[News] Ravens Propose Two NFL Rule Changes

[BR News]

The Baltimore Ravens have submitted proposals for two rule changes ahead of the owners meetings.

View the full article

[fusuymada]

The first one about the numbers wont go anywhere because it only hurt the Ravens and didn't hurt anyone else. In addition, the Manziel catch on the sideline which was illegal for other reasons wasn't picked up by the refs but would fall under that same category. Problem is, the refs only screw the Ravens so no other team will be interested in voting for it. Second one just wont pass because the NFL has refused to allows full access to video review year after year when the Patriots had suggested it because they don't want to extend the game or make their refs look as bad as they really are. If we made them look that bad then the NFL would actually have to make them full-time, pay them as full-time employees, benefits and everything else and although the are a multi, multi billion dollar industry, the NFL refuses to share money with anyone, not even the refs to improve the game.

[salamander]

Nothing ruins a game for me more than a super bad, potential game changing call by the officials. Expanding instant replay is essential to preserving the integrity of the game. Too much is at stake to restrict further efforts to make the correct and fair call. Still get mad when I think back on some of the bone headed, head scratching bad calls by refs which swayed the outcomes of games, not only for the Ravens but other other teams in the league as well. Get it right on the field and eliminate the empty, too little, too late apologies which are meaningless and infuriating.

Edited March 17, 2016 by salamander

[gregob56]

Harbs is getting crushed by PFT and trolls for the first proposal. No one remembers the Urschel play, just the Playoffs in NE. Harbs is coming off a little whiny.

[bioLarzen]

I would give each team 2 unsuccessful challenge attempts per game - meaning, they could go on challenging the challengable rulings until the second unsuccessful challenge.
It means a coach could have 6-8-10 or even more successful challenges a game (provided there were this many bad rulings, of course) if the HC uses his challenges wisely.

Edited March 17, 2016 by bioLarzen

[bioLarzen]

Harbs is getting crushed by PFT and trolls for the first proposal. No one remembers the Urschel play, just the Playoffs in NE. Harbs is coming off a little whiny.

TBH, I don't see this "reporting as eligible" system as a big issue, either. Sure, the Urschel case was a bad one, and we, Ravens fans remember that (although who knows what would have happened if the refs don't make that blunder... a TD could have happened as easily as an INT the next play...) - but probably nobody else - and this, as far as I can tell, really isn't an acute problem. Refereeing has much more burning issues to fix IMHO.

[ellicottraven]

With the Ravens popularity with the NFL, I highly doubt anything the Ravens propose will have legs. Although, it is one of the best franchises in the NFL, Jerry Jones and Sleazy Kraft seem to have the NFL's ear where it counts. It is time for the decent owners to take over the NFL.

[Space11jams]

1 hour ago, gregob56 said:

Harbs is getting crushed by PFT and trolls for the first proposal. No one remembers the Urschel play, just the Playoffs in NE. Harbs is coming off a little whiny.

No way! Do you not realize how much momentum is key in any sport? A slight change of momentum can make or break a team. One bad call in football can be the deciding factor of a W, L, or hosting the SB trophy. I agree, why not make all reviewable plays eligible to be seen in instant replay. The game is WAY to fast for refs at times and last year it showed with all the terrible calls across the league. The technology is their, use it. NFL is a 17 week season not counting the playoffs. It's completely different than basketball which has 82 games, hockey and baseball. Those 17 games are VERY important. I stand behind harbs or any coach in the league for that matter on this issue. 

[20306cab]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

[crazyboutravens]

With the Ravens popularity with the NFL, I highly doubt anything the Ravens propose will have legs. Although, it is one of the best franchises in the NFL, Jerry Jones and Sleazy Kraft seem to have the NFL's ear where it counts. It is time for the decent owners to take over the NFL.

Everybody would get three but the Ravens would not get any......A more typical NFL ruling/////

[ndinoto03]

How about instead of foolishly requesting for certain receivers to wear a vest, you actually coach your players as to how many men can be on the o-line. Quit you whining John, you sound more like your brother eace year.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

I like the proposals and I think they have merit.

