What rule changes would you like to see in 07?

[firstdown]

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.

[MTK]

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.

[hesscl34]

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.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by firstdown

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.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Citizens for 81

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.

[munny]

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.

[munny]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

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.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by munny

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?

[12thMan]

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?

[munny]

I would suggest that we already have plenty of rules to protect the QB, the rest is just plain football. This business with hitting below the knee, and a helmet slap, falling on him "too hard ", or hitting with the crown -- this should apply to everyone or no one.

I understand how you feel about the quarterback being a "sitting duck" when they are staring down field. The thing is, these rules don't make it any safer. They don't stop a guy from teeing off when the QB is looking downfield, the same hit that is legal from the blindside is legal from any side, and vica-versa(sp?). These flags get thrown regardless of what the QB is doing - whether he is scrambling, in the pocket, - whatever. Almost all of the below the knee shots can be seen coming by the QB. If he wants to stand there and deliver the ball, even though he knows he is gonna get creamed, that is a QB decision. We now have a game where defenders let guys go because they are afraid of a penalty. That is pathetic. If you even hit a qb a yard before he goes out of bounds you will get the late hit call.

If there is helmet to helmet contact, call it that - just like for every other player. If there is a facemask call it that. But a headslap is not a facemask. If you want to say that you can't hit below the knee from behind I wouldn't even mind that. But the QB is basically out of play now, there are still lots of injuries, and there always will be. It is just a violent game. You can't baby them forever.

[MonkFan4Life]

1. Roughing the Passer - Call it if they are actually roughing him. If the defender is headhunting then throw the flag. Can a RB, WR, or TE get hit below the knees and it be legal ? Can they be gang tackled without a $10,000 fine being issued later that week ? ARE THEY FRIGGIN FOOTBALL PLAYERS ????? Look I understand that people feel that we must protect the QB, yes I can see if a defender comes on his blindside and wraps his arms around his neck and slings him around before bringing him down by his facemask but this IS tackle football right ? I swore that's what I was watching. I'll tell you what, as soon as they start penalizing QB's for setting a WR up with a high pass or a pass over the middle knowing that a defender will lay them out if whether they catch it or not then I'll say keep RTP the way it is. I hate it when they talk about protecting QB's that's bullshit if I've ever heard of it. Either play another position, learn how to run, workout over the summer and get your speed up you F'n punk!

2. Pass Interference - Now I think that if the defender is grabbing the jersey, or holding a guy you should call it, especially if the ball is in the air. Besides that quit your bitching. You've got two guys fighting for position, as long as no one is using their hands to pull a guy back and it's just strength vs strength then it should be fine.

3. Celebrations - If you don't like it then keep the guy from being able to do it ! Plain and simple ! You don't like TO celebrating, keep that punk out of the endzone. I understand where football "traditionalists" will shoot me down and tell me that it's bushleague to do that. That you are putting yourself above the team, that you are embarrasing the other player, that you just want the attention on yourself.... I say go to the doctor and ask him why your testicles still haven't dropped yet. I grew up watching the Fun bunch celebration. I saw the Ickey Shuffle, I loved it. Barry Sanders never celebrated but that was just him. Keep that f'n playclock going, if the team get's a delay of game they get one. The celebrations will dwindle down if that happens but let them have fun man.

4. Overtime - Give both teams a chance with the ball. When one team doesn't score games over.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by jsarno

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.

i disagree. while i hate the tuck rule, i think the refs were right on with the call. its the rule itself that sucks

[Gmanc711]

The part that pisses me off the most is the "blows to the helmet". Not the helmet to helmet hit, but the "blows". Honestly, if you put a football helmet on my head and had these guys hit me in the head the way they do unintentionally, I could do it for an hour and not feel a thing.

If a guy elbows a qb blatantley, then throw the flag...but these guys who hit a QB in the head when trying to block a pass and are flagged? Common. They wear helmets for a reason.

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

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?

How many of those were outside the pocket when the qb was scrambling? While I can kind of understand the safeguarding inside the pocket, once a qb starts running, they should be considered a normal player with no special consideration.