This is not meant to throw shade or be at all political and if deemed so, mods please remove it. Now do not get me wrong, I love the NFL. Been watching it since a was an infant on my dads lap. I just feel some of the more recent changes, and some of the rules are a bit off.

 

On to rules,- again my opinion

1. Pass Interference should not be a spot foul. This rule means if a guy didn't hit a hand or grab some jersey that the receiver definately would have caught the ball. Not true. How many times have you seen a guy wide open drop a perfect pass? Happens almost every game. No other sport do you get everything handed to you because of one foul. I do believe it should be a major penalty of 25 yards, but not the whole field. Many times the ball is not even catchable, foul or not. A single penalty should not decide a game.

2. 12 men on the field should not be called if the guy is running off and is only a step or 2 away from the sideline. He is not looking at the field and will be off the field before he could impact the play anyhow.

3. I do not think the tush push, or (whatever your team calls it), should be a legal play. It is not football, more like rugby. It has been shown O linemen jump early, and the line judge cannot see where the ball is or where to spot it.

 

I am sure there are more rules I find questionable, but i will leave it for now.

I hope this thread just becomes a fun talk for football fans. I know we are passionate, please do not become heated or aggressive. I love football and will watch no matter what. 

Add your thoughts, now back to Bass Fishing.

 

I love the NFL. The tush push? It’s a football play, all teams are allowed to do it. I look at it like “If you don’t want the other team to dance , keep them out of the end zone.” The Bills try tush push and they are terrible at it. Super Bowl halftime show? Who cares. They have already had Puerto Rican performers in the past. Halftime is for going to the bathroom and getting more beer
 

My number one complaint about NFL and all sports for that matter is instant replay. Don’t waste my time. They still miss tons of calls even after replay so what’s the point ? 

American football—like baseball—has developed a tremendous international following. Both sports consistently fill massive stadiums whenever they’re hosted abroad, a clear testament to their growing global appeal. I find that exciting. There’s a deep sense of pride in seeing something so uniquely American resonate around the world.

 

One of the great freedoms we enjoy in this country is the “pursuit of happiness,” which includes the liberty to enjoy any kind of music we choose. Many of our favorite genres are shaped by global influences—artists, rhythms, and styles that reflect the diversity and openness that define America itself. What better way to celebrate the great melting pot of music than on an international stage? In a way, it’s a subtle reminder of the creative freedom we often take for granted—something not every nation allows.

 

Of course, sports have their quirks. Sometimes the rules are interpreted so literally that they lose the spirit of the game—like a 15-yard penalty for a light brush of the quarterback’s helmet or the infamous “12th man” call. And let’s be honest, a few players know exactly how to exploit those gray areas. A classic example: the punt returner who waits until the last second to wave a fair catch, practically inviting contact and drawing a penalty. There ought to be a rule for that!

 

As for the “Tush Push”? That one doesn’t bother me. For decades, quarterbacks and running backs have been diving over linemen to gain a few crucial yards. This is simply a modern twist on a time-honored move—nothing more.

 

No matter where we’re from, one thing remains true: people everywhere are passionate about their sports and their music. That shared passion bridges cultures and reminds us that, despite our differences, we have far more in common than not. And in today’s world, that’s something we could all use a little more of.

You guys member when Janet Jackson had the “ wardrobe malfunction “ ? 

Before I retired, my job allowed me to talk with many tourists from Europe and S America. They all stated that they would go to an NFL game just because it was a curiosity, something new and different. They would never be diehard fans because soccer, (what they call football) is their #1 sport and that will not change.

Glenn touched on many of these already.  I'll offer my opinion.

 

International games are very popular.  At least the ones played in Europe are.  Not sure about the one played in Brazil.

Don't care about the halftime show.  I'm there to watch the game.

PI in NCAA football is a 15 yard penalty, not a spot foul.  I really have no preference.

The tush push came up for a vote this past offseason amongst the owners.  I believe it needs 24 of 32 owners for a rule to pass and it did not receive enough votes.  It will very likely come up again next off season.

 

 

 

I haven't been excited about a Super Bowl Halftime show since Bruce Springsteen in 2009.  Why?  because I'm old.  I understand they need to appeal to a much wider audience than old white dudes like me.  I definitely don't think the NFL should be telling artist what to say and what language to say it in.  If you invite an artist to play,  you should let them play their music their way.  If you have a problem with their lyrics you can bleep it with their permission.  I know in 2006 they bleeped the Rolling Stones with their permission.  Now that was a half time show I could get excited about.

If I were commish for a day I'd definitely pull the plug on the international games.  Too hard on the teams/players that have to adjust/readjust from flying halfway around the world.  I don't care about the halftime shows.  @Glennis spot on about fixing the broken rulebook.  I appreciate what they are trying to accomplish, like player safety and making the game more competitive, but it's way off the rails right now.  They are experimenting and they shouldn't be.  They need to find a league to try out their ideas and then bring the ones that work to the NFL.  That's not happening.  Every stupid idea goes in the books based on "It sounds like a good idea".  

