5 Easy Ways to Fix the NFL (the key is Replay)

[LA Grant]

The NFL has many problems, but these are the most crucial, imo: Too many games are tedious and boring. and Injuries, Illegal Hits, and Inconsistent Punishment.

 

I think the simplest way to solve is to focus on revamping Instant Replay.

 

1) Challenges and Booth Reviews are removed entirely. The call on the field stands, always, period the end. Will calls be wrong? Absolutely, but calls are wrong now even with Replay. Short of replacing the referees with robots, you're going to have human error and incorrect judgments. Rather than spending hours upon hours every season debating "was his knee down? was that a catch?" -- the call is the call as it's judged in the moment. Keep the game moving, and they will be far more enjoyable to watch.

 

2) Instant Replay is used only to review injuries and illegal hits. If a player is injured, the play is automatically reviewed, even if there is no one at fault. Even if a player is not injured but the referees see a hit they think should be reviewed, then it is reviewed. "The Booth" can also initiate a review, should they see something the officials on the field miss. 

 

3) Punishments are simple and severe. If the officials believe someone made an illegal hit, the player is immediately ejected. The league then evaluates and determines if the hit was intentional or avoidable, and if so, the player is suspended for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. Players can appeal, but if the language in the rules are specific and clear, then a hit like Gronkowski's or JuJu's or any of Burfict's in previous years would be very clear violations and thus lead to full suspension. If the league determines the ejected player's hit was an accident, and they were perhaps wrongly ejected, then the player can return the following week. 

 

4) This is, in effect, a zero tolerance policy toward intent to injure. There are not a range of tiers to this punishment. It is ejection and, if a true violation, a full season suspension.

 

This would be the harshest punishment, and rightfully so, which also helps to (somewhat) justify every other punitive judgment. This way, you do not have a situation where Gronk's hit is somehow equal to Jerry Hughes mouthing off to officials -- completely ridiculous. Being suspended for 2, 3, or 4 games for off-the-field behavior doesn't seem so bad... and may also make the NFL reconsider how many players they want to be suspending for minor offenses. If you're committing to player safety, then even a star like Gronkowski should be subject to the rules, but since you don't want to suspend all of your star players... maybe give the players a heads up before you give them a drug test, or better yet, stop testing for THC and just let them be. Leave it to coaches/teams to punish players for being unprofessional.

 

Although you'll never eliminate injuries entirely, it's entirely possible to dramatically reduce them. Swift, harsh punishment for what should be football's biggest offense will 100% make players go out of their way to avoid making these hits. If that overall effect leads toward more scoring because defenders aren't using their bodies as missiles when they're out of position, then... that's a good thing for the league.

 

Tackling needs to be taught very simply and consistently. If you are not wrapping up a guy from the chest or below, then you are doing something wrong. If you're leading with your head instead of your shoulder, you're definitely doing something wrong.

 

5) Back to making the games more exciting, I would then recommend adding more cameras in the style of the Pylon Cam. The league already puts chips into players' pads for Next Gen Stats, so why not include tiny imperceptible cameras to helmets? The tip of the ball? All along the sideline? 

 

The NFL has always been a product designed for television, but it's not taking advantage of new technology. It now is beginning to look antiquated, and when the games are dull, it's almost as bad as watching baseball. 

 

So instead of reviewing calls ("were his feet in bounds?") from boring, repetitive angles, the highlights that we're seeing are of the exciting plays, from exciting perspectives. In this way, the TV viewer is seeing about the same amount of replays as we are now, but the replays are better.

 

Imagine seeing a slowed-down replay of a spectacular one-handed catch from the perspective of the nose of the ball as the WR leaps into position. Or a RB leaping over the pile from the POV of his helmet. Or a sack on a QB from the pass rusher's POV. This is not some sci-fi parallel universe, this is possible with existing consumer tech. Cameras are smaller and more durable than ever. Use them!!

 

 

 

tl;dr -- This will never happen. Unless it does.

Edited December 11, 2017 by LA Grant

[White Linen]

I think you'd actually see an increase in time outs for replay if it was injury related.  

 

I'd like to see them have a digital way to determine first downs.  The chains are antiquated and I think it would be fun to have a huge light near the play clock that illuminates when the yardage gained is obtained - then a light on the screen for tv.  

