Beyond The Mic: 4 Sports Rules That Need To Be Implemented

With the NFL implementing some new rules this week, I began to think about sports rules that should be implemented, but likely won't.

My thought process was simple. If the answer is "yes" to the two following questions, the rule should be passed.

Would it make the game better? Would it be fair?

NFL overtime rule/college football stat keeping in overtime- These are two rule changes, but one change could lead to another. College football overtime is fun. Start at the opponent’s 25 yard line and try to score. The opponent then does the same. If you get to a third OT, you now must go for two. It’s made for thrilling excitement, leaving fans satisfied that each team had an equal opportunity in overtime.

In the NFL, one team can win a coin flip, drive down the field, score a touchdown, game over. The old adage of, “If you don’t want a team to score, stop them” is outdated. Football rules have been altered over the years to benefit the offense. If the Saints win an overtime coin toss, you feel decent about their chances of winning based on their offense. If they lose the toss, you watch their struggling, tired defense take the field after already playing 60 minutes of football.

Why won’t the NFL adopt this change? Money. If you allow stats in overtime (which the NFL does) with a college OT format, players will set new single game scoring records, Vegas lines will be covered with the OVER,  player stat bonuses will be more easily met, and fantasy football leagues will be decided by a game going to 4OTs.

What’s the first rule change that needs to take place? College football gets rid of stat keeping in overtime. Eli Manning threw 6 touchdowns at Ole Miss in a single game….that went 7 overtimes. It seems silly, right? If college changes the rule, it could lead to the NFL opening up to the idea of changing their overtime rule.

The rule isn’t a complete stretch. Currently, a quarterback isn’t charged with an interception if he throws a pick on a two point attempt, and the defensive player isn’t credited with the interception. Apply this concept to all of overtime if a college OT rule is adopted.

The third and fourth sports rules which should be implemented involves college and pro basketball.  Get rid of the possession arrow in college basketball and go to the jump ball, with a caveat. In the NBA, when players are tied up with the ball and jump ball is called, they jump for it. It may seem fair in theory, but when the 6’0 point guard gets tied up with the 7’2 center, it creates a disadvantage. While it’s fun to see the mismatch play out, the rule should be altered to allow teams to choose a player currently on the floor who they want to use for the jump ball. College can do the same, getting rid of possession arrows all together.

Four simple rules. Four easy fixes. Will any of the four pass someday? Probably not. Sports rules tend to make simple hard.