YES WE CAN… Change the NFL Overtime Rules!

We actually got Health Care Reform and NFL Overtime Reform at the same time! They are similar in a lot of ways. Some people didn’t feel either needed reform. Sean Payton has been extremely vocal with his dislike for how and why the overtime rules were changed. Other coaches share his sentiments and concerns. Some feel that both were not reformed enough. Gene Wojciechowski at ESPN paints a pretty clear picture for why he feels the NFL overtime reform needs to be greater. Bottom line: When it comes to reform in government and sports it is impossible to please everyone.

Quick fun fact: It can be argued that the new NFL overtime rules were modeled from an idea written by ESPN writer Bill Simmons. This is what he said in a Retro-Diary of the Saints/Vikings playoff game. (Written on Feb. 8^th of this year)

9:25: Two straight first-down throws. Suddenly we're on the Saints' 36. I remember thinking, "Great, they'll tie it, then whichever teams wins the coin toss will march down and score, and we'll have to hear about how to fix overtime for the next nine months. Shoot me."

(FYI: I know how to fix it. Win the toss and score a touchdown, game over. Make a field goal on the opening drive and the opponent gets one possession of its own. From there, sudden death rules. Find a hole in that idea. You can't.)

Here is the deal: The NFL overtime rules NEEDED to change. Period. Professional games should not come down to arbitrary measures like a coin toss. The argument for the coin toss was always that DEFENSE should matter. If a team can’t stop another team then they should lose. Well that variable is still in play with the new rules. If you stop the team from scoring a Touchdown then you can still win. While these new rules are not a complete overhaul, they are the best compromise the NFL Owners could come up with. (Sound familiar?)

It’s not perfect, but I’ll take it. At the very least we can go into the next NFL season with certain knowledge of two things: 1.) That change and rule reform is possible when it’s necessary and 2.) That come playoff time, a coin toss will not decide the fate of a team.

Good enough…for now.

What do you think?

Reminder: 12:30 pm ET/ 9:30 am PT on MARCH 26TH (day before the Elite Eight) is the FIRST of THREE Trivia contests held on my Twitter feed: @BuzztimeSports. Come out and play so you can win an AMAZING prize. For more details on the contest go here.

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