August 20, 2012

• How I’d Fix the NFL if I were the Commissioner

  Every year it seems to me that the NFL is changing and not always for the best.  I was talking with someone this morning about how we could make the NFL better if we were commissioner.  I have not been that big of Roger Goddell fan.  I have liked what he has done with players that always seem to be in trouble with the law as well as holding players accountable for wrongdoings they did in college but the rest of the things he does he comes off like a prick.

  1.  Reward the defense (4 points for a safety)  Roger Goddell has basically nutted the defense.  Why should a chip shot field goal that happens almost every game be three points and a safety that rarely occurs be only worth two points?

  2.  Touchdown conversions I’d like to see in the NFL what we played as kids in the alleys or empty fields.  A kick is one point, throwing the ball is two points, and running the ball is three points.

  3.  Punting is illegal  There is nothing in football as frustrating to watch my team punt the ball on 4th and 1 or 2.  I’d abolish punting on 4th down.  Punting would only be legal if the team is behind their 20 yard line or they are facing 4th and over 3.

  4.  Outlaw gloves Most of the gloves receivers and running backs wear provide such an unfair advantage.  If we keep on allowing them we may as well allow players to use stickem or glue of some sort.

  5.  No more domes Football was meant to be played in the elements. 

  6.  Expand the season I wouldn’t add more games but I’d add at least two more bye weeks so the players would have more time to recover and wouldn’t have to rely on HGH.

  7.  Uniform uniforms Something that pisses me off about watching games is that all players have different equipment.  Like you see some players wearing knee pads and others not and the same can be said about hip and thigh pads.  They are called uniforms for a reason and also those pads are for safety.  So many injuries that I’ve witnessed as a player and coach have been a result of lack of protection.  I remember playing and tackling a running back.  My helmet went into his hip.  He screamed in pain and had to be helped off the field.  He wasn’t wearing hip pads.  As a coach I saw one player on my team lose the majority of his front teeth because he wasn’t wearing a mouth guard.  I also saw one of my players go for a tackle and his helmet landed on the other guy’s knee.  He wasn’t wearing knee pads and his knee hyperextended.  Granted this was high school level but these kids are seeing the NFL players going without pads.  I’ve always wondered what could be prevented with proper equipment usage.

  8. Abolish the tuck rule This has got to be the worst rule in the NFL and the biggest gift to the New England Patriots.

  9.  Yearly mandatory MRI of the brain The Nevada athletic commission requires this of boxers and MMAers.  It would help to keep on top of all the damage being attributed to concussions in the game.

  10.  Networks stop focusing on fantasy My league is real and if networks want to air my games then they stop airing anything about fantasy picks or numbers.  If people want to play fantasy football, great, all power to them, but that shouldn’t be the focus of analysis for the week.  It really grinds my gears to hear nothing about games and only about who I should start on my fantasy team.  Besides that fantasy football is a huge money maker and the NFL or players don’t get any of that money.

  11.  No profiting from injuries Another thing that grinds my gears is when I watch highlights ESPN, NFL Network, and other stations showcase the big hits where people get injured.

  12.  Get rid of the pro-bowl It’s the most boring game in professional sports.  Players don’t care and only seemingly go for the free trip to Hawaii or wherever the pro-bowl is being played that year.  I’d just have an imaginary team sort of like the All Americans in college.  Either that or make it a skills contest sort of like the Olympics but focusing on things relevant to the NFL such as which quarterback can throw a football through a tire from the farthest out or receivers competing in relay races or linemen competing in a tug of war.  Another thing that could keep the pro-bowl around is to have stakes to the game sort of like how the MLB All Star game determines home field advantage in the World Series. 

  13.  Equal coverage  It sickens me that ESPN has its proverbial lips planted firmly on the ass of Tim Tebow.  Him running certain plays in practice is news?  For every second ESPN spends on one team they have to give equal coverage to the other 31 teams excluding games.

  14.  The ground can cause a fumble  I was always baffled how the ground could not cause a fumble.  Let it.  Consider it an extra player on the defense.

  15.  Only two commercial breaks per quarter  It seems like they take a break after every play these days.  I understand the companies have to make money but there is such a thing as too much.

  Anyway those are just a few of the things I’d change or implement.  The list will probably change over the course of the season.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Been waiting since February and the new season is almost here.
  

  • 3:09 PM
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