NFL passes playoff overtime rule

[JonLP24]

The NFL owners voted to change an element in the overtime rule, giving the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime to get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession.

The proposal passed 28-4. As it is written, the rules change applies just for the postseason, but the owners also decided to discuss adopting the changes for the regular season at their next meeting, in May in Dallas.

The Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals voted against the proposal.

The competition committee recommended the change in a vote of 6-2, and commissioner Roger Goodell supported the plan. He was able to secure enough votes to get the proposal passed on Tuesday, a day before the expected Wednesday vote.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5022064

Interesting the Vikings voting against it which I suspect the way they lost to the Saints is the main reason they were even considering the move. Wish they all did personally.

[El Supremo]

1. Good!....

More time for penalties, time outs, red flags and reviews.

:sarcasm:

[Auggie]

12. Yeah, time outs for advertising

Those will be prime commercials in playoff OT. Worth $$$. You can bet your jockstrap that was a major consideration.

[Iggo]

2. So if the first team scores a FG...

...and the next team fails to score, the game is over?

[JonLP24]

3. Yes.

Also if the second team with the ball matches with a field goal, then the game goes into how it is now... sudden death.

[Forkboy]

4. Good.

[madinmaryland]

5. Great! The NFL is now sissifying itself. I think what they have is just fine.

They all know the rules (coaches and players). If you go into overtime, you may or may not have one chance to win it.

PERIOD.

SUDDEN DEATH!

Anything else is BULLSHIT!

[PRETZEL]

9. They should know the rules,

I bet Donovan McNabb knows them now.

I agree, it should be left alone.

[Awsi Dooger]

6. Big benefit to the favorites

Particularly if it's applied to the regular season. Underdogs are often running on fumes heading toward overtime, and that will only increase if they're forced to score a touchdown or defend an extra possession after a field goal. Teams with premier QBs are especially helped.

I've seen that aspect spotlighted on betting sites but not elsewhere. The superior team inevitably benefits from longer duration to prove it.

Regardless, it's an asinine arbitrary change, the worst since the absurd clock rule switch of the '80s, running the clock after out of bounds plays outside 2 minutes in the first half and 5 minutes in the game.

I'm not sure I'll recognize the sport when Goodell gets through with it.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Dumb

And they spread all sorts of misleading stats to support the silly idea.

In fact, overall 30.3% of teams that won the coin toss end up winning the game on posession one. 30.3%!!! And, 8% of those won with a TD!

In the playoffs, over the last 10 years, 3 of 10 teams won the toss and won the game on a first posession FG. Pretty much the same as the regular season.

So, this was a solution in search of a problem.

Ignore those 59+% numbers they were throwing around. Those numbers included the coin toss winner winning on a subsequent posession. That wouldn't change with this rule. So, nearly half of that 59% was a win on posession 2 or beyond. It's only the 30% that is affected.

What wasn't examined is how often the losing team, out of that 30%, had a below average defense. If that number is high enough, it makes this idea even stupider.
GAC

[malakai2]

8. I gave up on basketball

Don't watch it anymore, and used to love it. I still do tune in to baseball when I am doing absolutely nothing else, which is...maybe a handful of times per year. Never thought I'd get to that point with football, but they are sure as hell pushing that way.

[joeybee12]

10. Vikings voted against it because it's basically the Bret Favor rule...

and they're trying to cover their tracks. Stupid move...they'll get rid of it in a few years.

[JonLP24]

11. NFL owners ponder more OT changes

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL players should be safer during games thanks to several rules changes passed at the league meetings.

They also might be playing longer in regular-season overtimes.

The NFL passed rules Wednesday to further protect defenseless players, including ball carriers who lose their helmet during a play. Seven of eight overall rules proposals were adopted, and several owners said they also expect the modified overtime rule for the playoffs that passed Tuesday to be revisited in May to include the regular season.

"It's a better system, so why not h
ave a better system every game?" Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said of expanding the new OT rule, which allows a team that loses the coin toss and gives up a field goal on the first series to then get a possession.

New York Giants owner John Mara added he expects discussion and possibly a vote at the May owners meetings in Dallas. The change was proposed only for the postseason by the competition committee and was passed 28-4 Tuesday.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league wants to meet with the players and the networks for some input and further discuss the ramifications of expanding the OT change.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5024325

[Renew Deal]

13. I only agree with this if it's for the entire season

I don't think it should be playoff only. Also, what happens if the scoring team onside kicks? Does the other team actually have to possess the ball or does it just have to be kicked?

[Yavin4]

14. It Should Be The First Team To Score A TD Wins

That would make it equitable. This rule is close to that, but it over complicates it. Score a TD to win in OT.

[Goblinmonger]

15. Don't remember where I read it

(which doesn't speak well for the originator of the idea, I guess), but one idea was to have two coin flips at the beginning. One for start of game and the other for potential OT. Then everyone knows who gets the ball first in OT. You don't get it and don't think you can stop a field goal in OT, then go for the win baby.

AT LEAST as interesting as this idea and really changes no rules.