Rules that should be changed

I'd like to see offensive pass-interference be as much of a back-breaker as defensive PI can be--so 10 yards and a loss of down for offensive PI.

 

Crackdown on pick plays. Offense has so many advantages, especially WRs, at least don't let them set illegal screen on top of that.

Play out fumbles. Train refs to let anything that looks like a fumble play out. The worst "wrong" outcome by letting a fumble play out is that you reverse it and continue onwards. The worst "wrong" outcome by calling something not a fumble early is possession could be gained by the defense but "not immediately" and the defense cannot advance the ball (think Jets vs bears and getting 7 points taken off the board)

 

Oh boy, where to begin? (There are several - I consider the NFL rulebook to be a rather tragic flaw of an otherwise brilliant overall product)

Here goes:

1) The new roughing the passer idiocy has to be completely reconsidered. In essence, it makes a mockery of the quarterback position and of the game, as a whole. Accidentally touching the quarterback's helmet should NOT automatically warrant a flag. That's simply preposterous. Accidentally hitting the quarterback below the knees should NOT automatically warrant a flag. That is equally preposterous. I vehemently disagree with the notion that the NFL's top priority should be player safety. That's complete and utter bullshit. NFL players are among the most overpaid workers in the modern world. The downside to their fortune is that their job is dangerous. Shit happens. The NFL's top priority should be to protect the integrity of the game, and more specifically, the integrity of the competition. And the integrity of that competition is gravely injured every time a crucial first down is awarded to a team on a horse-shit roughing the passer call. Rant over.

2) The "completing the process of the catch" idiocy has to be completely reconsidered. The extra "football move" addendum to successfully catching a pass adds a completely arbitrary, poorly defined, and frustratingly uncertain cloud over what is a catch and what isn't a catch. To me, two feet down with the ball should be a catch. No mysterious, poorly defined "football move" required.

3) The defensive holding idiocy has to be completely reconsidered. It's too hard to play coverage in the modern NFL. Passing numbers are obscene and overall secondary effectiveness is even more obscene. The NFL had a perfect product and unnecessarily and artificially exaggerated the most easily accessible aspect of its product - the passing game - just to sell a few more TV packages and fantasy memberships. It just wasn't needed.

 

The helmet to helmet rule needs to be changed. If a defender's initial contact is below the shoulders and the helmet slides up then it should not be helmet to helmet. Also If an offensive player lowers their helmet prior to being tackled the helmet to helmet should be called on the offensive player.

This knick knack paddywack phantom defensive holding has got to stop. Changing the outcome of games due go non existent PI has to end.
Offensive pass interference should be just as devastating as defensive PI.

A more clear definition of defenseless receiver needs to be set.

A player should be legal to be hit on the sideline until the whistle blows. Defenders can not play on their heels because a player looks like they are going out of bounds because players are juking like they're going out of bounds and the defenders have to let up or fear getting flagged.

Oh, and a Brady rule for whining about non calls.

 

Agree about whining about non calls or even calls. Play the game. Any line directed at swaying or expressing disappointment over officiating should be a penalty.

Unless a ref says he definitively saw something better than the video replay, I hate the "call stands" crap. I think if a turnover is inconclusive, it stays with the offense. And throw the D a bone... If a TD is inconclusive, call no TD. must exhibit a clear TD.

Defenseless receiver penalties are always garbage. I'm all for player safety, so of you're going to make plays like that, it should be a penalty on the QB for making the throw that put him in that position, OR an offensive penalty for running dangerous routes. I can't fault a player for making a legal hit on a receiver. Illegal hits are a different story.

Agree about calling OPI more often vs DPI.

 

To add on to the Defenseless receiver crap, one way to help get them to stop running those routes is to loosen the restrictions on what a catch is. Similar to what another poster said about the football move nonsense. If you go over the middle and you catch the ball and get popped, it's generally incomplete bc you didn't make a move. I think any exhibit of control should be a catch. See how often these qbs throw into dangerous traffic like that with something like that as the rule defining a catch. We'd have a good number more fumbles.

 

Change every penalty that comes with an automatic 1st down. I always though that was completely ridiculous but with the rules today it's even more ridiculous to give free 1st downs. Just mark off the yardage and either it's a 1st down, or it's not.

 

They need to make the DPI like the collegiate rules. Interference penalty to 15 yards, automatic first down

 

Minimum post counts to start threads.

 

First downs should only require 8 yards. That way the Jets may get a few every week.

 

The main reason for the rules that protect the QB is not about their health. Top QBs are the stars of the league and bring in a lot of its money, so they want to reduce their chances of getting serious injuries even if that makes the game a bit less exciting/competitive.

 

According to the NFL, it's about player safety. So, if what you say is true, it's still done under the GUISE of player safety, and thus, the criticism is fair. And regardless, that still isn't worth it, IMO. It's still a bad policy that is seriously hurting the game.

 

I like the game just the way it is.

 

Their "sticks" plays are already designed to be a yard short, they'd adapt. It's a talent.

 

Reduce the play clock to 25 or 30 seconds, like it used to be. There would be no constant shuffling of players every down. It'd get rid of all the one down players there are now; huge LBs who can't pass cover, massive DTs who can't rush the passer, 3rd down rushers who are too light to play against the run, TEs who can catch but can't block, 5 WR sets on 3rd and 6. Basically I'd like to see real, versatile football players like JJ Watt, not specialists. If you can't play the whole game because you're too large and get winded, you don't belong out there. Injuries would be reduced because the massive players wouldn't be around to fall on top of and injure QBs and RBs any more. And fans would get to see more game play and less down time.

 

Overall rule, no thursday games.

 

lots of good stuff here. i agree with most of it..

my rule change would be the one that has completely changed the game and has made all of the rest of this bullshit necessary. the nfl needs to get real about peds. that is the biggest problem i have with the game at this point. they pop off a few idiots every year but the problem is just absolutely fucking rampant.

and the shame is that all of these fantasy football guys and honestly most of the fanatics out there couldnt care less. hey fuck that guy as long as the jets win i dont give a damn what he does.

fix that and it will be a much more entertaining game.

 

actually it would be a less entertaining game. you'd see more injured players/longer injury periods...That's the biggest edge you get from PEDs. You like seeing teams battle it out with 3rd string players?

 

They should make a radical change with draft positioning. The top picks in the order should be a reward for finishing in first place. If you don't like that then they should go from the best record not to make the playoffs on down... then the playoff block. There needs to be incentive to play hard until the end for fans and organizations. Games like the Jets / Titans last week are the worst thing about football