, you're down.


Others:

Agree with the above on the "Throw Away Rule"... if the QB is outside of the pocket and whatever. If there's not a receiver in the area, its grounding. Simple.

Go to the college system for replay. All plays are automatically reviewed in the booth by an official. If there's an issue then he'll page the referee on the field. No challenges...period. If you want the official to take a longer look at it then you can call a time out.

Unnecessary Roughness - This is rarely called, but it should be. It is kind of a catch-all for bullshit plays and "dirty" players. e.g. When Vontaze Burfict threw a knee to Ben's head on that sack. You don't need "targeting" rules and all this other crap. Just call it what it is ... unnecessary roughness.

As to the "what is a catch?" debate - Don't define it beyond control and two feet down. Let the officials look at it and say "yeah, he caught the ball"...simple.

BIG ONE...ENFORCE OFFENSIVE PROCEDURES!!!

Too many times guys are moving around at the snap...especially the "up tempo" teams. They run up to the ball and just snap it. The rule is supposed to be that you are set for a FULL SECOND before the snap. Also, receivers who are supposed to be "off the line" are barely even noticeable any more. They line up one foot off the line of scrimmage. If the tackle can be the same distance back and considered 'on the line' then how is a WR supposed to be "off the line?" The WRs have to line up BEHIND the tackle...usually about 2-3 yards back. This needs to be enforced.
 
I'd kind of like to see a trial of the kickoff changed to a punt play. Basically treat each kickoff as a 4th and 15 type situation. Kicking team may elect to attempt to convert the play with their offense. Onside kicks that are expected probably have a similar rate as a 4th and 15. I couldn't track down the NFL stats by distance but a college rate on 4th and 15 is about 14%. Punt returns are fun to watch and I believe have a much lower injury rate than kickoff returns.

Also I'm pretty cool with the college/HS down by contact rule.
 
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I've always hated the defensive PI punishment. Go to the college rule of 15 yards, and NOT an automatic 1st down. If you get lucky on 3rd and 22 with a 5 yard defensive PI, you should not get the 1st. Complete bail out bullshit.
 
scstillerfan said:
I've always hated the defensive PI punishment. Go to the college rule of 15 yards, and NOT an automatic 1st down. If you get lucky on 3rd and 22 with a 5 yard defensive PI, you should not get the 1st. Complete bail out bullshit.
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But then how would Joe Flacco account for half the yards he makes on Ravens drives?
 
1) Eliminate instant replay (and, don't show it during the broadcast either), let the referees call the game and be done.
2) Eliminate the use of headsets, wireless transmitters and receivers, and instant photos let the players play and make on-field decisions and coaches gather their information and make changes at half time.

Eliminating instant replay gets rid of the problem of was it a catch or wasn't it, was it a fumble or wasn't it, in bounds or out of bounds, the referee makes the call and that's it. So, many of the rules that can't be enforced or reviewed are eliminated by default.
Eliminating all the in-game communication brings back the part of having to think on your feet into the game.

That's it, the game will be better and more intriguing if the players and coaches actually have to play and coach football. I don't really care if every call is correct, nothing else in life is perfect, the more they try to get football perfect the worse the product on the field has become. Some times bad calls will be in your favor and other times not, its life, occasionally you have to try and make lemonade with oranges.

Papillon
 
1. Illegal contact/Defensive holding....5 yard penalty. Replay the down. NO automatic first down. Stupid a 5 yard penalty gives a team a 1st down on 3rd and 9.
2. Defensive PI should be 15 yards or spot of the foul (Which ever is the LEAST)
3. FGs of 51 or more yards are worth 4 points.
4. College OT but drives start at midfield.
Thats all I have for now.
 
Steelerfreak said:
1. Illegal contact/Defensive holding....5 yard penalty. Replay the down. NO automatic first down. Stupid a 5 yard penalty gives a team a 1st down on 3rd and 9.
2. Defensive PI should be 15 yards or spot of the foul (Which ever is the LEAST)
3. FGs of 51 or more yards are worth 4 points.
4. College OT but drives start at midfield.
Thats all I have for now.
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I'm okay with the first one but - does # 2 open up the receiver on long bombs to be clobbered? Since it's only going to be 15 yards?

Like the idea of a Bonus point for 51+ field goals. Reward vs Risk.

OT rule as such would do well in the NFL. Current format needs changed.
 
Turd Ferguson said:
But then how would Joe Flacco account for half the yards he makes on Ravens drives?
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The pass interference pass play, is a play the Ravens actually practice. 2 years ago they were shoulders above the rest of the league with regard to getting it called. I believe it's a total B.S. way to play,but it's within the current rules. Harbaugh, just found a way to exploit the rule. Change P.I. to 15 yards is the way to go, as many above have stated.
 
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