What rule changes would you like to see in 07?

I understand why they have roughing the passer rules but its like the refs. use the rule with no common sense. It drives me crazy when a D line man is locked up with a Oline man and while trying to tackle the QB happens to hit his helmet and then gets a 15 yard pen is just stuiped.

They might as well just put a red jersey on all the QBs and play two-hand touch with them or something. At this rate that's where things are headed.

Can the stupid excessive celebration rule. We have a taunting rule. That's enough. Oh, the refs REALLY need to rethink the ruffing the passer rule and how to use it fairly.

I understand why they have roughing the passer rules but its like the refs. use the rule with no common sense. It drives me crazy when a D line man is locked up with a Oline man and while trying to tackle the QB happens to hit his helmet and then gets a 15 yard pen is just stuiped.

I agree that many of the QB roughing calls are weak. However -- and I'm not sure about this -- the league wants the refs to be objective. So, a hit in the head is just that -- a hit in the head. I think they have to call the penalty, whether they want to or not. After all, the ref's performance is reviewed and criticized, and they want to do their jobs correctly.

Come to think of it, it seems all the rules are moving away from subjectivity and towards objectivity. Maybe that's why the officiating is getting worse.

I agree that many of the QB roughing calls are weak. However -- and I'm not sure about this -- the league wants the refs to be objective. So, a hit in the head is just that -- a hit in the head. I think they have to call the penalty, whether they want to or not. After all, the ref's performance is reviewed and criticized, and they want to do their jobs correctly.

Come to think of it, it seems all the rules are moving away from subjectivity and towards objectivity. Maybe that's why the officiating is getting worse.

But they have to use a dash of common sense when making these ridiculous calls. After all, that is why they have helmets on the first place.

I believe it was Vince Lombardi that said, dancing is a contact sport, football is a collision sport.

How about changing the way overtime is played in the NFL.

It is so anti-climatic watching 2 teams slug it out for 3 hours and then watch it end on a coin flip, one first down, and a 48-yard field goal.

I think they should adopt some variation of the college overtime or just play an extra 8 mins.
I say just play extra 8 mins. That is bout enough for both teams to score, unless one holds the ball long enough.

At the end of the OT then call it a draw.

I would rather they just ensure each team gets a minimum of one offense series. If that series ends with a fumbled kickoff, so be it. But each team gets a shot.

I would like to see replay abolished. The refs rely on it too much. It seems like they make more bad calls now, than before.

As for the QB issue, I think the rules about protecting them are necessary. Here's why:
The QB has to stand still (mostly), and look down-field. He's basically a sitting duck. So, should it be legal to just clothesline him right in the neck, while he's looking away from you -- totally exposed? Or how about slamming your helmet into his? Or how about tackling him at the knees -- why can't you just break his legs?

Basically, if you want to have passing -- and QB's available to complete the passes -- then you have to protect the QB. Which means that you have to tackle him at the torso -- not the head, not the knees -- the body (how tackling is supposed to be performed).

The celebration rules suck too. What's the problem with celebrating? So dumb.

Then put a dress on the QB and nobody hits him. One part of your argument is not quite right though, the QB is not a sitting duck. They can move all they want and many of them do it damn well. Now if you want to have a rule that says they can't leave the tackle box, then I agree with the current rules. Otherwise, it is football. Injuries happen. That's just the way it is. If a guy dives at a quarterback and the QB steps backwards so he gets hit below the knees instead the thighs, it is a 15 yard penalty on the defender. There is no way anyone can tell me that makes any sense at all. They either to need to be forced to stay in the pocket, or put a red jersey on them and require them to only ever touch the ball with one hand.

Then put a dress on the QB and nobody hits him. One part of your argument is not quite right though, the QB is not a sitting duck. They can move all they want and many of them do it damn well. Now if you want to have a rule that says they can't leave the tackle box, then I agree with the current rules. Otherwise, it is football. Injuries happen. That's just the way it is. If a guy dives at a quarterback and the QB steps backwards so he gets hit below the knees instead the thighs, it is a 15 yard penalty on the defender. There is no way anyone can tell me that makes any sense at all. They either to need to be forced to stay in the pocket, or put a red jersey on them and require them to only ever touch the ball with one hand.

I said the QB is "basically" a sitting duck, because they are looking down-field. Once they stop looking down-field, they become just like any other runner -- and should not have special rules apply. However, as long as they are looking down-field, they are completely vulnerable.

You're right. I can't argue that if a QB steps back and the defender hits his legs it should be a penalty -- it should not. However, that doesn't change the fact that QBs NEED to be protected. Would you say they should not be protected? If so, what's the logic?

As far as protecting the quarterback with the intention of reducing injuries, I'm not too sure that's really happening.

These QBs have been injured, many of them the season has ended.

Donovan McNabb
Chris Simms
Matt Hasselback
Trent Green
Jack Delhomme
Aaron Rodgers
Byron Leftwich

My point is it's, if these rules weren't in effect would this list be any longer than it already is?