[soitlyobserty]

This always gets brought up when a high profile game goes into OT and the team that wins the toss wins by kicking a FG on the first drive in OT.

I DO think they should alter the rules, but I DON'T want to anything close to what they have in college. I don't know that I had heard the suggestion of requiring X amount of points until I heard them discussing a "6 point rule" on Mike and Mike this morning. Essentially the same as what dom suggested but without the safety wrinkle.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

I also caught the Mike & Mike, which started this chain of thought. They had 6 as the magic number, but I like the inclusion of a safety - otherwise it's identical.

[Irravepem]

honestly, I don't think there's a problem with the current format.

I think it might be something like 30% of the teams that win the toss take it the length of the field for the FG and win. Alright, that seems a bit favorable, but I believer overall they only end up winning sligthly above 50% of the time.

It seems easy for the coin toss winners to march down the field and kick the FG when they do, but if a team downs the ball goes three and out the other team should be ending up with some terrific field position.

It may be slightly slanted, but there was already 60 minutes for one team to win it outright.

[Kneedycrype]

I like it the way it is. I honestly wouldn't want to see it changed. I like sudden death periods in sports...that element of every play being incredibly important is awesome.

[Andromino]

the college system is the best.

I love it.

honestly, I don't think there's a problem with the current format.

I think it might be something like 30% of the teams that win the toss take it the length of the field for the FG and win. Alright, that seems a bit favorable, but I believer overall they only end up winning sligthly above 50% of the time.

It seems easy for the coin toss winners to march down the field and kick the FG when they do, but if a team downs the ball goes three and out the other team should be ending up with some terrific field position.

It may be slightly slanted, but there was already 60 minutes for one team to win it outright.

I only have a slight problem with it. I think both teams should be given a possession. So if the team gets the ball and drives into FG range, they need to keep going for 7 or at least attempt the fg on 4th down. Then the other team should get the ball to see what they can do. Its just like extra innings in baseball. Both teams should at least get a chance.

[Uzezqelj]

honestly, I don't think there's a problem with the current format.

I think it might be something like 30% of the teams that win the toss take it the length of the field for the FG and win. Alright, that seems a bit favorable, but I believer overall they only end up winning sligthly above 50% of the time.

It seems easy for the coin toss winners to march down the field and kick the FG when they do, but if a team downs the ball goes three and out the other team should be ending up with some terrific field position.

It may be slightly slanted, but there was already 60 minutes for one team to win it outright.

I agree. I'm happy as is, I believe team wins toss only wins at slightly better then 50%....so...

[Theariwinna]

Since you have let the Genie out of the bottle, I really like the College way of doing it. The only thing I might change for he Pros is to move it back to the 45 so the easy field goal is harder to get after 3 and out , and maybe make them go for 2 pts on the conversion as well.
The 5 pts idea is interesting though.

i agree, and i'd move it further back than that. make teams start on their own 40 so they actually have to advance the ball to get into field goal range.

[Smabeabumjess]

I agree. I'm happy as is, I believe team wins toss only wins at slightly better then 50%....so...

agreed. OT shouldnt be touched at all.

if anything should be changed it should be....

- ability to overturn game changing penalties with the use of instant replay.

- college style pass interference penalties would more fair. 15 yards vs spot of the foul

- younger fulltime referees.

[seperalem]

I agree. I'm happy as is, I believe team wins toss only wins at slightly better then 50%....so...

I'm not worried about the winning %age. I don't think you'll see a huge swing in coin-toss winners suddenly dropping to only winning 20% of the games.

What I want is actual football product deciding the games. If we want kickers to decide the game, can't we go watch soccer? If we want 'special teams' to decide it, we can do that.

I'd like real football to decide the game. Take the ball. Move down the field. Score a TD. If you are unable to do so, then your opponent gets a chance to do so. If you choose to take the FG (hey.. this sounds like a real football game, where a FG is the backup option, not the best option)... then your opponent gets the chance to shove it in your face and win the game.

