How Would You Fix Football?

[hawkprey]

I don't know when the last time there was an "if you were commissioner" topic, so let's put this into context of the upcoming 2014 draft/offseason/season. If you could impose any rules regarding how the NFL was run, what would they be?

 

I'll start.

 

First, I'd get rid of most Thursday night games and put a ban on having games on more than 3x per week. Overexposure. I'd also do away with the stupid NFL Honors and other lame nonsense.

 

Second, no more overseas or blackout games. Stop punishing the local fans by preventing them from seeing their own team. Blacking out the games to get fans to go doesn't work. Having them on TV to generate interest does.

 

Third, trade silly helmet/shoulder/forearm contact rules for a mandate on looser helmets. Concussions are caused by vibration, and if your helmet flies off, that's where the impact energy is going.

 

Fourth, taunting is now ok. This isn't chess. Get the fans emotionally involved. 

 

Fifth, no one but me is allowed to make rules.

 

 

 

Actually, wait. Scratch that last one. Go ahead and add yours.

[berad]

I'd pull back away from Europe, like you said. We're having 3 games in London next year, that seems like too many to me.

Allow coaches to challenge helmet-helmet calls.

More stringent drug testing, a lot of NFL players know the loopholes and laugh at it. But, then again, do we want to see the seedy underbelly?

[Inqui]

I'd do what I could to cut back on advertisement breaks. [spitting] into the wind I know, but a man can dream.

[K-Dog]

I don't know when the last time there was an "if you were commissioner" topic, so let's put this into context of the upcoming 2014 draft/offseason/season. If you could impose any rules regarding how the NFL was run, what would they be?

 

I'll start.

 

First, I'd get rid of most Thursday night games and put a ban on having games on more than 3x per week. Overexposure. I'd also do away with the stupid NFL Honors and other lame nonsense.

 

Second, no more overseas or blackout games. Stop punishing the local fans by preventing them from seeing their own team. Blacking out the games to get fans to go doesn't work. Having them on TV to generate interest does.

 

Third, trade silly helmet/shoulder/forearm contact rules for a mandate on looser helmets. Concussions are caused by vibration, and if your helmet flies off, that's where the impact energy is going.

 

Fourth, taunting is now ok. This isn't chess. Get the fans emotionally involved. 

 

Fifth, no one but me is allowed to make rules.

 

 

 

Actually, wait. Scratch that last one. Go ahead and add yours.

 

I completely and emphatically agree with one and two.

Three, I think more along the lines of what beard said.

 

Allow coaches to challenge helmet-helmet calls.

 

I definitely would NOT have 14 teams in the playoffs.  That is just shy of half the league making the playoffs.  Thats ridicules

Nothing else jumps to mind off hand...

[display name]

I don't know when the last time there was an "if you were commissioner" topic, so let's put this into context of the upcoming 2014 draft/offseason/season. If you could impose any rules regarding how the NFL was run, what would they be?

 

I'll start.

 

First, I'd get rid of most Thursday night games and put a ban on having games on more than 3x per week. Overexposure. I'd also do away with the stupid NFL Honors and other lame nonsense.

 

Second, no more overseas or blackout games. Stop punishing the local fans by preventing them from seeing their own team. Blacking out the games to get fans to go doesn't work. Having them on TV to generate interest does.

 

Third, trade silly helmet/shoulder/forearm contact rules for a mandate on looser helmets. Concussions are caused by vibration, and if your helmet flies off, that's where the impact energy is going.

 

Fourth, taunting is now ok. This isn't chess. Get the fans emotionally involved. 

 

Fifth, no one but me is allowed to make rules.

 

 

 

Actually, wait. Scratch that last one. Go ahead and add yours.

I disagree. I think it's nice that we have two games beginning at 1 PM, two others beginning between 4:05 and 4:30 PM, and games on Sunday and Monday evening. I do agree with getting rid of Thursday night football, and I know that I have said this before, but I wish that NFL Network would air a 1 PM game on Sunday afternoon.

Finally, I wouldn't touch the number of regular season games played or the playoff seeding.

[hawkprey]

I disagree. I think it's nice that we have two games beginning at 1 PM, two others beginning between 4:05 and 4:30 PM, and games on Sunday and Monday evening. I do agree with getting rid of Thursday night football, and I know that I have said this before, but I wish that NFL Network would air a 1 PM game on Sunday afternoon.

