THE EARLY LEAD: NFL ISSUES

BY BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

It’s time for a change. 

The NFL overtime has become a joke. 

We’ve witnessed two ties in the last two weeks and we nearly had another tie until the Raiders won on a touchdown with just over a minute to play. Be honest, are you ever excited when you see an NFL game has gone into overtime? It’s the least inspiring extra period next to soccer (which they play two extra periods, that aren’t even sudden death. Don’t get me started) so why not keep altering it? 

Speaking of the European futbol, no one likes ties, not even those guys, who half the time play to a tie. 

Let’s start with the first issue of the NFL overtime – a 15 minute overtime is too long, and yet many teams in recent years can’t seem to score even once. 

Who wants to watch a 6-6 tie that lasted 75 minutes of game time and still no winner was decided? 

On top of that, these overtime periods are often sloppy, littered with turnovers, penalties, punt after punt and missed field goals. 

Want to know the truth as to why the extra periods are hard to watch? 

The players more often than not are worn out. They’ve already played four quarters of football smashing into each other, do we really need to ask them to put together at least one more long, grueling drive? Who would have thought that a human body starts to wear down after four quarters of football? Obviously, Roger Goodell doesn’t care. 

Let’s not forget why we all play and watch sports – because of the competitive aspect. We need a winner, especially in a sport like football where a team only plays one game a week. We can’t go around having ties with so few games. 

Here’s my solution – first, let’s get rid of ties all together. Second, go to the college and high school style overtime. 

In college, each team starts at the opponent’s 25-yard line, and they both get a chance to score. It’s a pretty simple and typically, quick option though the game can drag on into third and fourth overtimes. But that’s where they add another wrinkle, after the second overtime, both teams must go for two if they score a touchdown, thus, theoretically, shortening the game. 

If the NFL wants to make it their own a little bit, move the starting spot to the 30-yard line or add some type of drive clock. Say you only get five minutes to score either a touchdown or a field goal. 

The shortened field provides better opportunities for scoring and puts less wear and tear on the defense and offense. Scoring from 25-30 yards out is obviously less strenuous than having to drive the entire field. 

Or here’s another option… whoever ties the game in regulation gets the ball first at the 50 yard line and if they score a touchdown, the game is over. If the team doesn’t score a touchdown but kicks a field goal, put the opponent on the 50-yard line and if they score a touchdown the game is over. Install a drive clock, not a game clock. If you don’t score before, say, five minutes is up, you turn the ball over to the other team at the 50. This moves the game along and it prevents ties. 

Yes, the NFL took a step in the right direction with no longer making the overtime sudden death, but more steps need to be taken. 

We are fed up with sloppy, pathetic football that ends in ties. Do something, Roger.