[Andrius]

I'm not worried about the winning %age. I don't think you'll see a huge swing in coin-toss winners suddenly dropping to only winning 20% of the games.

What I want is actual football product deciding the games. If we want kickers to decide the game, can't we go watch soccer? If we want 'special teams' to decide it, we can do that.

I'd like real football to decide the game. Take the ball. Move down the field. Score a TD. If you are unable to do so, then your opponent gets a chance to do so. If you choose to take the FG (hey.. this sounds like a real football game, where a FG is the backup option, not the best option)... then your opponent gets the chance to shove it in your face and win the game.

so if they drove down late in game and kicked a last minute FG to win, you'd find that outcome dissapointing? how is the outcome winning via ST and kicking better during regulation then in OT?

[deackatera]

agreed. OT shouldnt be touched at all.

if anything should be changed it should be....

- ability to overturn game changing penalties with the use of instant replay.

- college style pass interference penalties would more fair. 15 yards vs spot of the foul

- younger fulltime referees.

my problem with that is if your beyond 15 yards and beat, defenender is better off just tackling the guy.

[Alex]

I have no problem with FG's deciding the game. I just think both teams should get a chance to score... like a extra innning game in baseball.

[ancexttew]

so if they drove down late in game and kicked a last minute FG to win, you'd find that outcome dissapointing? how is the outcome winning via ST and kicking better during regulation then in OT?

Good point. Because regulation isn't considered 'sudden death' (though it becomes so at the end of the game).

Overtime runs 15 minutes. I'd certainly concede that at the end of the OT period, a team with the most points (but not gaining 5 per my recommendation) would be the winner - it would NOT end in a tie with the game being 24-21 at the end of OT.

But which scenario comes closest to regulation game play:

1) 1st and 10 at the opposing 30. Offense goes play action pass, gains 7 yards. 2nd & 3, offense runs off tackle for 1. 3rd and 2, offense goes pass, incomplete. 4th down, kicks FG.

2) 1st and 10 at the opposing 30. Offense goes run up the middle, gains 3 yards. 2nd & 7, offense runs off tackle for 1. 3rd and 6, QB kneels to spot the FG. 4th down, kicks FG.


If you turn the OT rules around, teams will go for the score (and thus not run to set up the kick) just as they do during normal regulation. FGs will be a secondary option... possibly more so than in regulation, to be honest. I see more teams taking a chance on a 4th down play than usual, and I think that would be a good thing.

[Dstyeglm]

I'm not worried about the winning %age. I don't think you'll see a huge swing in coin-toss winners suddenly dropping to only winning 20% of the games.

What I want is actual football product deciding the games. If we want kickers to decide the game, can't we go watch soccer? If we want 'special teams' to decide it, we can do that.

I'd like real football to decide the game. Take the ball. Move down the field. Score a TD. If you are unable to do so, then your opponent gets a chance to do so. If you choose to take the FG (hey.. this sounds like a real football game, where a FG is the backup option, not the best option)... then your opponent gets the chance to shove it in your face and win the game.

but they really don't. In your scenario the team kicks a FG (which isn't a gimme and again brings up good field position on misses from long), the opposing team comes down and gets a TD we're still playing in your scenario. The game would never end. Regular season games can end in a tie you know. No reason to muck it the current system. All aspects of the game are being taken into account. One team doesn't get the chance to score? It's on the Offense and ST, 2/3 of the game. Where's the problem? The other team is using 2/3 as well.

I can possibly see getting rid of the coin toss for OT and perhaps have it predetermined who would start off with the ball. Reason being I think emotions play big in OT. A team just scores and ties it up for OT they're feeling pretty high, if they turn right back around and lose the coin toss it can be deflating. Plus it gives a choice to try and win it or hope his D/ST can come up in OT if they're going to be kicking off to start.

[EjPWyPm4]

Good point. Because regulation isn't considered 'sudden death' (though it becomes so at the end of the game).

Overtime runs 15 minutes. I'd certainly concede that at the end of the OT period, a team with the most points (but not gaining 5 per my recommendation) would be the winner - it would NOT end in a tie with the game being 24-21 at the end of OT.

