What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

With the NFL changing or enforcing rules more and more every year, what rule changes would you like to see next year?

I am watching an ESPN classic game of the 1977 AFC divisional playoff game of the Raiders and Colts. Someone just hit the qb after the ball was thrown and he hit his head and took him down by his neck...no call.
That sounds more brutal than what actually happened, but you can't even breeze a pinky finger over the qb without getting a 15 yard penalty these days. So my main rule change would be stop treating QB's like they are your 85 year old grandmother.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

If they are going to protect the qb so much they should just make him "two hand touch" so there wont be any question.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=gibbsisgod;260171]If they are going to protect the qb so much they should just make him "two hand touch" so there wont be any question.[/QUOTE]

I agree.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

Those RTP calls are gonna become a real controversy in the playoffs.....I wish they'd change them before the first playoff games before something really bad happens.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

AKA Tuck Rule Controversy (which is responsible for a superbowl champion)

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=The Zimmermans;260180]AKA Tuck Rule Controversy (which is responsible for a superbowl champion)[/QUOTE]

Very true, that might have been the worst call in history. Aren't refs supposed to interpret the rules? How about interpreting that Brady would have thrown a completion to his own left foot if he was actually "tucking it". Horrible call.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

The same rules I want every year.

1) Either make it two hand touch or let the same rules apply to other players apply to QB's.

2) Major/minor system for pass interference. Little ticky/tack fouls would be a 15 yard minor(and first down) and a major would be just like the rule is now. That way, minor contact and hand checks would not be 50 yard penalties. It is time for this to happen.

3) Go to the college replay/challenge system.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[quote=The Zimmermans;260180]AKA Tuck Rule Controversy (which is responsible for a superbowl champion)[/quote]
And cost the Skins a win at Denver last season as well. The tuck rule is BS.

I also agree with the first post that the dresses need to be removed from QBs. In the Dallas game at Fed Ex last month, Sean Taylor drew a personal foul for wrapping up Tony Romo's thighs, a picture perfect tackle. The ref deemed that he was going for Romo's knees.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=SouperMeister;260220] The ref deemed that he was going for Romo's knees.[/QUOTE]

That was a HORRIBLE call. You can only hit the qb in a small 6-12 inch window from nipples to belly button.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

... and not with the crown of your helmet ... and don't land on him too hard.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

The exessive celebration rule...........
I want Ball signings and Coreographed Dances and cellphone calls form the enzone, fine them if you have to but to me thats entertainment

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

They definitely need to ease up on the roughing the passer calls, but I wish they would remove that defenseless receiver rule, too. I used to love seeing guys get laid out when they had put a hand on the football. That doesn't mean I'm saying the McCrary hit on Houshmanzedeh should have been legal, but when a guy puts his paw on the football, a safety should be able to take his head off. You don't wanna get hit, don't go over the middle. And for QB's, if they make it any softer, they'll have to wear red jerseys in games!

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=Redskin;260332]The exessive celebration rule...........
I want Ball signings and Coreographed Dances and cellphone calls form the enzone, fine them if you have to but to me thats entertainment[/QUOTE]

Forgot about that too. And let them celebrate as a team again.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

1) Roughing the Passer - needs to be re-evaluated. Its gotten to the point where you cannot hit the quarterback but in the waist. That's rediculous. He is a football player and subject to the same rules as a football player. If you can't hit him, put a red jersey on him and make him completely off limits.
2) Pass Interference - every receiver in the NFL at the end of an incompletion does a flag throwing jester and too many times the referees throws a flag. Defense backs can't touch a receiver but a receiver can push off, run up a defenders back and pick a defender off without penalty. Even worse, sometimes they will call a penalty on the defender on a pick play or when the receiver runs up his back.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

3) Touchdown Celebrations - restricting touchdown celebrations to an individual is plain stupid. Football is a team game and a spontaneous team celebration should be encouraged not some individual self-promoting end zone dance. I agree with the ban on use of props but not allowing team celebrations is dumb.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=hail_2_da_skins;260340]3) Touchdown Celebrations - restricting touchdown celebrations to an individual is plain stupid. Football is a team game and a spontaneous team celebration should be encouraged not some individual self-promoting end zone dance. I agree with the ban on use of props but not allowing team celebrations is dumb.[/QUOTE]

I actually feel any celebration should be a team celebration, no individual celebration.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

1. Loosen the roughing the passer rule or make it more extreme. You can only hit the QB if he is outside the tackle box but he has to release the ball within 3 seconds of the snap or it's a 5 yd penalty. Is that ridiculous, of course it is, but so are some of the calls they make.

