Mitch's 12 New Rules (Proposals)

[Mitch]

1. Have the annual NFL Draft in April every year the weekend after The Masters.

2. Have Rounds 1-2 on Friday Night...3-7 on Saturday.

3. Eliminate compensatory picks. There is no way a team should be rewarded for mismanaging their cap and/or not choosing to re-sign their own players. If the NFL truly wants equality---then there is no way that Super Bowl teams or other playoff teams should be given 3rd and 4th round draft picks just months after or even a year later. Plus---the system is screwing the veterans who aren't signed because teams don't want them to count against them receiving compensatory picks. Eliminating the picks will make the draft go faster.

4. All 53 players should be able to dress on game days. Don't preach about player safety and then handcuff the teams, the coaches and the players by leaving certain positions vulnerable.

5. Clearly define permissible CB/WR contact and enforce it without exception. So many of the pass interference calls in this league are bogus---and there's so many of them that on every incompletion or interception a WR is throwing up his arms for a flag. Allow replay reviews on key PI calls...like the ridiculous one on Tyrann Mathieu versus Philly last year and the non-call late in the game when clearly Philly committed a PI on the 4th and 4.

6. Touchbacks on the kickoffs should be taken out to the 30 yard line. Make the kickoff more of a choice and make touchbacks a little less of a reward.

7. Initiate an "initial line of contact" rule wherein when the defender leaves his feet to make a tackle, he should not be penalized for helmet to helmet contact if the WR or RB lowers his head into the contact or falls into the contact.

8. Eliminate the field officials having to run over to the hood to make reviews. Have booth officials relay the correct calls to the on-field officials.

9. Double the number of ads after extra points and/or FGs (if absolutely necessary), but do not sandwich kickoffs with a double break for commercials.

10. Have a draft lottery for the worst ten teams (like the NBA)---so teams have less incentive to tank games.

11. Make all key potential game-changing plays and penalties reviewable.

12. On XPTs and FGs, penalize head to head contact with the center, but permit the defense to line up in the A gaps.

 

[BigRedRage]

not a fan of draft lottery. I dont think NFL teams can tank like other leagues can.

 

[WildBB]

I like most all of it.

 

[DoTheDew]

1. I don't really care about the exact timing of the draft, just that they stop messing with it.

2. Rounds 1-2 with the current pick lengths can last up to 544 minutes (9 hours). That's way too long for a "night". The only way they could pull this off is to start round 1 no later than 3 eastern. Also, if you're getting rid of comp picks, it probably means going to 8 rounds to keep the total number of selections the same.

3. I don't like comp picks, but I disagree that it's screwing veterans. I guarantee you that if a veteran doesn't get re-signed, it has nothing to do with trying to get more comp picks. Also, sometimes teams can manage their cap perfectly and make every effort to keep a player, only to have the player go elsewhere for less money the way Velhdeer did to the Raiders. Do those teams not deserve compensation for their loss either?

4. I say just get rid of inactives and get rid of practice squads and make all rosters 60-man.

5. Penalties have always been subjective. Unless we have robots for officials, there's no way to prevent that. At least they are considering allowing these things to be reviewable.

6. I agree, but the NFL seems to want to reduce injuries and kickoffs have always been a major culprit. They aren't going to give teams an incentive to not have touchbacks until they greatly reduce the amount of injuries in the game.

7. Okay.

8. I'm in favor of having a group of centralized officials that handle all reviews. At least then it'd be consistent.

9. This is an alternative to eliminating extra points outright. I don't know which is worse, twice as much advertising, or eliminating a tradition (although an extremely boring one).

10. No. The NBAs lottery is a terrible system and one they are actively seeking alternatives to at the moment. I'd rather eliminate the draft altogether and just give every team a rookie pool from which they can fight with each other over all the prospects than have a draft lottery.

11. Agree.

12. Good idea.

 

[Cardiac]

1. Have the annual NFL Draft in April every year the weekend after The Masters.

Fine by me.

2. Have Rounds 1-2 on Friday Night...3-7 on Saturday.

I know I'm in the minority but I like the current format.

3. Eliminate compensatory picks. There is no way a team should be rewarded for mismanaging their cap and/or not choosing to re-sign their own players. If the NFL truly wants equality---then there is no way that Super Bowl teams or other playoff teams should be given 3rd and 4th round draft picks just months after or even a year later. Plus---the system is screwing the veterans who aren't signed because teams don't want them to count against them receiving compensatory picks. Eliminating the picks will make the draft go faster.

Pretty sure it's in the CBA that a certain number of draft picks need to happen. If comp picks are eliminated then there will simply more picks at the end of the 7th rd. Not sure the draft will go faster.

With the CAP in place it's nearly impossible to keep all your players if you draft well so getting comp picks rewards teams that draft well. Not sure it punishes those that have to use FA and even if it does I don't have an issue with that.

I doubt teams say let's suck at OT this year and not sign a FA because we want a Comp pick next year.

4. All 53 players should be able to dress on game days. Don't preach about player safety and then handcuff the teams, the coaches and the players by leaving certain positions vulnerable.

This rule does puzzle me as well. I think it has some kind of double reverse psychology thinking. Would teams cut players or put them on IR quicker to ensure they have the same number of weapons as their opponents? If so would this start to cost the owners more in labor costs some how?

