Two rule changes I'd like to see

[aluminum seats]

Both occurred to me today, and one of them seems easy to implement.

#1. The delay of game rule....why is this treated so casually? It's simply accepted that it's not precisely enforced, and in today's Balt/Tenn game, the Ravens had like 2 extra seconds. Easy solution: have somebody w/control of the play clock--if the ball's not snapped, they press a button, and a D (for delay....) flashes on the clock. Enough of having these doddering old men on the field trying to figure out if there's a delay. Done.

#2. The game rhythm gets totally out of whack with commercial breaks after the kickoffs. Every other break is natural....a timeout, a score, etc. But the "come back from a commercial, have a kick, and then go to commercial again" absolutely sucks. Now, I'm not naive, and I know that when $$ comes into play, there's no going back. But I wonder if the same amount of commercials couldn't be spread into the other breaks? Probably not, for the same reason we would all want that--you know there's another minute of break, so you take your time getting extra nachos. But MAYBE they could sell it to advertisers, right? I mean, after all, the NFL is king.

Anyway, just a couple of random thoughts as I watch these horrendous playoff games without the Pats.

 

[BelichickFan]

#1. The delay of game rule....why is this treated so casually? It's simply accepted that it's not precisely enforced, and in today's Balt/Tenn game, the Ravens had like 2 extra seconds. Easy solution: have somebody w/control of the play clock--if the ball's not snapped, they press a button, and a D (for delay....) flashes on the clock. Enough of having these doddering old men on the field trying to figure out if there's a delay. Done.

Or they could give the official a buzzer or vibrator so he can watch the ball and no when the clock hits zero. It is very possible and it's dumb the way it is now.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Or they could give the official a buzzer or vibrator so he can watch the ball and no when the clock hits zero. It is very possible and it's dumb the way it is now.

Sure ... A small vibrator in their pockets will wake them up.

 

[aluminum seats]

By the way, I realize the commercial thing isn't a "rule." But I'd still like it changed.

 

[patsox23]

Or they could make the DOG penalty reviewable. It's a static, CLEAR thing to judge. It should absolutely be challenge-able.

 

[Grenouille]

I completely agree about doing something about the DOG rule. It has gotten ridiculous in the past few seasons. If they need to pay someone to specifically watch that clock alone they should.

The amount of commercials the NFL takes is annoying, but I guess I’ve just gotten used to it and expect them now. They serve as time to run to the fridge for another beer or a quick BR visit.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I don't see a problem with the the delay on the delay of game.

1. It is pretty consistent from crew to crew, game to game, team to team.

2. Is there anything more ticky-tack than a DOG penalty, for snapping the ball a quarter of second too late?

 

[aluminum seats]

I don't see a problem with the the delay on the delay of game.

1. It is pretty consistent from crew to crew, game to game, team to team.

2. Is there anything more ticky-tack than a DOG penalty, for snapping the ball a quarter of second too late?

Well OK, but it is a freakin' RULE. So no, I don't think it's ticky-tack. Have the rule or don't....it's a clear-cut thing. And considering the fact the Pats are well-coached, if it was enforced, they'd probably be more on top of it than other teams, if you want to look at it that way.

 

[Michael]

In Super Bowl Xtra Lame the Steelers couldn't get the ball snapped in time and Ben signaled a time out about 2 full seconds after the clock went to 0. It was yet another thing Pittsburgh was gifted in that game. There are way too many subjective calls in the NFL. At the very least they should get a penalty after the play is over. Just like holding. I'd also like to see some consistency with the "excessive celebration" rule. I saw a QB run in to the end zone throw the ball to the ground and pick it up again and spike it in front of the back judge and no flag. Yet we saw Pats get it for less and other teams as well.

The other thing I think needs to be changed is the goal posts. I think they need to be made closer together. It has become just to routine to get past mid field and your in FG range already. Especially with the OT sudden death. Take the ball to the 35 on the kick off. And in one or two plays you can be in FG range. And they're making them.

 

[jmt57]

Delay of the Game: As mentioned above, get with the times and use technology. When the official clock goes to zero, it sends a buzz in to one of the ref's ears. Or, when the ball is snapped one of the line judges pushes a button that kills what would otherwise be a horn signalling time had passed.

Measurement for a first down: You bring out the chains for the measurement, but everything else on previous downs is based on memory from the previous play and lining things up by sight from 40 yards away. How does that make sense? If you don't want to go high-tech, then just give refs a tape measure from each yard line for every play. Plus, it would save time for those measurements, which the networks will love.

 

[neuronet]

Isn't the commercial after kickoff to allow time for the players to get set up? Or do they delay it so there can be ads? I thought it was about the same time given to get set up as with a time out, but that was just an assumption.

 

[mmasterkillah]

Need a buzzer on the delays.

