Overtime Rules
 

I really think the NFL needs to address the possession rules in overtime, especially in the playoffs. It just seems wrong that a team's season can end without having a possession. Ideally I would like to see a set play period (say 10 minutes), and the winning score at the end of that period is the winner. If tied, then you go to a "first score" format".

The current system puts far too much importance on the coin toss. While I like that they changed the first possession to needing a touchdown to win rather than just a field goal, it still has a ways to go to be equitable. I understand that the amount of time to play an extra period may cause some issues, but you could lessen that by restricting the amount of time outs allowed to 1 (or none) for each team. Every other professional sport has figured this out, so it can't be impossible.

Just my thoughts......

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I agree, Garry. When the NFL acted like they had done some great thing when they changed the rule to needing a touchdown on the first possession, I couldn't figure out why it remains so hard for them to understand that it still puts the emphasis on the coin toss, as you said.

There's always that wise guy in every discussion who'll say "stop them on the first possession if you don't like it". That's the kind of thing people say when they have no idea how to process simple information. SURE, you would ideally like to stop the other team, but if you can't, why does the other team not have to then try to stop you? So while the difficulty of winning on the first possession went up a little, the fundamental flaw didn't change.

A coin toss should never have ANY affect on the outcome.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I don't have a problem with it; coin toss or not it's the defenses job to stop the offense. If you can't stop the opposing team from scoring a touchdown then maybe you really shouldn't be in the playoffs

Re: Overtime Rules
 

^.... Like I said, there is always "that guy".

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A team has four quarters to get it done. So, I have no problem with sudden death after four. What I didn't like was the way it was, where it was decided by who could kick the first field goal.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I appreciate you insinuating that I'm a simpleton :rolleyes:

Since apparently I can't process simple information... :doh:

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I hear what you're saying...just think it should be equal for both teams. Definitely valid arguments on both sides of this issue.

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I agree. You would think Goodell would address this issue but he's too much of an Idiot

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Re: Overtime Rules
 

The only reason they changed this rule in the first place was because they all wanted Brett Favre to beat Drew Brees and the freaking SAINTS, folks.

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Wait. Bring that story back to us, SaintsBro. I forgot it.
Good point SBro.

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I see nothing wrong with overtime rules. Its not like they didn't have a full hour of play time.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

Both offenses deserve a chance, plain and simple

Re: Overtime Rules
 

They have 4 quarters with equal opportunities. Whatever a team does to screw themselves over, or to get the job done and win is decided by the play on the field. When only one team gets the ball in overtime, we're left to assume that because they scored a touchdown the other team somehow couldn't have.

Both teams should be put to the same test, just like the first 4 quarters.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

Hey man, I had just finished making a point, and you followed it up perfectly. It's a tired old mentality to say "well if they can't keep them out of the end zone, they don't deserve to be there".

So how about all the touchdowns these teams have given up all year long? I guess they shouldn't have been allowed in, by that logic. Just because you give up a touchdown, the other defense gets a pass? It's not equal. It's not about feeling sorry for the defense that gives up the touchdown, it's about making both teams prove it, and not having a flip of luck give one team a huge advantage.

That's not to take away from teams who win on the first possession. They are winning by the rules that are applied. But the rules really are dumb, and this is coming from someone who has seen his team lose and win by this format.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I never understood people who don't like the college overtime rule. I love it. Yeah, it's nerve racking, but, damn is it exciting!

They already say that if the team with the first offensive possession doesn't score a touchdown, it's sudden death if it's tied after each have a possession. Okay, just change that to each team gets the ball once and it's sudden death if it's tied after that. Not really a big change.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I will never forget hearing Peter King lament that it was a shame that Brett Favre didn't get a chance with the ball.

I sent him an e-mail and asked him if he would have had felt the same if the Vikings had won without the Saints and Brees getting a possession.

I didn't get a reply.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

And there's always "that guy" who thinks his opinion is the only one that is right and then gives crap to another person with a different one.

