By Jordan Long
The NFL is always looking to change rules in hopes of making the game safer. Two that will be proposed by the Competition Committee are reducing the length of overtime in the regular season and ejections for illegal hits.
The NFL overtime is a 15-minute period. Games end if the team receiving the overtime kickoff scores a touchdown, but if they score a field goal, the other team has a chance to match it or win with a touchdown. The NFL wants to cut down on the amount of time overtime lasts. According to NFL.com there have been 83 overtime games in the NFL over the last 5 years. 22 of them or 26.5% lasted more than ten minutes. They want to make a 10-minute overtime.
A reason this is getting a look is because some of these teams play a Thursday night game. The NFL shouldn’t decrease the amount of time for overtime. Making the overtime 10 minutes may not change the outcome. The NFL might see more ties if this were to pass. There are times when 1 drive in overtime can take 6 or more minute, even if they score a field goal. This is not much time for the other team to possess the ball to tie the game or win the game.
What would make more sense is a college football-like overtime. The offense starts at the opponents’ 35-yard line. If they score a touchdown, then they must go for two. The opponents would be able to have their offense try to tie the game with a field goal or touchdown depending on what the opposing team did. This not only would be a fair way for both teams to have a chance to score but would make the overtime shorter.
The other rule change that might be enforced next season is ejections for illegal hits. Right now, striking a defenseless receiver and hits to the head are illegal hits. The defense is penalized 15-yards and the offense may not have that player back in the game due to a concussion. It isn’t fair that the defender who delivered the hit gets to still play in the game and but might receive a fine the next week. Ejecting him would send a direct message to the defender and hopefully they will learn not to use their helmet to hit or to strike a defenseless player.
The Competition Committee is going to suggest these rules changes next week at the owner’s meeting. If they pass, they will go to the owners for a vote. Once the owners pass them they will be enforced next season.
What do you think of these two proposed rule changes for the 2017 NFL season
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