 

[unoriginal]

Isn't the commercial after kickoff to allow time for the players to get set up? Or do they delay it so there can be ads? I thought it was about the same time given to get set up as with a time out, but that was just an assumption.

Middle school teams manage to switch units and balls just fine without the benefit of an official's time out.

 

[DarrylS]

Sure ... A small vibrator in their pockets will wake them up.

I like this idea, the delays not called in the Ravens game were outrageous... it might also prove exciting for the refs as well..

I also like the idea of some type of laser on the edges of the playing field and end lines, would end a lot of guess work and judgement calls...

 

[bresna]

I'd like to see them get rid of the Illegal Touching rule. It was put in place to prevent someone from running out of bounds to avoid a block but what it does now is penalize a player for continuing down field even if he is legally blocked out. A player should never be penalized for playing through a block.

Besides, isn't it already a penalty to stay out of bounds to avoid a block? If so, then the Illegal Touching rule is redundant.

 

[dhamz]

Isn't the commercial after kickoff to allow time for the players to get set up? Or do they delay it so there can be ads? I thought it was about the same time given to get set up as with a time out, but that was just an assumption.

Not at all about setting up.

It is painful when attending a game in person to watch both teams standing in the huddle for minutes on end waiting for the commercials to end.

 

[VJ11]

Delay of the Game: As mentioned above, get with the times and use technology. When the official clock goes to zero, it sends a buzz in to one of the ref's ears. Or, when the ball is snapped one of the line judges pushes a button that kills what would otherwise be a horn signalling time had passed.

Measurement for a first down: You bring out the chains for the measurement, but everything else on previous downs is based on memory from the previous play and lining things up by sight from 40 yards away. How does that make sense? If you don't want to go high-tech, then just give refs a tape measure from each yard line for every play. Plus, it would save time for those measurements, which the networks will love.

On Delay of Game: check the NFL rules for which official is responsible for the playclock, IMHO it's the Back Judge together with the Referee. The only thing they have to do is anticipate better on the playclock reaching zero seconds when they look at the snap. And a signal like a buzzer or otherwise, would have to be sent slightly in advance of the playclock reaching zero seconds, to take into account the delay from the moment the clock hits zero to the moment the zero is registered by the eyes of the officials. I don't think we should overload the officials with electronic devices, just because once in while the human mind decides to react slower than usual.

On Measurement: The Umpire is the official that takes care of the placement of the ball. The officials on the sidelines decide to which point the ball is advanced to, and the umpire puts it at that spot. The ball doesn't move an inch until the center lines up again. In case of a measurement, the officials crew moves all players out of the way, and the chains are brought in, with the wing official holding firm grip of the chain on the spot of the best fitting 5- or 10-yard line. The chain is placed alongside the ball, and the back stick is placed on the ground (guided by the official holding the chain), and finally the front stick is placed down to see where the ball is in relation to the front stick. All this is standard officials work, I don't see where you get your assumption that they are just guessing, or do it "from memory"? One thing to remember: all the lines (yellow, blue, red, whatever) drawn on the screen are unofficial. The position of the ball is determined by how far the ball has advanced in the runner/receiver's hands, and a first down is determined by the relative place to the chain. And to get a first down, only the tiniest amount of the tip of the ball has to get past the front stick of the chain.

 

[spacecrime]

By the way, I realize the commercial thing isn't a "rule." But I'd still like it changed.

I like it where it is. I think the rhythm of the game is disturbed less at change of possessions and around kicks and the 2 minute warning. What disturbs the flow of the game is anything in the middle of a series, including timeouts, some penalties, and challenges.

But there is no rhythm to disrupt around a kick.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think everyone fails to realize why they call the delay of game the way they do. It is to ensure that a play is not stopped unless the ball was not snapped. What is worse giving teams an extra second (keep in minds the refs will try to give the same extra second to both teams though each ref may be a little different) or blowing the whistle and than realizing opps they actually snapped that in time and replaying the down because of inadvertant whistle.


The way it is set up would still need to be the same with a buzzer on the ref because once they get buzzed they still want to ensure the ball was not snapped.

 

[VJ11]

I'd like to see them get rid of the Illegal Touching rule. It was put in place to prevent someone from running out of bounds to avoid a block but what it does now is penalize a player for continuing down field even if he is legally blocked out. A player should never be penalized for playing through a block.

Besides, isn't it already a penalty to stay out of bounds to avoid a block? If so, then the Illegal Touching rule is redundant.

The illegal touching rule is concerned with players who get out of bounds, then return inside the field of play and then still are the first to touch the ball or the returner. If something like that happens, you should be worried about the other players on the coverage team, who got a shorter/better route towards the ball or returner. In most cases, when a player gets out of bounds he ends up with a longer route to the ball, which he mostly can't make up with his speed. This has more to do with the fact that special teams is now considered as important as offense and defense, so less slackers on the field who can't be bothered to really block someone.