NFL OT Rule Change

[nLions1]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... e642a.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5022064
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Surely everyone has heard about this by now.

"League owners voted Tuesday to change an element of the overtime rule, so the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime will get at least one possession if the coin-toss winning team kicks a field goal instead of scoring a touchdown."

That however is just for the playoffs.

I personally think the NFL should adapt the college NCAA OT rules, for both regular season and playoffs. As the first link states, it doesn't really make sense to have two different OT rules for regular season and playoffs either. I still don't think the way they have OT set up is fair.

[abpk2903]

I like the college OT for the fact that each team gets a possession, however, I do not like college overtime. It takes many aspects out of play. All the special team units get taken off the field (with the exception of the field goal units). If a team plays the style of game that they pin the opponents deep and use field position to their advantage, they are screwed. I would like it a lot better if it started with a kickoff and each team is guaranteed to touch the ball once.

[ham55]

it doesn't really make sense to have two different OT rules for regular season and playoffs either. I still don't think the way they have OT set up is fair.

The NHL has been doing it differently in the regular season and the post season since the lockout. 4 on 4 for 5 mins in the regular season and 5 on 5 for 20 min periods in the post season. It doesn't hurt 'the game' in any way shape or form. If anything, the post season is a special time of year, and holds a different place in the game all together. Shouldn't each team have a shot with the ball where a trip to the Super Bowl could be on the line?

This, one day, will find its way in to the NFL regular season. This is just the first step in that direction.

[nLions1]

it doesn't really make sense to have two different OT rules for regular season and playoffs either. I still don't think the way they have OT set up is fair.

The NHL has been doing it differently in the regular season and the post season since the lockout. 4 on 4 for 5 mins in the regular season and 5 on 5 for 20 min periods in the post season. It doesn't hurt 'the game' in any way shape or form. If anything, the post season is a special time of year, and holds a different place in the game all together. Shouldn't each team have a shot with the ball where a trip to the Super Bowl could be on the line?

This, one day, will find its way in to the NFL regular season. This is just the first step in that direction.

Every game counts in the NFL though, if you lose in OT again and again just because you didn't win a coin toss you get nothing for it. NHL regular season has a points system set up so that even if a team loses in OT they are rewarded and helps towards the postseason. The way they do it is logical. I'm not saying the NFL needs a points system, but just give the opposing team a chance to at least score in OT.

[ham55]

...it's been that way for years though. Give it time my friend. Don't be surprised if that's not the next move the rule committee makes for the 2011 season (if there is a 2011 season). For the time being, this is the move that the rule committee probably thought they had the best chance of swinging by the owners. If you try to swing both regular and post season in one year they very well may have gotten shut down. Small steps. I can see next year at this time they'll say, "hey, we changed it for the post season, why not do it for the regular season as well?" and they'll pass it. This is a one season thing, IMO.

[ham55]

Now they're talking that it could be up for vote in the May meetings in Dallas. It's gonna happen.