[BeginnersMind]

Replays this season have been markedly better. Call on field usually stands and it's much faster than when the ref used to duck under the hood.

 

I don't see any reason to change the current system. 

[SoCal Deek]

Or....they could've gotten rid of Roger Goodell, saved a ton of money, and fixed more than things than I have time to list.

[GunnerBill]

9 minutes ago, BeginnersMind said:

Replays this season have been markedly better. Call on field usually stands and it's much faster than when the ref used to duck under the hood.

 

I don't see any reason to change the current system. 

 

Agree.

[BigPappy]

5 minutes ago, BeginnersMind said:

Replays this season have been markedly better. Call on field usually stands and it's much faster than when the ref used to duck under the hood.

 

I don't see any reason to change the current system. 

Agree with this. Besides, there is no way they are going to pull back on instant replay now. Most fans and some players will go into an angry frenzy, especially after a bad call where a receiver lands in or out of bounds and costs a team a game or chance at the playoffs. 

 I like the idea of adding the camera to the football but the helmet cam....not happening. One good jolt with the ground and camera busted. You will never see a "true" zero tolerance policy in the NFL. If that were to happen teams would lose more than half their star players if not half their team to policy violations. The game is fine the way it is with the exception of the woosification that it's taking place.

[BearNorth]

I think the correct punishment would be that if a player is intentionally injured by an illegal hit, then the player committing the illegal act is suspended until the injured player is able to return, although in the Gronk/Tre situation, either an ejection or an automatic 1 week suspension is also a fair punishment. 

 

 

[WhoTom]

19 minutes ago, BeginnersMind said:

Replays this season have been markedly better. Call on field usually stands and it's much faster than when the ref used to duck under the hood.

 

I don't see any reason to change the current system. 

 

I'd tweak it a little to allow penalties to be reviewed. It doesn't slow down the game, because you still only get 2 challenges, and a 3rd if you win both.

 

 

[Original Byrd Man]

52 minutes ago, LA Grant said:

The NFL has many problems, but these are the most crucial, imo: Too many games are tedious and boring. and Injuries, Illegal Hits, and Inconsistent Punishment.

 

I think the simplest way to solve is to focus on revamping Instant Replay.

 

1) Challenges and Booth Reviews are removed entirely. The call on the field stands, always, period the end. Will calls be wrong? Absolutely, but calls are wrong now even with Replay. Short of replacing the referees with robots, you're going to have human error and incorrect judgments. Rather than spending hours upon hours every season debating "was his knee down? was that a catch?" -- the call is the call as it's judged in the moment. Keep the game moving, and they will be far more enjoyable to watch.

 

2) Instant Replay is used only to review injuries and illegal hits. If a player is injured, the play is automatically reviewed, even if there is no one at fault. Even if a player is not injured but the referees see a hit they think should be reviewed, then it is reviewed. "The Booth" can also initiate a review, should they see something the officials on the field miss. 

 

3) Punishments are simple and severe. If the officials believe someone made an illegal hit, the player is immediately ejected. The league then evaluates and determines if the hit was intentional or avoidable, and if so, the player is suspended for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. Players can appeal, but if the language in the rules are specific and clear, then a hit like Gronkowski's or JuJu's or any of Burfict's in previous years would be very clear violations and thus lead to full suspension. If the league determines the ejected player's hit was an accident, and they were perhaps wrongly ejected, then the player can return the following week. 

 

4) This is, in effect, a zero tolerance policy toward intent to injure. There are not a range of tiers to this punishment. It is ejection and, if a true violation, a full season suspension.

 

This would be the harshest punishment, and rightfully so, which also helps to (somewhat) justify every other punitive judgment. This way, you do not have a situation where Gronk's hit is somehow equal to Jerry Hughes mouthing off to officials -- completely ridiculous. Being suspended for 2, 3, or 4 games for off-the-field behavior doesn't seem so bad... and may also make the NFL reconsider how many players they want to be suspending for minor offenses. If you're committing to player safety, then even a star like Gronkowski should be subject to the rules, but since you don't want to suspend all of your star players... maybe give the players a heads up before you give them a drug test, or better yet, stop testing for THC and just let them be. Leave it to coaches/teams to punish players for being unprofessional.