Finally, I wouldn't touch the number of regular season games played or the playoff seeding.

Actually I meant three days per week. Football all Sunday is great. It just shouldn't be on every day.

 

I would also hate to see the playoffs expanded. If anything they need to be reduced. There are a lot of crap teams who make the playoffs and I'm tired of seeing teams like the Bengals flub it up all the time. It's embarrassing to call Dalton vs Schaub a playoff matchup. 

[Willbacker]

I'd do something with the pass interference rules. No more than a 15 yd penalty. I hate seeing a team getting the ball on the 1 yd line on a 50 yd pass on a ticky-tack penalty. Burns me up.

[K-Dog]

I'd do something with the pass interference rules. No more than a 15 yd penalty. I hate seeing a team getting the ball on the 1 yd line on a 50 yd pass on a ticky-tack penalty. Burns me up.

That too is a good change.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Touchdown celebrations would be back and no more London football.

[Gordo52]

For the game:

A coach should be able to throw as many challenges as he wants if he keeps getting them right.

If a ref continues to screw up consistently, he should get 5 warnings before he gets fined 3/4th's his salary or can choose to opt out of contract. Make the refs pay! ...either with money or attention.

Be more lenient on players who don't make that much money when getting fined for some unnecessary roughness. Also be more lenient to DB's when hitting receivers.

1 London game a year. Not 3.

No Thursday night football. (Besides that 1 London game).

For the fans:

Push the draft back a month again...

Set up an "nfl game vault" where you can watch every game ever recorded for free, but not own.

Pass out an official nfl version of "football for dummies" out at games. Could raise interest for people like myself who always want to learn more as much as I can about the game. Also get the network to run more educational based shows on the X's & O's instead of gossiping and opinions.

[Moderator 3]

Also get the network to run more educational based shows on the X's & O's instead of gossiping and opinions.

The Ravens actually produce an Xs and Os thread each week during the season. I think they post the video online after the show airs.

[52520Andrew]

I would make all the players (both active players and players in the draft) sign a waiver stating that they know the effects of concussions and all of the safety issues and will not press charges if/when they get those issues. If they don't want to deal with them, good bye. Then be looser on the helmet to helmet hits unless it is flagrant enough to warrant a penalty and let people play football. 

 

Allow fans to purchase games from prior seasons to actually own. Games would be released probably at the start of the new league year (When FA starts) for the previous season. 

 

Also the first, second, and fourth rules from the first comment would be great as well.

[display name]

I would make all the players (both active players and players in the draft) sign a waiver stating that they know the effects of concussions and all of the safety issues and will not press charges if/when they get those issues. If they don't want to deal with them, good bye. Then be looser on the helmet to helmet hits unless it is flagrant enough to warrant a penalty and let people play football. 

 

Allow fans to purchase games from prior seasons to actually own. Games would be released probably at the start of the new league year (When FA starts) for the previous season. 

 

Also the first, second, and fourth rules from the first comment would be great as well.

Sorry about the negative vote. I hit it by accident. I actually agree with most of what you are saying, however I believe that if the NFL could do more to protect players and refuses to do so, than in that case the players should be permitted to sue.

[52520Andrew]

Sorry about the negative vote. I hit it by accident. I actually agree with most of what you are saying, however I believe that if the NFL could do more to protect players and refuses to do so, than in that case the players should be permitted to sue.

 

It is fine lol, I think the NFL could as well but if they aren't going to, they might as well tell the players and give them the choice. 

[allblackraven]

I'd do what I could to cut back on advertisement breaks. [spitting] into the wind I know, but a man can dream.

Lol - and by that, you mostly mean discount double check, right?

[JO_75]

I would make all the players (both active players and players in the draft) sign a waiver stating that they know the effects of concussions and all of the safety issues and will not press charges if/when they get those issues. If they don't want to deal with them, good bye. Then be looser on the helmet to helmet hits unless it is flagrant enough to warrant a penalty and let people play football. 

 

Allow fans to purchase games from prior seasons to actually own. Games would be released probably at the start of the new league year (When FA starts) for the previous season. 

 

Also the first, second, and fourth rules from the first comment would be great as well.

