Every now and then (it seems like an annual occurrence), I blog about how to fix baseball. Well, with the Super Bowl upon us, allow me to turn my eyes towards fixing professional football, namely the National Football League (or NFL). Or, as I like to refer to it, the American Football Junior League, because there was only one true league -- the American Football League (or AFL).
First up, widen the field. What?!? What do you mean, widen the field? The field's current dimensions are 120 yards by 53 yards. I say make it 60 yards wide; a perfect 2:1 ratio. This will allow for the superior athletes to make amazing plays, and not be too constrained to do so. The field is too small -- especially around the goal-line, or within the "red zone;" stupid term -- for 22 highly-skilled and well-built football playing machines. Widen the field, and let the receivers make some moves in the open field. It may bring back the sweep, or even the option.
Secondly, temporarily stop the clock following first downs, just like in college football. This makes sense. I hate it when a team is trying to get down the field to tie the game in the last minute, and they cannot throw the ball down the middle. It is stupid. This is also the exact reason why teams intentionally down the ball with 50 seconds remaining in the first half, when they are at their own forty. They have no times out remaining, so why bother. This simple change would do so much.
Third, eliminate the two-minute warning. This is an extra timeout. It makes little sense in the fourth quarter; it is absolutely asinine in the second. In what other sport, do the referees blow the whistle to announce that there are two minutes remaining. We know that already.
Fourth, shorten the season to 14 games, like in the old days. Because there are now eight four-team divisions, the 16-game season breaks down like this: six games against division opponents, six games against conference foes, and four games against the other conference. There is too many non-divisional games with the current schedule. I suggest reducing the six conference games to four, and call it a day.
Fifth, the Super Bowl should be always played in January. Oh yea, February is a sweeps month. Withdrawn. But the season should start in September, never August. With a fourteen game schedule (as outlined above), the season could start mid-September, give each team two bye weeks (instead of one), and still have the Super Bowl played in February.
And lastly, the Pro Bowl should be played during the off-week before the Super Bowl. Most players that play in the Super Bowl don't end up playing in the all-star game anyway, especially the winners. And this way, other players who have played well all season, but for poor teams, may get some recognition. And who wants to watch pro football the week after the Super Bowl? I figure, this way, people would have to watch it; they are still too pumped up for the big game the following week not to.
