by Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News
To change, or not to change – that is the question facing the NFL when it comes to the discussion of their current postseason overtime rules at the 2010 National Football League’s owner meetings.
Currently, the rule stands as an immediate sudden death, much like the regular season one: first team to score, wins. Period, no questions asked.
But in light of last year’s New Orleans Saints overtime victory over Brett Favre and the Vikings, there is a proposal swimming around at the meetings that would slightly alter the rule to prevent a team from ousting another in postseason sudden-death format, much like the NHL does with outlawing shootouts in the playoff weeks.
If passed, the new rule would be as such: coin-toss decides who receives the ball first, much like it does now. Should that team drive down and score a touchdown, the game is over, and they are the victor. But should they either not score or record just a field goal, the other team has a chance to either tie or win the game. If they simply tie the score, the process repeats.
The new proposal would require 24 votes from a pool of 32 owners, a 75 percent approval benchmark, one that according to the Washington Post, might prove too high to reach.
Interestingly enough, rule opposition includes Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, whose team was eliminated in the 2009-10 playoffs by a sudden-death overtime field goal. In an article by the American Chronicle, Wolf maintained that he respects the current NFL tradition, and remains concerned about extending the game and the possible injuries that follow.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, meanwhile, has publically stated that he is fully behind altering the NFL’s current overtime rule in favor of bettering the system in favor of the game’s integrity. Among those backing Goodell is Houston Texan owner Bob McNair, who told the Houston Chronicle that there needs to be a change in the current rule, as right now, it is simply unsatisfactory.
Still, the fact remains that the proposal would require the dismissal of only nine NFL owners, and it remains to be seen where this will wind up.
Other items being kicked around at the 2010 meetings include the current situation involving Ben Roethlisberger, troubled quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Commissioner Goodell touched on Big Ben’s ordeal, mentioning that the NFL remains concerned about Roethlisberger continually placing himself in these precarious situations, though he did not offer any direct insight into what course of action he will be taking involving Roethlisberger’s future. Goodell did mention that he wishes to speak with the quarterback before he discusses anything further.
Staying in the realm of troubled NFL stars, the prospect of Adam “Pacman” Jones returning to the NFL also remains a hot-button topic at the 2010 meetings. Jones, who is eligible to return to play in the 2010-11 NFL season, is currently being courted by the Detroit Lions, though the level of interest is currently unknown.
Jeff Fisher, Titans’ head coach, responsible for drafting Jones back in 2005, spoke out to ESPN and offered some insight into his possible return.
The prospect of Brett Favre returning to the NFL meanwhile, remains just as much a mystery, as in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress explained that the Vikes will “sit and wait for Favre,” knowing that it’s unrealistic to expect otherwise.
For another quarterback in the NFL, it appears topping 1,000 yards only once in the past four years has resulted in no lack of confidence from free-agent Daunte Culpepper, who is still trying to find a niche for himself in the National Football League. Operating without an agent, Culpepper is still vying for a position on a professional team, even after a few statistically unfortunate seasons in both Detroit and Miami.
At the meetings, Culpepper spoke with ESPN, announcing that he would love to come and play for the Buffalo Bills – and that given the opportunity, he can be the guy in Buffalo. All that remains to be seen is that if the Bills would be interested in acquiring a quarterback who hasn’t posted a rating above 100.00 since 2005.
What doesn’t remain to be seen however, is whether or not the Colts will waste any time in trying to get another leg up on the rest of the NFL – which it appears, they wont.
Early this morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Indianapolis is considering running more four WR sets in the upcoming season, using the quartet of Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Colie and Anthony Gonzalez more often during NFL games. Throw tight end Dallas Clark into that equation, and defenses might not get any sleep in the 2010-11 season, seeing as they were already losing plenty thinking about Peyton Manning – and only Peyton Manning.
Meanwhile, not to be outdone by Indianapolis, the New England Patriots are making their fair share of headlines, including Pats’ owner Robert Kraft offering some insight on an impending Tom Brady extension deal.
Kraft told NFL.com that he remains confident New England will get a deal done with the five-time Pro Bowler, and that it’s as simple as, “he wants to be, we want him….we have to find a way to satisfy him.”
Other Patriots news includes free agents Kevin Faulk and Stephen Neal announcing that they would like to finish their careers in New England, as well as head coach Bill Belichick finally offering an explanation as to why he opted not to sign a defensive coordinator.
Among other topics Belichick discussed with ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss were the status of linebacker Adalius Thomas, an upcoming Thanksgiving game and quarterback Tom Brady adding boxing to his workout regiment.
In an effort to get himself into better shape for the coming 2010-11 NFL season, it appears Brady has began using boxing routines to improve both his toughness and quickness. According to Twitter, when asked what professional boxer Belichick would compare Brady to, the three-time Super Bowl champion head coach replied, “someone who would get knocked out.”
Refreshing to know that in an offseason full of changes, Belichick hasn’t budged one bit.
As for the coming days, it appears there is plenty more for the NFL to discuss, including wrapping up that overtime debate, where a certain Pro Bowl wide receiver will wind up and whether or not the NFL will open their 2010-11 season with a Giants-Cowboys matchup in Jerry Jones’ brand new jungle gym.
For more updates on then NFL Owners meetings, check out ESPN’s running Meetings-Blog and NFL.com’s updates courtesy of Roger
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