 

This is somewhat related but I remember telling my friend when WWE decided to launch their own streaming network, that it would be the future of all major sports. Their is only one major sport who has as much or even more content to offer than the WWE, that is the NFL. Vince McMahon was smart to realize TV is dying and that streaming his network was going to be the best going forward.

 

Granted, I know the NFL relies on TV deals but as you said imagine a NFL Netflix with every single game at your disposal, anytime you want to watch it. Imagine being able to go back and watch every single NFL Draft. This would be the very first thing I would do to fix football.

 

Second, I would get rid of London games completely and I would have "neutral game" sites that are played in college stadiums or other stadiums within a certain radius for both teams to travel. 

 

Third, and this would help the NFL more than hiring new officials or any upgrades to booth reviews could do. Put a MICROCHIP inside the Footballs that can determine it's exact location. This way, all refs have to do is look up the data for the chip and see the precise location of the ball to determine where the start of the next play is, did he get a first, did he not? Did the ball cross the plane, etc you get the idea.

[52520Andrew]

Third, and this would help the NFL more than hiring new officials or any upgrades to booth reviews could do. Put a MICROCHIP inside the Footballs that can determine it's exact location. This way, all refs have to do is look up the data for the chip and see the precise location of the ball to determine where the start of the next play is, did he get a first, did he not? Did the ball cross the plane, etc you get the idea.

 

I can't believe I forgot about that one, that would be perfect

[K-Dog]

If a team relocates to another city the name MUST remain with the original city no exceptions.

We will call this the Baltimore rule, sub titles the kiss my "hiney" Robert Irsay.

[jaege]

I would change the challenge rules. A coach starts with two like now, but if he wins a challenge he gets it back, every time he wins. So basically, as long as he wins he can keep challenging. Why should he be penalized for challenging an idiotic ruling or two? I know some people will complain about lengthening the game, but I would rather see a well reffed game that runs long than a poorly reffed game that is short.

[jaege]

I'd do something with the pass interference rules. No more than a 15 yd penalty. I hate seeing a team getting the ball on the 1 yd line on a 50 yd pass on a ticky-tack penalty. Burns me up.

  The problem I see there is that a DB who is trying to stop a really long pass could just maliciously and flagrantly interfere and instead of losing 50 yards he would just lose 15 yards. What would prevent that sort of thing from happening?

[display name]

  The problem I see there is that a DB who is trying to stop a really long pass could just maliciously and flagrantly interfere and instead of losing 50 yards he would just lose 15 yards. What would prevent that sort of thing from happening?

Good point. I think that the refs should just be encouraged to let them play. But the length of penalties should remain the same.

[George70]

I would go back to ten teams in the playoffs - as this seemed to be right in my view.

 

Also, I would play the Pro Bowl on the even of the Super Bowl, in the same stadium.  Have players from the two Super Bowl teams on hand as sideline reporter/correspondents.

[1/28/01]

Year round with weekly games.

[bpytnjr58]

No more Thursday games except for the traditional Thanksgiving day games.

[tolucaraven]

A few small changes...but could make big impact.

A) get rid of no grounding penalty outside tackle box....pure BS.

illegal contact still 5 yard flag, but NOT automatic first down

C) enforcing illegal WR pick plays that Denver and NE do all game long. WRs blocking dbs before pass is thrown. Its really the only reason Manning is still in NFL...rule needs to be enforced but rarely is.

[Purple Punishment]

Review big hits so players aren't charged for helmet to helmet when clean hits occur

[K-Dog]

every team would open and end with division games

[display name]

every team would open and end with division games

That would be kind of boring though. I thought that scheduling the 2013 season opener against the Broncos was a good move by the league, except for the fact that it was in Denver.

[K-Dog]

That would be kind of boring though. I thought that scheduling the 2013 season opener against the Broncos was a good move by the league, except for the fact that it was in Denver.

Awwww no way.

At least with us our division games are almost always close.

Add to that have the last game really matter.  I think its a win win.

[Inqui]

That would be kind of boring though. I thought that scheduling the 2013 season opener against the Broncos was a good move by the league, except for the fact that it was in Denver.

I like the idea of opening with anyone (even divisional opponents). I was really hoping the kickoff game would be Broncos@Seahawks though.

 

Ending in the division I like. Means the games almost always mean something.