HomeSPORTSNFL Offseason Update: Proposed Rule Changes Overshadow Exciting Free Agency Signing

NFL Offseason Update: Proposed Rule Changes Overshadow Exciting Free Agency Signing

By JONAS MILLER
Co-Executive Editor

The NFL off-season is always exciting, but this year has been a little extra special.

Names like Brandin Cooks and Eddie Lacy have topped the transaction charts, headlining a busy few weeks since the start of free agency.

Wide receivers across the country are testing the waters with new franchises to see if they can get any closer to ending their season as champs.

Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall join Cooks as some of the bigger names to pack their bags. Jeffrey signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia, and Marshall moved from one side of MetLife stadium to the other, trading in his Jets jersey for a big blue one. Cooks joined the reigning champs and will now be catching passes by decidedly the greatest ever, Tom Brady.

Tony Romo still hasn’t found a home, but Mark Sanchez has, signing a deal with the Chicago Bears who said goodbye to their longtime disappointment of a QB, Jay Cutler.

Speaking of disappointing, the Jets signed Josh McCown to a deal, making him the third or fourth QB on their roster, nobody can really keep track anymore. The best part of that deal? They guaranteed him a cool six million dollars—you know, as a team might do when they bring someone in from the worst franchise in the league.

But enough about the players; the real juicy news this offseason will come from any rule changes the league makes before the start of training camp.

Last year, they made one of the best changes ever by moving the extra point try back, making it a about a 30-yard field goal instead of a chip shot. This change resulted in about a billion more missed extra points, and even better, lots of blocks from opposing defenses. Several games were decided by whether the kickers could execute their one job, and in many cases, it turns out it’s a little bit harder when you move the ball farther away.

The first rule change proposed for this year would ban defensive players from jumping over the long snapper to block a field goal or extra point. This move was popularized after Seahawks linebacker Kam Chancellor pulled it off successfully several times two years ago. This move is much more efficient than having a speedy player rush off the edge of the line and it eliminates the chance that kickers and holders get hit by a charging defensive player. This rule would surely make extra points less exciting, but hey, that seems to be the goal of the No Fun league as a of late.

The next rule would expand the “defenseless player” statute to include any and all players within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Wide receivers running routes such as ins, outs, and slants would now be protected from bone-jarring hits that often occur near the line shortly after quick receptions. This rule would be great for receivers, who are often put in harm’s way by some quarterbacks need to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible. However, it would make defending short throws that much harder for defenders who already play several yards off the line.

It would also eliminate some fan-favorite hits that often result in dropped balls and every once and awhile, an interception or two. In the end, this is a great rule for some players, a terrible rule for other one more reasons for fans to be upset.

One of the most interesting proposals made comes from the Seattle and Buffalo front offices.

The proposed change would increase the number of challenges coaches would get, as well as allowing coaching staff to challenge any call made on the field by a referee.

This change could possibly eliminate blown calls that more often than not affect the outcome of a game. However, some might argue that it takes the game out of the hands of those paid to call it and puts it into those who have a vested interest in the outcome.

This rule would risk giving coaching staffs too much power on the field. Those who love the game should always be in favor of having the officials make the calls, and the coaches call the plays, but more attention should be paid to how many calls are actually blown on the field and the effects they have on entire seasons.

The last rule change fans and players need concern themselves with is one that could ruin the game of football more than any other proposed rule change so far. The league has suggested shortening the overtime period from 15 minutes to 10.

Keep in mind, any game that is still tied after 15 minutes, ends…with no winner and no loser. The only thing that can come out of a shorter overtime period would be more ties.

Why would anyone in the league or in America want more ties? Exactly—this rule should be strongly opposed by fans and players alike. Instead of this proposed change, the league should invest more time into changing other aspects of overtime.

Currently, if the first team to get the ball scores, the game is over. This isn’t fair; both teams should have a chance, because some teams have stronger offenses and others stronger defenses.

It would be wrong to fail an entire class just because half of the students got a few questions wrong even though the other half got perfect scores.

Football season is a wonderful and cherished time, and it would be a shame if the September to February season was suddenly less loved because silly rule changes were made without proper consideration.

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