Football rules; possible changes

[Alcott]

A poll to see how much alike, or different, we stand on football rules.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Do away with the liberal, Commie excessive celebration rule. It is stupid and serves no real purpose but to kill the joy of the team and make the game less entertaining.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Alcott]

I think the excessive celebration rule should be at least abated, but to say "do away with" it... you need to explain further. Should players be allowed to run off from the team's sideline to join in celebrating? If it's a big upset win, should team be allowed pose for pictures under the lighted scoreboard during the game (Lee Corso's Indiana team tried that once when they got ahead of Ohio St.)? There definitely must be time limits on any kind of 'celebration;' a team can't just go on and on and on with it. No, "Do away with" it isn't the way to go, although the rule is enforced on the taut side sometimes.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Originally posted by Alcott:
I think the excessive celebration rule should be at least abated, but to say "do away with" it... you need to explain further. Should players be allowed to run off from the team's sideline to join in celebrating? If it's a big upset win, should team be allowed pose for pictures under the lighted scoreboard during the game (Lee Corso's Indiana team tried that once when they got ahead of Ohio St.)? There definitely must be time limits on any kind of 'celebration;' a team can't just go on and on and on with it. No, "Do away with" it isn't the way to go, although the rule is enforced on the taut side sometimes.

The time limit is covered already with delay of game. All the other stuff, I have no problem with since the game is mostly about entertainment anyway. If the free market decides that it is not entertaining, they will stop doing it or be fired by their teams. I stand by my original response...do away with the liberal commie rule.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[StefanM]

I'm with Alcott on the celebration rule.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

We don't need excessive celebration to take care of time limits. This is already covered by delay of game. Blow the whistle, start the clock, and if they are not in position to snap the ball, call delay of game.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Alcott]

It's only 4 votes so far, but appparently I'm the only one who doesn't think a touchback should be put in play at the 20 yard line; I think it should be the 10 at the furthest. When you're in a punting situation at midfield and your punter hits the ball well with good leg, then you're likely to have about 30 yards net all because he gave the ball a good kick.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Anything to speed the game up. My least favourite part of American football is all of the play stoppages. 3 1/2 hours for 60 minutes of play is far too long, IMHO.

 

[NateT]

The biggest rule change should be that advertising should be done away with in the form of commercials. That would speed up the game. We could have the Pepto Bismal 2 Minute warning displayed on the screen or something. But I was watching a game this weekend, where they team scored, they went to commercial. Came back and kicked off. Went back to comercial. Then it seems like on the next play somebody got injuured so they went back to commercial.

Obviously if someone is injured, that could take a while to get off the field. But if your offense is coming in from the sideline, there is no reason they shouldn't all know what play is going to be run. Let them field the kick, put the Offense on the field and run the ball.

 

[padredurand]

My least favourite part of American football is all of the play stoppages. 3 1/2 hours for 60 minutes of play is far too long,

The play stoppage is so Buffalo Bills fans can run outside and scream. Just gives them all a little time to vent and not miss any of the game.

 

[go2church]

For the most part I like the rules for college and I like the rules for the NFL, even though they are different. They are "different" games so I am OK with the different rules.

My only change would be the college overtime rule, I would like to somehow include all of special teams, not just field goals. You can still do the equal thing, plays or time of possession and include all aspects of the game.

 

[Jimmy C]

I love the college ot rule - but I would move the start out to the 35 or 40 and make them at least earn the field goal - starting at the 25 makes it only a 38 yard attemt at worst. I would like to see the NFL adopt the college ot format.

I also like the colleges replay rule better than the pros

My two rants - allow celebration (by the way did you see Chad Johnsons river dance in cincinnati last week? loved it) as a cowbow fan I used to get so riled up at the redskins recievers dance in the boys endzone - helped make the rivalry. As did TOs dance on the star after he scored for San Fran

Rant number two - the ground CAN cause a fumble - no more of this down on contact silliness. If you cant hold onto the ball you cant keep it!!!

 

[John Ellwood Taylor]

Originally posted by C4K:
Anything to speed the game up. My least favourite part of American football is all of the play stoppages. 3 1/2 hours for 60 minutes of play is far too long, IMHO.

I have to agree, touch down-point after-COMMERCIAL BREAK-kick off-COMMERCIAL BREAK. I mean one play snuck in between 3-4 minutes of ads. At least tennis fixed this when they used to break after one game, now they break after tree games.
One of the things that ruined hockey is when they went from 7 30 second breaks per period to 4 one minute breaks (noticed the extra 90 seconds commercial time per game).

However, to enjoy free televised games we must accept the advertising that is paying the freight.
I watch the Steelers on TV with the sound off and listened to the local radio broadcast. One benefit is I can channel surf and still know when the play is back on without viewing any adverts.

To get back on topic, I've always wondered why there are two different objectives on scoring(I'm not addressing safeties, etc.) You can score a touchdown and if you can do that you can kick a field goal. Kind of like a consolation prize. I know purists would reject the notion but eliminate field goals, either you score a touchdown or you don't score at all, no plan B field goals. I know in boxing you have two ways to win knockout or on the score cards. I'm sure could list others. I’m not really serious about this as a rule change just curious that this sport has two different scoring objectives!

 

[John Ellwood Taylor]

Originally posted by Jimmy C:
As did TOs dance on the star after he scored for San Fran

Best celebration I ever saw was Hines Ward doing the T.O. Eagle wing flap after he scored last year when the Steelers trounced the Eagles! T.O. even laughed an the imitation!

 

[go2church]

The river dance was great! Fun
Remember the shooting pistols in Dallas, was that Butch Johnson?

 

[ccrobinson]

Ref: The ground can't cause a fumble.
Me: It just did, didn't it?

The pros ought to keep the overtime rule just as it is.

 

[Alcott]

That "the ground can't cause a fumble" is really nonsense, especially in the NFL where you can go down and not be technically down if you have not been touched by an opponent. The ball is lost without the runner being down. In college, that is more clear because you are down if any part of your body other than your feet and one hand touches the ground. But college or pro, the ball would not be knocked free by the ground if you had a good grip on it, and even a slow-motion replay cannot show a poor grip, but only if the ball is moving away from your grasp. Neither rules nor replays can be perfect.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Move the hash marks to 5 yards off each side line.

 

[Jimmy C]

Thinking back - my favorite all time dance was the iky shuffle. too bad he did not last long in the league

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

My favourite was that done by a friend of mine, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson". His was called "The Chicken."