In my life I’ve never heard, seen or read anyone complain about the NFL extra point. To say it’s been a non-issue isn’t fair, because to even use the word “issue” gives it more credence than it ever had. Nobody in the real world cared about the extra point. It’s such a non-factor that some people don’t know that a touchdown is actually just worth six points. It was automatic and no one out here thought about it.
But in there, in the hallowed halls of the NFL it was actually a problem. It was a problem that had to be solved so bad that it took three separate proposals to figure it out. The new rule moves the extra point from the two yard-line to the 15 yard-line. Problem solved.
And, again, no one seems to care a lot.
But, NFL, since we’ve got the rulebook out, we’ve got a new pack of colored markers and have opened the digital text editor, maybe it’s time to look at a four rule changes that will impact the game in a more positive way than a 33-yard extra point.
All flags should be reviewable
There’s no reason that judgment calls aren’t reviewable now and these penalties (like a holding call on a scoring play, a downfield pass interference penalty or a roughing the passer call) have a huge impact on the end result of the game. If you’re reading this, you can probably think of 20 examples of bad judgment calls like this from last year alone. If a player is holding, that should be obvious on replay. So should roughing or targeting or pass interference.
The coaches should get three permanent challenge flags per game
It’s simple. The coach gets three challenge flags to fix dumb or bad calls from the referees. If they coach is right, he gets to keep the flag and use it again. If he loses, he is not charged a time out. That’s penalizing a coach because refs potentially screwed up. There’s no reason for that. Losing the challenge flag should be punishment enough as the coach is now completely at the mercy of the hapless NFL referee staff on the field.
Teams should get a second-contract salary cap break on a player they drafted
Few things are more annoying as a football fan than seeing your team lose a player they drafted in free agency and many times that happens simply because the salary cap. I think the salary cap is a good thing. It’s one of the aspects of the NFL that makes it a superior sport. But, say, if you draft a player like Odell Beckham Jr. and keep him on a second contract after his rookie deal, you should get a percentage break. Like 10 percent. So, for instance, if another team wants to sign him for $50 million, the Giants can offer him $55 million, but still have it count just $50 million on their cap.
The Seattle Seahawks are no more than two years away from being broken up specifically because of second contracts. They’re being penalized for scouting and drafting well and being successful. It doesn’t mean a player can’t leave or that another team can’t sign him. It’s just that the team that drafted him will take 10 percent less a cap hit on his contract.
Players with 10 years in the league should also get a 10 percent salary cap break
If there’s anything worse than losing an elite player on your team because his second contract is too expensive, it’s losing a fan-favorite veteran because he’s entering the final years of his career and is too expensive to keep.
Look at a guy like Lance Briggs, former linebacker for the Chicago Bears. My guess is the Bears would really love to have him back if it could make financial sense. My other guess is any team would be blessed to have a veteran leader like Briggs on their team mentoring and helping coach up their young linebackers. The reality is that Briggs isn’t on any team right now and may not land on one all because of what his services, even at a reduced rate, would cost. That’s unfair to Briggs, to the teams he could help, to the fans and the league.
There’s no reason why the salary cap can’t give a break on veteran players. It makes sense for everybody. You could argue that great quarterbacks all play longer than 10 years and that salary cap break would give a team like the Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots an unfair advantage, but you’re wrong. Your team is never going to have a chance to sign Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady unless their respective teams are done with them. It doesn’t matter what the salary cap is, or what their contracts pay them. Aaron Rodgers, barring a catastrophe, will never play for the Cleveland Browns, so there’s no reason to punish his team because they drafted, developed and utilized their talents.