The vest thing is a bit weird but it's not like your reporting eligible every play. It's something that maybe happens 1 or 2 times a game.

The expanded Instant Replay is long overdue I think. A challenge is a challenge, and the time to review each challenge is unique to the challenge itself and the situation in question. There are so many commercials and breaks already so it's not like your going to lengthen the game dramatically. Still if your limited to a set number of challenges, who cares how you use them or why. That is the point of a challenge to get the right call made. Refs do a great job but they are human and prone to mistakes just like everyone. This proposed expansion simply allows for an opportunity to ensure the right call is being made.

Case in point the CFL has implemented review of some penalties like pass interference. Many people were a bit unsure of the idea at first with many of the same types of reactions I hear about the proposed NFL rule changes to challenges. In the end the season went along just fine and there was really not much negative impact on the game. Specifically the PI calls both offensive and defensive, which lets be real are not always called correctly were most corrected by this small change. Instead of players sneaking an illegal play in there for a big momentum swing the play would be reviewed and the call corrected. All it does it hold the players more accountable for their actions, which they already are anyways.

Seems there are a few other teams interested in reforming the instant replay too though, so maybe there is more support for the general idea than reported, although with slightly different takes on the changes themselves.

[Crusader]

When you report in as a receiver you punch the ref in the face That way he gets it.

[harfordravenfan]

Wouldn't extra challenges equal extra commercials or extra revenue for the NFL? Gotta sell it the right way for the money hungry lol

[RavensBaltimore]

The only reason the first one was suggested is because the refs are too incompetent to see a blatantly obvious signal, even when the ref was looking right at Urschel. Either that or it was intentional, but either way, it's pretty sad when teams have to start suggesting rules to compensate for the pathetic officiating.

[gekaap]

Harbaugh tends to be pretty bad when it comes to challenges. I say, give everyone unlimited challenges, except Harbs can never challenge.

[The Beak]

I propose that whenever any of our players that need to report as eligible , to walk up to the official, stick up his middle finger (to show we are no 1) and grab his sack ( to show what kind of officiating we received last year)!!!

[thieverycorporation]

7 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

With the Ravens popularity with the NFL, I highly doubt anything the Ravens propose will have legs. Although, it is one of the best franchises in the NFL, Jerry Jones and Sleazy Kraft seem to have the NFL's ear where it counts. It is time for the decent owners to take over the NFL.

I agree. I hope to reverse the trend but they seem to yearly disrespect the franchise. Small markets get no respect. All the more reason to kick a/ and take names. Pitts gets a pass due to nostalgia.

[redrum52]

17 hours ago, gregob56 said:

Harbs is getting crushed by PFT and trolls for the first proposal. No one remembers the Urschel play, just the Playoffs in NE. Harbs is coming off a little whiny.

Hell I wouldn't have remembered it if you didn't mention.  Screwed us against the Cards.  With that I now understand why he'd want it out in place and yes it did sound whiny.

Edited March 18, 2016 by redrum52

[bioLarzen]

12 hours ago, gekaap said:

Harbaugh tends to be pretty bad when it comes to challenges. I say, give everyone unlimited challenges, except Harbs can never challenge.

In fact, he's one of the better ones in the NFL - at least efficiency-wise.

[bioLarzen]

11 hours ago, The Beak said:

I propose that whenever any of our players that need to report as eligible , to walk up to the official, stick up his middle finger (to show we are no 1) and grab his sack ( to show what kind of officiating we received last year)!!!

If nothing more, it would make broadcasts a bit more fun to follow

[Swift 1]

19 hours ago, bioLarzen said:

TBH, I don't see this "reporting as eligible" system as a big issue, either. Sure, the Urschel case was a bad one, and we, Ravens fans remember that (although who knows what would have happened if the refs don't make that blunder... a TD could have happened as easily as an INT the next play...) - but probably nobody else - and this, as far as I can tell, really isn't an acute problem. Refereeing has much more burning issues to fix IMHO.

Getting it right can't be wrong.