5. Clearly define permissible CB/WR contact and enforce it without exception. So many of the pass interference calls in this league are bogus---and there's so many of them that on every incompletion or interception a WR is throwing up his arms for a flag. Allow replay reviews on key PI calls...like the ridiculous one on Tyrann Mathieu versus Philly last year and the non-call late in the game when clearly Philly committed a PI on the 4th and 4.

Not a perfect would my friend so there will always be mistakes and different views on if interference. Fully agree that something has to be done to clean up this part of the game. Maybe HC's get 2 PI challenges a game?

6. Touchbacks on the kickoffs should be taken out to the 30 yard line. Make the kickoff more of a choice and make touchbacks a little less of a reward.

The reason the Kickoffs were moved up was to reduce the number of KO returns which in turn should reduce the number of injuries. Your rule would cause more returns which is what the league doesn't want.

7. Initiate an "initial line of contact" rule wherein when the defender leaves his feet to make a tackle, he should not be penalized for helmet to helmet contact if the WR or RB lowers his head into the contact or falls into the contact.

Agree.

8. Eliminate the field officials having to run over to the hood to make reviews. Have booth officials relay the correct calls to the on-field officials.

This would save time but ultimately would undermine the authority of the officials on the field which is not a good thing IMHO.

9. Double the number of ads after extra points and/or FGs (if absolutely necessary), but do not sandwich kickoffs with a double break for commercials.

It is annoying and boring which is the major reason IMO that they are looking at changing the extra point rule. It all gets down to money and if fans learn they have double commercial time then they will use that for bio breaks etc.

10. Have a draft lottery for the worst ten teams (like the NBA)---so teams have less incentive to tank games.

I haven't seen evidence of NFL teams tanking so no need, actually hate the idea.

11. Make all key potential game-changing plays and penalties reviewable.

Define game-changing plays and penalties. It can get rather subjective in many cases. I get what you are going for and would like to see it implemented some how but I don't know what it truly would look like.

12. On XPTs and FGs, penalize head to head contact with the center, but permit the defense to line up in the A gaps.

Why? Rule is to protect a player (Long Snapper) who is basically in a defenseless position. Why do you need to line up over him if you can't hit him?

I would like to see false starts become 15 yd penalties because I'm sure that would eliminate 90% of them and it's the most boring play in football.

Also bring back the 5 yd touching the face mask penalty and save the 15 yarders for true face masks.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

Good post Mitch. I agree with all of your suggestions except for two. I particularly like getting rid of comp picks as it makes business sense for all parties involved. Here is my logic.

Draft lottery. Not needed, there are good picks all over the draft in the NFL. Plus the #1 pick is not always guarenteed to be the best. Every once in a while there is an Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, but most years the best player in the draft is not picked #1 overall.

Review of pass interference penalties. I hate the way the officiating was last year in regards to this play. But I do not think reviews are the answer. I am not convinced the officials get all of the reviews correct in the first place. I think this would just slow the game down. I am in favor of leaving the review system in place how it is.

 

[Azlen]

11. Make all key potential game-changing plays and penalties reviewable.

The key thing that I don't like about the current rule with all TD's and turnovers getting an automatic review is that the converse doesn't apply and it should. If the ruling on the field is that it wasn't a touchdown, but if reviewed and a touchdown could be awarded then that should get an automatic review as well.
It shouldn't cost the team a challenge when the refs call it one way when it doesn't cost them a challenge when the refs call it the other way.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

6. Touchbacks on the kickoffs should be taken out to the 30 yard line. Make the kickoff more of a choice and make touchbacks a little less of a reward.

Unless I'm confused, touchbacks at the 30 instead of the 20 IS giving the team that settles for the touchback the reward. Do you mean touchbacks to the 10 yard line instead?

 

[Shane]

Thread title confusing again… Stated as though these are being proposed. Not by Mitch but in an official capacity.

 

[MadCardDisease]

1. Does nothing for me. Why after the Masters?

2. Round 1 needs to be by itself. Too long to pack them all into one night.

3. I like Compensatory picks so I wouldn't change it.

4. I agree that all 53 should be able to suit up.

5. PI calls are difficult because they are somewhat of a judgement call. I just want more consistancy.

6. Wouldn't change touchbacks. 20 yard line is fine.

7. Too difficult for the refs to judge

8. Head Official needs to make the call. Doesn't take that long to jog over to the booth.

9. Don't really care.

10. I don't really think teams tank games. If you are bad you are bad. Not a fan of the lottery idea.

11. Not ALL penalties or plays. Way too much.

12. I'm fine with the way it is

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Thread title confusing again… Stated as though these are being proposed. Not by Mitch but in an official capacity.

It says Mitch's 12 New Rules (Proposals). What would you have it say instead?

 

[MadCardDisease]

It says Mitch's 12 New Rules (Proposals). What would you have it say instead?

I updated it.

 

[Azlen]

It says Mitch's 12 New Rules (Proposals). What would you have it say instead?

I think a mod changed it. I don't believe it had his name in the title initially.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I updated it.

 

[Finito]

not a fan of draft lottery. I dont think NFL teams can tank like other leagues can.

That draft lottery is Killing the NBA. Horrible idea

 

[Darkside]

I think #4 (suiting up all 53) will absolutely happen when the schedule gets expanded.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[the_future23]

And 0 of these will become NFL rules. Sorry.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Who decides what is a game changing play?

OK I know it would "technically" be the refs but it would just give the Pete Carrolls one more chance to get in the ref's ear. I vote no.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

I like the draft lottery

I am not saying that teams tank games on purpose
but higher draft pick should not be a reward when u suck