Changing the rules for offsetting penalties in the NFL.

[Vanyel]

I've been thinking that off setting penalties should be changed. Currently if both teams commit a penalty that doesn't end the play, the penalties, no matter the yardage offset and the down is replayed. So if the offense makes a 10 yard penalty and the defense a 15 yard one, the down is replayed like nothing happened.

I'm imagining a scenario where the offense commits a 10 yard penalty and the defense a 15 yard penalty.
If a penalty stops play, the current rules apply, or if the defense commits a penalty that does not stop the play ( a "free play") then.
1. Neither team can decline the penalties.
2. Both penalty yardages will be applied. In the example I gave the offense would get a 5 yard gain.
3. The games continues with the next down. So if the offense was at 2 and 10, the next play would be 3 and 5.
4. If both teams teams commit a penalty of equal yardage, the game continues at the next down.

I just think that a offsetting penalties favor the team which commits the greater penalty, which it shouldn't. There are probably more rules that would need to be worked out, like personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct, or if the penalties occur in the Red Zone, I think the basic idea I have should be used.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Yeah, a 15 yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct shouldn't be offset by a 5 yard Holding.

One issue is that a DPI is an automatic 1st down no matter the yards.

Better refereeing in general would be a nice change of pace.

 

[Vanyel]

Better refereeing in general would be a nice change of pace.

It would be, but so much is just judgement calling. If a player, running off the field, runs into a ref, it's the Ref's judgement if it was intentional or not. I know an extreme example. More common example is ball placement. Even after a review, where the ball is placed is a judgement call.

A DPI can be offset by an offensive holding call. Depending how far from the Line the DPI took place, the offense could still pick up yardage. The NFL would have to work out if the offense gets a fresh set of downs even if they don't make enough from the difference between penalties.

 

[BillJ]

It would be, but so much is just judgement calling. If a player, running off the field, runs into a ref, it's the Ref's judgement if it was intentional or not. I know an extreme example. More common example is ball placement. Even after a review, where the ball is placed is a judgement call.

Without better officiating, you're just putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[Vanyel]

No matter what rule changes are made judgement calls are going to be the bane of the NFL.

 

[gblews]

I've been thinking that off setting penalties should be changed. Currently if both teams commit a penalty that doesn't end the play, the penalties, no matter the yardage offset and the down is replayed. So if the offense makes a 10 yard penalty and the defense a 15 yard one, the down is replayed like nothing happened.

I'm imagining a scenario where the offense commits a 10 yard penalty and the defense a 15 yard penalty.
If a penalty stops play, the current rules apply, or if the defense commits a penalty that does not stop the play ( a "free play") then.
1. Neither team can decline the penalties.
2. Both penalty yardages will be applied. In the example I gave the offense would get a 5 yard gain.RT
3. The games continues with the next down. So if the offense was at 2 and 10, the next play would be 3 and 5.
4. If both teams teams commit a penalty of equal yardage, the game continues at the next down.

I just think that a offsetting penalties favor the team which commits the greater penalty, which it shouldn't. There are probably more rules that would need to be worked out, like personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct, or if the penalties occur in the Red Zone, I think the basic idea I have should be used.

My understanding of the rules re; offsetting penalties is that minor infractions (those with a 5 yard penalty), offset. Major penalties (those that carry 10 or 15 yard penalties or more), offset. But a minor infraction and a major infraction don’t offset. The major infraction applies and is enforced.

So, in a case of illegal motion versus pass interference, the PI will be walked off because it’s major. At least, that’s my understanding.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think in the NBA there should be some equivalent of 'Declining' a foul. Like you can choose instead of taking a shot, to run five seconds off the clock and inbound it. And if you're behind by three points, and you get fouled in the last 24 seconds in three point territory, it should be three shots regardless of whether it's a shooting foul.

Either that or call all clearly intentional end of game clock management fouls as 'Intentional fouls'.

I think the only exception to the current NFL rules should be if one of the penalties endangers another player's safety. Otherwise you get into weird situations where you are free to do things that risk getting called for penalties and still gain yardage.

 

[gblews]

think in the NBA there should be some equivalent of 'Declining' a foul. Like you can choose instead of taking a shot, to run five seconds off the clock and inbound it. A

So, if a team declined a foul, does the fouling player still receive a personal foul? This rule might give carte Blanche to commit as many fouls as they want.

There used to be a rule that if a team committed an intentional foul, I think, in the last 2 mins of a game, the team that was fouled would either get free throws and (or) the ball. Was the old hack a Shaq rule, but I don’t know if it’s still in effect.

The 3 free throws on fouls committed beyond the arc, whether shooting or not, would increase the number of free throws in games. That is always a bad idea.

 

[ThankQ]

Better refereeing in general would be a nice change of pace.

Without better officiating, you're just putting lipstick on a pig.

Officiating can get better, but here's the thing. The NFL officials are the best American football officials in the world. There is not some secret stash of 99.9% accurate American football officials that's being neglected. These are the best in the world. Can officiating get better? Like anything, of course it can. But for it to get better, the greatest in the world have to become greater.

If you're the best at a job, wouldn't you have to say you're great at it? Well, the NFL officials are great. Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers aren't perfect, but they're (arguably) the best in the world at being an American football quarterback. Are higher levels of QB play achievable? Of course. But for that to happen, the greatest will have to become greater.

Why don't we hear people talk about how the play of Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady is unacceptable?

 

[BillJ]

The NFL officials are the best American football officials in the world.

Are they? In the Super Bowl, I watched two men streak down the sideline going for the ball, with an official looking directly at them, one grabbed the other by the facemask and threw him to the ground. There was no call of offensive holding, facemask, or pass interference. All of which would've applied. If they are the best in the world, how do they miss such obvious calls, time and again? In other instances, they missed multiple neutral zone infractions, where they are looking straight down the line of scrimmage, yet for some reason, didn't throw a flag.

Here's another one...

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Not only do they miss the incredibly obvious pass interference call, they also missed the head to head contact that should have drawn a flag.

Officiating is a massive problem for the NFL, and it is going to stand out more and more now that they are getting in bed with gambling organizations.

 

[ThankQ]

If they are the best in the world, how do they miss such obvious calls, time and again?

So why is the NFL using these jokers when there are better refs available? You say these guys aren't the best in the world. Who does it better?

 

[BillJ]

So why is the NFL using these jokers when there are better refs available? You say these guys aren't the best in the world. Who does it better?

They are what the NFL has available to them. Don’t mistake “this is all we have” for this is the best we can do.

 

[ThankQ]

I didn't say the best than can be done. I said they're the best in the world. Tom Brady (insert name here) is the best QB in the wolrd. I guess he's just the "best available" and there are QBs hiding out there who can get 154.6 ratings every game?

You haven't answered any question I've posed, you've just made a big list of bad calls.