2. Make pass interference like a face mask.. 5 yds for incidental contact, 15 for intentionally impeding or grabbing a receiver..

3. Expand the game day rosters to 58 players..

4. Bring back the celebrations!

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

1. Get rid of the BS roughing the passer.
2. Get rid of any "look at me" celebrations (not just in the endzone but after a first down, big tackle, interception, whatever...)
3. Decide upon a way in which to interpret the "illegal motion" penalty so that the skins aren't screwed at least 3 times per season for shifting formations.
4. Expand the 5 yard bump zone in pass coverage to 15 yards and stop calling pass interference on incidental contact/hand checking.
5. Ban any announcer for more than 5 consecutive minutes of "Star" blowing, especially in the case of Brett Favre, Tony Romo, T.O. and Joey Porter. (ok, this isn't really a in game issue but it still should be eliminated...)

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;260360]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.[/quote]

I agree whole heartedly with you on the QB. A lot of these QBs are oblivious to wahts goin' on around them and can get pasted and not even know who or what hit'em.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

3 Rules: The excessive celebration rule is stupid. The rules protecting the QB is way too ticky tacky. I'm not saying the defender is allowed to kill the guy, and head shots should be a no-no, but I remember watching the last Super Bowl the Redskins played against the Bills. Jim Kelly was getting thrown all over the place. Nowadays, the Redskins would've had about 100 yards in personal foul calls if that rule was applied back in those days.
Finally, I hate the 5 yard hold rule. I think the refs need to let the defenders and WRs play. Certainly if the CB is holding the guy's hand all the way down the field I can calling it, but just call it as pass interference.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

i think they should eliminate the force out rule. i dont think they have it in college, and i think its a dumb rule. if he cant land in bounds, then it isnt a catch

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=GhettoDogAllStars;260360]The celebration rules suck too. What's the problem with celebrating? So dumb.[/QUOTE]


Celebration is fine, as long as it's celebrating, not degrading the other team. That's one of the biggest downsides to watching sports anymore, in my opinion. I hate it when I have to watch some jackass behaving as if he were in the WWE instead of the NFL. The whole taunting/self promotion trend is the epitomy of no class.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=BleedBurgundy;260406]Celebration is fine, as long as it's celebrating, not degrading the other team. That's one of the biggest downsides to watching sports anymore, in my opinion. I hate it when I have to watch some jackass behaving as if he were in the WWE instead of the NFL. The whole taunting/self promotion trend is the epitomy of no class.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. It'd be nice if the TV cameras didn't show it. I wish they wouldn't do that.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

i love watching celebrations, especially steve smith, johnson,etc

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

#1 Roughing the Passer

#2 Excessive Celebrations

#3 I want some type of review on a push-out on a catch out of bounds and pass interference calls.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

The NFL is a business, it doesn't want to see a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady take a serious injury. It does suck when they protect qb's and penalize defenders for merely playing football, but in the end i think it makes sense and is best for everyone. Besides, it's not the same with a bunch of starting qb's injured. And i know if there were no roughing the passer penalties and say Jason Campbell took a season ender, none of us would be happy campers.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

How about repealing the Pass Interference rule changes adopted several years back. No one is mentioning them, and everyone is talking about celebration penalties??? How about the NFL ruining the game of football, so they can get higher crowds by higher scoring games.

That to me is the biggest insult to the game of football. Of course it will not be changed...

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

Loosen up on the celebrations, loosen up on the roughing the passer calls (which they'll never do), allow pass interference and pushout calls to be reviewable.

Re: 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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=firstdown;260489]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.[/QUOTE]

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;260498]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.[/quote]

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[quote=Citizens for 81;260438]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.[/quote]
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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[quote=GhettoDogAllStars;260360]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.[/quote]

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.

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

[QUOTE=munny;260511]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.[/QUOTE]

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?

Re: What rule changes would you like to see in 07?
 

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?