But which scenario comes closest to regulation game play:

1) 1st and 10 at the opposing 30. Offense goes play action pass, gains 7 yards. 2nd & 3, offense runs off tackle for 1. 3rd and 2, offense goes pass, incomplete. 4th down, kicks FG.

2) 1st and 10 at the opposing 30. Offense goes run up the middle, gains 3 yards. 2nd & 7, offense runs off tackle for 1. 3rd and 6, QB kneels to spot the FG. 4th down, kicks FG.


If you turn the OT rules around, teams will go for the score (and thus not run to set up the kick) just as they do during normal regulation. FGs will be a secondary option... possibly more so than in regulation, to be honest. I see more teams taking a chance on a 4th down play than usual, and I think that would be a good thing.

None of what you're saying is true. Scenario 2 is a coaches decision. A lot of teams would still try to make the fist down and get closer than a 43/4 yarder for the win.

[LeslieMoran]

None of what you're saying is true. Scenario 2 is a coaches decision. A lot of teams would still try to make the fist down and get closer than a 43/4 yarder for the win.

Put the ball at the 20, and look at it again.

[warrgazur]

but they really don't. In your scenario the team kicks a FG (which isn't a gimme and again brings up good field position on misses from long), the opposing team comes down and gets a TD we're still playing in your scenario. The game would never end. Regular season games can end in a tie you know. No reason to muck it the current system. All aspects of the game are being taken into account. One team doesn't get the chance to score? It's on the Offense and ST, 2/3 of the game. Where's the problem? The other team is using 2/3 as well.

I can possibly see getting rid of the coin toss for OT and perhaps have it predetermined who would start off with the ball. Reason being I think emotions play big in OT. A team just scores and ties it up for OT they're feeling pretty high, if they turn right back around and lose the coin toss it can be deflating. Plus it gives a choice to try and win it or hope his D/ST can come up in OT if they're going to be kicking off to start.

Incorrect. In my scenario, the 2nd team wins when they score the TD. It's not 'win by 5', it's 'first team to score 5'.

[dafodilkemmy]

As a side point, I don't really think that the current format is horrible. I just think that what I'm proposing would be better - better to watch, better highlights, and less emphasis on secondary parts of the game.

[lalpphilalk]

Incorrect. In my scenario, the 2nd team wins when they score the TD. It's not 'win by 5', it's 'first team to score 5'.

Oh, so it's just the same as the current OT system, accept the team getting the ball second now is forced to look to go for a TD, since all the other team would have to do is kick a FG?

Everything your trying to do just seems convoluted. There's already been 60 minutes played, both sides have had their try. If you want to adopt some sort of point system for the one or two OT games a team may have a season, if that, so be it. I don't see the big deal. I think this argument would have more weight for me if it was in reference to Playoff games for whatever reason.

[bushomeworkk]

Oh, so it's just the same as the current OT system, accept the team getting the ball second now is forced to look to go for a TD, since all the other team would have to do is kick a FG?

Everything your trying to do just seems convoluted. There's already been 60 minutes played, both sides have had their try. If you want to adopt some sort of point system for the one or two OT games a team may have a season, if that, so be it. I don't see the big deal. I think this argument would have more weight for me if it was in reference to Playoff games for whatever reason.

First team can go for TD. Doing so wins the game (i.e. more than 5 points).

If first team does NOT score TD, then 2nd team gets an opportunity.

Back and forth. Until one team has scored 5 or more points, sudden death rules.

Again, not a huge deal. I prefer the NFL version over the college version. Something in between would be better, and I think that's what I'm suggesting.

[TaxSheemaSter]

First team can go for TD. Doing so wins the game (i.e. more than 5 points).

If first team does NOT score TD, then 2nd team gets an opportunity.

Back and forth. Until one team has scored 5 or more points, sudden death rules.

Again, not a huge deal. I prefer the NFL version over the college version. Something in between would be better, and I think that's what I'm suggesting.

then go to college system.