NFL Makes Another Dumb Rule Change
NFL owners keep on imposing ridiculous rule changes on the game. But they never seem to do shit about truly terrible rules that desperately need adjustment and/or elimination.
For instance, the idiotic fumble out of the end-zone for a touchback rule didn’t even come up this year (maybe the most inexplicable rule in all of sports where the defensive team that doesn’t even recover the ball not only gets possession, but gains an extra 20 yards on the next play). Then there’s the imbecilic break-an-invisible-plane “air touchdown” rule that isn’t even on the table (all TDs should require touching a part of the end zone-field, which is why it’s called a TOUCHdown–besides, something’s wrong with any rule where a player is knocked out of bounds at the 2- yard line and yet he’s awarded a touchdown for sticking the ball out–call me old fashioned, but I think the player who’s awarded a touchdown should at least be guaranteed to be standing in the same zip code). But hey, those brilliant owners now want to fuck up all the kickoffs and make onside kicks all but impossible to pull off.
Here’s the new rule about onside kicks which goes into effect next season:
“In the event a team wants to attempt an onside kick, it will have to inform officials of its intent and would then be allowed to use the NFL’s traditional formation. No surprise onside kicks will be allowed.”
What the fuck !!!
No surprise kicks will be allowed ???
Question–will the team that intends to try an onside kick also need a signed note from Mommy?
Oh, and don’t even get me started on flag-happy pass interference calls, illegal contact that makes playing pass defense nearly impossible, rules against “taunting” (talk about inconsistent enforcement!), and other stupid rules to enforce with any consistency.
Seriously–teams will have to inform the refs an onside kick is coming. The refs can’t even get the “eligible receiver” reporting rule right (recall last season’s infamous Detroit Lions’ last-minute play against Dallas).
This is INSANE. This only adds to complexity and more confusion. The league should be making the rules more simple, not imposing different formations and ruining the strategy of surprise.
NOTE: READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW NFL RULES CHANGES FOR 2024 HERE
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Postscript: As a gambler, I’m in favor of anything that reduces variance or unpredictability. One example is–I hate onside kicks. However, CHANGING the play as to where players line up based on “intent” is dumb. Moreover, I like the idea that a coach can try a surprise kick at any time. I seriously doubt the New Orleans Saints would have won that Super Bowl years ago vs. Indy if they hadn’t successfully recovered that second half onside kick surprise that completely changed the momentum of the game. Such a thing would NOT be possible under these new rules changes!