I'm more of a College Football fan...but since you asked...

 

Change overtime: I don't care how you do it...get me a winner, and a loser. No more ties. Ever.

 

Bring back the Washington REDSKINS: too many reasons to list here...and while you are at it, I want these names back -- Cleveland Indians, University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Marquette University Warriors. We named our teams in honor of these groups. 

I don’t really watch the halftime show anymore. It’s not geared towards my demographic. I’m fine with that. Remember, this all began decades ago when the NFL still had marching bands and the fledgling FOX network decided to have In Living Color shown during halftime and millions of people switched channels. The halftime show is geared towards a young audience. Evidently Bad Bunny is popular enough that the NFL thought he’d be a big draw. I won’t watch it but plenty of other folks will. 
 

He’s from Puerto Rico. He’s a US citizen. Plenty of others who have played halftime shows were not. I don’t recall anyone complaining about Shakira. It’s simply the world we live in today. 

I stopped watching when they started kneeling. Haven't missed it a bit.

10 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

We named our teams in honor of these groups.

Every First Nations person I personally know (adopted grandchildren (Ojibwe), wife (part Cherokee, former girlfriend (Dakota) and others) are pleased the names were changed. They considered the old names to be derogatory to their heritage.

44 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I stopped watching when they started kneeling. Haven't missed it a bit.

Ya - just another way they're trying to push a certain viewpoint on the rest of us.

 

I don't think I've watched any pro-football since the likes of Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi were around.

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

I stopped watching when they started kneeling.

I hope you stopped watching college ball for the same reason.  Over 50% of the college teams did the same thing.

 

Oh! Then there's the NBA and MLB players that did it too.  You gotta stop watching them if that's why you're not watching the NFL.

Like @T-Billy, I gave up on pro football when the kneeling started. Haven’t missed it at all.
 

Probably going to give up on college football with all of this nil b/s. Those guys were already getting paid, it’s called a scholarship. In my opinion, if they’re going to get paid, they can pay their own way in school. Give those scholarships to the folks that need them.

 

Edit, @Glenn, You are 100% correct concerning the nba and mlb. I’ve never watched the nba, gave up on mlb.

So what’s the deal with the chip in the game balls that allow ball placement calls for first downs, td’s, etc., to be done by computer? 

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

are pleased the names were changed

 

What I don't quite understand is why some of them are changed, and some are not.

 

The Chiefs, Braves, and Blackhawks are still fine but the Redskins, Sioux, Seminoles, and Indians aren't?

 

Not a whole lot of consistency there.

^ It's just that there's been a lot more pushback from people who have lots of money invested. Like "You change the name, and I'm selling my shares in the team at rock-bottom." 

Money over-rides ethics too many bloody times.

3 minutes ago, gim said:

 

What I don't quite understand is why some of them are changed, and some are not.

 

The Chiefs, Braves, and Blackhawks are still fine but the Redskins, Sioux, and Indians aren't?

 

Not a whole lot of consistency there.

I agree, back in the early 1900's when these team names were produced no one was trying to be derogatory or hateful. It was to honor history and the native people of this land. Some tribes do not like the names, but many do. It is a way to keep them and their ancestors, remembered and honored by all.

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

I hope you stopped watching college ball for the same reason.  Over 50% of the college teams did the same thing.

 

Oh! Then there's the NBA and MLB players that did it too.  You gotta stop watching them if that's why you're not watching the NFL.

I did.

5 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I don’t recall anyone complaining about Shakira. 

That’s because her hips don’t lie 

I love the fact that our sports have gone overseas. Baseball is a huge beneficiary of getting players from other countries playing here in the states. Hockey has benefitted and the NBA has as well, maybe not to the degree of baseball but you're seeing extremely talented players coming over here and showcasing their skills. I say keep promoting it. Even if that means playing overseas.

 

Pass interference and what constitutes a fumble has been evolving since I started watching football in the '70's. I doubt that evolution will change as long as the game keeps changing.

 

Tush Push? Defend it. It will go away. No one liked it when William "The Refrigerator" Perry checked in the game for the Bears in the mid '80s? How come there no more "Refrigerators" checking in the game more often?

38 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

How come there no more "Refrigerators" checking in the game more often?

 

Several weeks ago, Tampa signed 450 pound nose tackle Desmond Watson just before their game against the Eagles.  The rumor was that they were going to put that mass of humanity in there specifically to defend the tush push.

 

I don't know if he made it into the game or if the Eagles tried their tush push in that game.  They beat the Bucs.  Desmond Watson is still on their practice squad as far as I can tell.

 

He is the biggest player in the history of the NFL.

Desmond has to be some athletic dude (read freak of nature) to be playing professional football at 450 lbs! Can you imagine being 450! That's impressive.

That's a big human, no doubt about it.

I saw him play in person in Knoxville for the gators, wide load