2014 NFL Offseason Thread

[Flabbibulin]

I like the idea of making PAT's and even field goals harder. The virtually guaranteed single point has been around forever though and may be considered sacred ground by some?

[Joborule]

I wouldn't mind making it a bit tougher to add a bit more drama to those key late games PATs, as well encourage more two-point conversions.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Here's what they should really do: Keep the EP at the 2 yard line, but eliminate traditional kicking as an EP option. The only options should be two point conversion, or the Doug Flutie dropkick special. Not a fan of moving it back, particularly since for indoor teams it won't make much of a difference. In fact its now a massive edge to have a dome because a 42 yarder in ideal conditions is still a 85-95% make. With the elements it dips into the 70's or lower.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Here's what they should really do: Keep the EP at the 2 yard line, but eliminate traditional kicking as an EP option. The only options should be two point conversion, or the Doug Flutie dropkick special. Not a fan of moving it back, particularly since for indoor teams it won't make much of a difference. In fact its now a massive edge to have a dome because a 42 yarder in ideal conditions is still a 85-95% make. With the elements it dips into the 70's or lower.

Why does that give a massive edge to have a dome?


I don't think I like the idea though. I think it would make games more entertaining, but increases the importance of the kicker too much. He already probably has a bigger chance to impact the outcome of a game than he should.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well lets be real: A 42 yarder with 0 MPH wind, zero rain, zero snow...or a 42 yarder in a 30MPH wind with blowing snow? One is substantially harder than the other. Dome teams would gain a big advantage as the EP would still be close to automatic. A 42 yarder in the elements is not even close to automatic.

Broader note: Stop ####ing around with the game Goodell. It seems he wants to be the David Stern of the NFL: Universally hated, but made the owners a ton of money.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

If we're complaining about changes to the game I would like to see the kickoffs happen from the 25 or 20 yard line. Most kickers still have the leg to get it close to the goal line from there and it brings back one of the most exciting plays in football. That and stop protecting QBs so much.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Well lets be real: A 42 yarder with 0 MPH wind, zero rain, zero snow...or a 42 yarder in a 30MPH wind with blowing snow? One is substantially harder than the other. Dome teams would gain a big advantage as the EP would still be close to automatic. A 42 yarder in the elements is not even close to automatic.

Broader note: Stop ####ing around with the game Goodell. It seems he wants to be the David Stern of the NFL: Universally hated, but made the owners a ton of money.

You make it sound like the visiting team will still have to go outside to kick theirs. It would be the same conditions for both teams.

[Cheese]

Move PAT attempts back to the 15 or 25 and move the ball to either hash mark...no PATs from centre of the field.

[Pagal4321]

In the past three seasons, kickers have made 3,691 of 3,709 PATs. That’s one extra point missed per 207 kicks tried … one PAT missed per 43 games.

Per Peter King's MMQB Mailbag.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

You make it sound like the visiting team will still have to go outside to kick theirs. It would be the same conditions for both teams.

Right, but a team like the Colts or Saints are guaranteed 8 games a year in a dome (in the Saints case its 9 because they play Atlanta). The Raiders meanwhile are guaranteed 0 dome games. If everything else is equal, obvious the Colts or Saints kicker has an advantage.

One idea I've seen that I kind of like is to make it like rugby where you have to kick from where you crossed the goal line (say far left corner or whatever). This makes for the potential to have more difficult angles on short kicks.

[troutman]

I like how they do converts in rugby. You kick in relation to where you touch down the ball (thus the origin of our word touchdown).

The way we play now, 6 points should be called "crosstheplane".

[Jason14h]

Right, but a team like the Colts or Saints are guaranteed 8 games a year in a dome (in the Saints case its 9 because they play Atlanta). The Raiders meanwhile are guaranteed 0 dome games. If everything else is equal, obvious the Colts or Saints kicker has an advantage.

What advantage though? Over who?

Both kickers during a game are at the same location.

I suppose they may end their season with 5-10 more pts as an indoor kicker.... Which means nothing except in fantasy???

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

What advantage though? Over who?

Both kickers during a game are at the same location.

I suppose they may end their season with 5-10 more pts as an indoor kicker.... Which means nothing except in fantasy???

Perhaps on salary cap? Need to pay a better kicker to ensure you make your PATs if you're playing in the elements?

[tvp2003]

Regarding PAT's -- what if they make it like regulation wins in hockey. PAT gets you one point, but instead of "going for two" and getting two points, you get three points instead. Could revamp scoring strategy because teams would be more inclined to "go for three"?

[tvp2003]

Oh yes, and Brandon Browner claims he's been reinstated by the NFL:

http://tracking.si.com/2014/03/04/se...er-reinstated/

I received wonderful news today. The NFL has reinstated me, and I now have the opportunity to prove to the fans and my teammates how important this sport is to me,” Browner wrote on Twitter. “I realize now more than ever that being part of the NFL is not a right, but a privilege. I am grateful that Commissioner Goodell and my agent were able to resolve this issue in a positive, productive manner so I can continue my career, provide for my family, and help my team win a Super Bowl. Thank you to all who have gone out of their way to show their support. I will live up to your expectations of me.

As a BB fan, I'm glad he's back in the league and hope he signs on with a good team...

[browna]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Oh yes, and Brandon Browner claims he's been reinstated by the NFL:

http://tracking.si.com/2014/03/04/se...er-reinstated/



As a BB fan, I'm glad he's back in the league and hope he signs on with a good team...

The NFL has egg on its face for this, backing down when they knew they were in the wrong from the beginning thanks to an administrative snafu.

Yeah, he smoked weed and got caught. Whereas probably 10's or hundreds test positive that go unannounced (as it was a first or second offense), he was on strike 4 thanks to missing being tested while in the CFL (which equaled a positive test). There's some question as to why he was even allwed back in the NFL given that situation from when he signed with Seattle, but the NFL allowed that somehow.

However, while the NFL was sticking with their stance and rejecting the original appeal, he missed a playoff run and a Superbowl with his teammates of his past 2 years. No amount of money he'll get from his next contract can bring that back.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by browna

However, while the NFL was sticking with their stance and rejecting the original appeal, he missed a playoff run and a Superbowl with his teammates of his past 2 years. No amount of money he'll get from his next contract can bring that back.

It sounds like he will get a ring as well as the bonuses for Seattle winning the NFC championship and Super Bowl. Not the same as playing the big game of course (I don't believe he even travelled with the team to NJ) but not a total loss...

[Cheese]

The Buffalo Bills' experiment in Toronto appears to be over, at least for 2014.

http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=445309

The players hated it...was like playing a road game. In the end it wont matter, Rogers consortium will buy the Bills and move them eventually.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cheese

The Buffalo Bills' experiment in Toronto appears to be over, at least for 2014.

http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=445309

The players hated it...was like playing a road game. In the end it wont matter, Rogers consortium will buy the Bills and move them eventually.

That could be a problem - the NFL doesn't like selling teams to groups. They are on record as only wanting to sell to people with majority ownership stakes except in exceptional circumstances (see Green Bay).

I've heard a few stories about how Rogers/Bell/MLSE or others are trying to figure out how to maneuver around that issue.

[Cheese]

The Denver Broncos are expected to release perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey

http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=445402