 

Although you'll never eliminate injuries entirely, it's entirely possible to dramatically reduce them. Swift, harsh punishment for what should be football's biggest offense will 100% make players go out of their way to avoid making these hits. If that overall effect leads toward more scoring because defenders aren't using their bodies as missiles when they're out of position, then... that's a good thing for the league.

 

Tackling needs to be taught very simply and consistently. If you are not wrapping up a guy from the chest or below, then you are doing something wrong. If you're leading with your head instead of your shoulder, you're definitely doing something wrong.

 

5) Back to making the games more exciting, I would then recommend adding more cameras in the style of the Pylon Cam. The league already puts chips into players' pads for Next Gen Stats, so why not include tiny imperceptible cameras to helmets? The tip of the ball? All along the sideline? 

 

The NFL has always been a product designed for television, but it's not taking advantage of new technology. It now is beginning to look antiquated, and when the games are dull, it's almost as bad as watching baseball. 

 

So instead of reviewing calls ("were his feet in bounds?") from boring, repetitive angles, the highlights that we're seeing are of the exciting plays, from exciting perspectives. In this way, the TV viewer is seeing about the same amount of replays as we are now, but the replays are better.

 

Imagine seeing a slowed-down replay of a spectacular one-handed catch from the perspective of the nose of the ball as the WR leaps into position. Or a RB leaping over the pile from the POV of his helmet. Or a sack on a QB from the pass rusher's POV. This is not some sci-fi parallel universe, this is possible with existing consumer tech. Cameras are smaller and more durable than ever. Use them!!

 

 

 

tl;dr -- This will never happen. Unless it does.

You're assuming the league is concerned about injuries.  The problem is their not.  Unless it's a white QB blows to the head continue be a problem.  Just ask Kiko, or Gronk. 

[/dev/null]

6.  Bill Belichek is drawn and quartered

7.  Roger Goodell is sent to the Pit of Misery

[The Wiz]

13 minutes ago, /dev/null said:

6.  Bill Belichek is drawn and quartered

7.  Roger Goodell is sent to the Pit of Misery

TO THE MISERY!!!!

 

31 minutes ago, Original Byrd Man said:

You're assuming the league is concerned about injuries.  The problem is their not.  Unless it's a white QB Tom Brady blow to the head.  Just ask Kiko, or Gronk. 

Fixed that for ya.  The league doesn't care if they are white or black or purple.  They are covering their ass the best they can at this point and until players decide not to play (like some have opted retirement) players will keep getting hurt.

 

Just this year we have Joe Flacco, Tom Savage and Nate Peterman with helmet to helmet hits on white QBs.  They aren't exactly trying to move mountains to make the players more safe.

Edited December 11, 2017 by The Wiz

[nonprophet]

2 hours ago, LA Grant said:

The NFL has many problems, but these are the most crucial, imo: Too many games are tedious and boring. and Injuries, Illegal Hits, and Inconsistent Punishment.

 

I think the simplest way to solve is to focus on revamping Instant Replay.

 

1) Challenges and Booth Reviews are removed entirely.

You can't be serious. Given the sensor technology available today it would be inexcusable to remove checks against human error. Look at what they've done with tennis where sensors have replaced line judges; the NFL should do the same thing. There should be sensors in the ball so that it can be known for certain if it touched the ground before the receiver caught it. There should be sensors in a player's uniform to detect if there was contact with an opposing player or that their knee was down before the ball popped out.

The problem is not that the officials are trying to determine the truth, it's that they're trying to do it after the event has taken place based on insufficient information and possibly questionable human judgement.

Use sensors to record the what and when, computers to make objective judgements automatically based on those measurements and keep human referees around only as a fallback when technical problems occur.

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

I wholeheartedly agree with suggestion #5. 

 

The rest of the suggestions are, at best, misguided. 

[FearLess Price]

INstant replay will probobly never be done with cuz so many calls are so wrong and can affect a game and season. 

[MAJBobby]

Didnt know it was broke. 

 

Wouldnt be able to tell by the 500M check they are cashing from Yahoo

[Chadwick Bay Chad]

Silly recommendations no on all. Replay is needed

[Schmuggs]

You lost me after first sentence of point 1. 

 

Wha????

 

 

Edited December 12, 2017 by Schmuggs