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Re: Overtime Rules
 

A very simple solution to the issue! I like it!

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Goodell won't change anything I doubt it!

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Overtime! RULES!!! That's more like it!

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Dude, there a few people around here who think their opinion is the only one that matters, and I've dealt with all of them before. You know nothing about me or how I post if you think I'm one of them.

I don't have a problem if people want to keep the rules as they are, though I might disagree with them. It's the reasoning I have a problem with. I'll reiterate my point... It's one thing to say that the rules should stay the same because the games are long enough (though I don't consider that much of a reason), but it makes zero sense to say that if you don't stop the other team from scoring you don't deserve to win. Is it not a TEAM game? The offense gets no chance to respond?

I'm not making excuses for teams, because as long as these are the rules, you deal with it. But when they changed the rule the first time, it would have made a lot more sense to give each team a possession, instead of making it conditional upon scoring a touchdown or field goal.

EVERY OTHER SPORT that I can possibly think of has overtime rules that guarantee each team an equal chance. When I feel strongly enough that people are wrong about something, I will make it known. Don't be a hypocrite and act like you aren't the same way.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

Even if both teams get a possession regardless if Team A scores first or not, the team that wins the coin toss has an immediate advantage.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

so they change the rule to what it is now and now people want it changed again. I agree, it shouldn't of been changed to begin with but they did it. As for the format now, if you can't stop a team from getting the ball and scoring on you THEN you really don't deserve to get the ball. Stop them and then score, if anything I'd change it to first that scores a TD so if the other team does get the ball, they can't win on a field goal.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

I think most people who want a change probably want it for the same reason I do. I always thought it should have been that both teams get the ball at least once. It isn't something I just decided on. Instead the NFL just kind of halfway tried to solve the problem and only did that because, as others have said, all of the complaining about how we beat the Vikings. As if it was something that had never happened before.

But really, moving forward it makes sense to avoid all doubt, in my opinion. I'm not sure it will happen.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

Both teams getting the ball = every kid getting a participation trophy now

last thing I want is "fair for everyone" invading the NFL

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Play a 7 minute 5th quarter. Leader at the end wins if it's tied it's a tie!

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You win the coin toss. Team scores team wins the game. Just like how the Cardinals WON!!!! and the Saints beat the Viqueens. Thanks Brett Farve.

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Teams have taken advantage of the ot coin toss nowadays trying to go for the TD. Idk though if it should change.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

How is this anything like a participation trophy? It's perfectly fine for each team to open a half receiving the ball, but in overtime it's now a participation trophy to ensure that the coin toss doesn't give one team an obvious advantage? You make it sound as if someone is suggesting to add seconds to the clock at the end of the game so the other team gets a chance, or a mulligan to re-do a play.

Say whatever you want about my opinion, but this is nothing like a participation award, where every losing team gets something no matter how far behind they were. No comparison.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

You are absolutely correct, and that is why I favor a set time period for the initial overtime. Yes, if both teams score a TD then the team that won the coin toss would only have to kick a field goal to win on their next possession. This still puts far too much importance on winning the coin toss. Football should be a game of skill, not chance.

Several replies suggest that the Defense should stop the opposing Offense on the initial possession or they deserve the loss. I can see that to a point, except that the rules of the game (which I have no issue with) favor the Offense. Also, every team has 1 side (Offense or Defense) that is stronger than the other. It doesn't mean that they aren't capable of winning, but the current overtime rules potentially prevent you from playing your entire team.

At the end of the day, I just want to see the best team win. The current overtime rules don't promote that in my opinion and the fix would be relatively simple. It would never be perfect, but it could be a lot better than it is.

Re: Overtime Rules
 

so simple and makes more since than what they have now. good input gary.

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I say do away with overtime and end in a tie, or let the head coaches fight it out at the 50 and see how many OTs teams have again. ;)