Wide load would probably be an understatement.

 

I think the term “mass of humanity” is probably more accurate.

“He weighs a metric ton” 

 

I agree they need to get rid of the tush push.

 

The lineman hate it as it puts a ton of wear and tear on their bodies.

 

It's extremely difficult to see where the ball actually ends up.

 

There have already been several blown calls on it this year. Don't tell me "Oh the refs just need to be better", it's extremely difficult to officiate.

 

The tush push is typically used on huge plays. 4th and 1, 4th and goal, etc.

 

The call NEEDS to be correct.

 

 

The OT rule has gotten better but still isn't perfect. Just do it like college.

 

Lastly, get rid of all the stupid crap on the back of the helmets and endzones.

 

Just play the d**n game.

On 10/27/2025 at 5:35 PM, BigAngus752 said:

They need to find a league to try out their ideas and then bring the ones that work to the NFL. 

Actually, they do have that. It's called the UFL (United Football League), which was created by merging the XFL and USFL.  They play in the spring. They try new rules - or carry over college rules - in a semi-professional league environment that the NFL may adopt.

 

The new kickoff rules this year is a perfect example of this.  It was a UFL rule first.  Also, the use of chips in footballs for marking the spot was first tested in the UFL.

 

Current rules in the UFL for the 2026 season that may be considered by the NFL are:

• The onside conversion option with a team trailing in the fourth quarter allowed to attempt a single scrimmage play to gain 12 yards from its own 28-yard line. (The XFL used 15 yards from its own 25-yard line; the USFL used 12 yards from its own 33-yard line.)
• Pass interference penalties will be limited to 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage or the spot of the foul, whichever is less.
• The league will use the XFL's variable-distance conversion rule, offering one, two or three points depending upon how far away from the goal line the offense chooses to attempt the play, and prohibiting kicking for the extra point. (The USFL had allowed the two and three point scrimmage conversions but allowed for an extra point kick.)
• All touchbacks will come to the receiving team's 25-yard line. Any coffin corner punt that goes out of bounds beyond the 25-yard line will be treated as a touchback, a rule previously used in the XFL (though that league had used the 35-yard line for its touchbacks).
• The XFL overtime rule will be carried over, in that tie games will involve a best-of-three shootout of two-point conversion attempts from each 5-yard line. If the tie persists, multiple attempts will be played until one team scores, which wins it. One timeout can be called per attempt. The overtime has no game clock, but the play clock will still be used.
• 35 second play clock (NFL is 40), and play clock continues with incomplete passes and out-of-bound plays until the 2:00 mark
• Onside kicks can be attempted at any time

• Coaches' challenges: UFL allows unlimited challenges as long as the team has a timeout. Last year, they allowed ANY call could be challenged, but it appears they're not bringing that back in 2026.

• Coin toss: The home team decides to possess or defer in UFL; the NFL has a standard coin toss.

In addition to rules, it's important to note many players and coaches from the UFL (previously XFL and USFL) are now in the NFL.

 

So yes, there is a minor league of sorts for the NFL.

1 hour ago, Glenn said:

Actually, they do have that. It's called the UFL (United Football League), which was created by merging the XFL and USFL.  They play in the spring. They try new rules - or carry over college rules - in a semi-professional league environment that the NFL may adopt.

 

The new kickoff rules this year is a perfect example of this.  It was a UFL rule first.  Also, the use of chips in footballs for marking the spot was first tested in the UFL.

 

Current rules in the UFL for the 2026 season that may be considered by the NFL are:

• The onside conversion option with a team trailing in the fourth quarter allowed to attempt a single scrimmage play to gain 12 yards from its own 28-yard line. (The XFL used 15 yards from its own 25-yard line; the USFL used 12 yards from its own 33-yard line.)
• Pass interference penalties will be limited to 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage or the spot of the foul, whichever is less.
• The league will use the XFL's variable-distance conversion rule, offering one, two or three points depending upon how far away from the goal line the offense chooses to attempt the play, and prohibiting kicking for the extra point. (The USFL had allowed the two and three point scrimmage conversions but allowed for an extra point kick.)
• All touchbacks will come to the receiving team's 25-yard line. Any coffin corner punt that goes out of bounds beyond the 25-yard line will be treated as a touchback, a rule previously used in the XFL (though that league had used the 35-yard line for its touchbacks).
• The XFL overtime rule will be carried over, in that tie games will involve a best-of-three shootout of two-point conversion attempts from each 5-yard line. If the tie persists, multiple attempts will be played until one team scores, which wins it. One timeout can be called per attempt. The overtime has no game clock, but the play clock will still be used.
• 35 second play clock (NFL is 40), and play clock continues with incomplete passes and out-of-bound plays until the 2:00 mark
• Onside kicks can be attempted at any time

• Coaches' challenges: UFL allows unlimited challenges as long as the team has a timeout. Last year, they allowed ANY call could be challenged, but it appears they're not bringing that back in 2026.

• Coin toss: The home team decides to possess or defer in UFL; the NFL has a standard coin toss.

In addition to rules, it's important to note many players and coaches from the UFL (previously XFL and USFL) are now in the NFL.

 

So yes, there is a minor league of sorts for the NFL.

I like that pass intereference penalty. 2 teams that play hard for 3 hours should not have the outcome of the game come down to one penalty that gives a team the entire field.

5 hours ago, Glenn said:

Actually, they do have that. It's called the UFL (United Football League), which was created by merging the XFL and USFL.  They play in the spring. They try new rules - or carry over college rules - in a semi-professional league environment that the NFL may adopt.

 

The new kickoff rules this year is a perfect example of this.  It was a UFL rule first.  Also, the use of chips in footballs for marking the spot was first tested in the UFL.

 

Current rules in the UFL for the 2026 season that may be considered by the NFL are:

• The onside conversion option with a team trailing in the fourth quarter allowed to attempt a single scrimmage play to gain 12 yards from its own 28-yard line. (The XFL used 15 yards from its own 25-yard line; the USFL used 12 yards from its own 33-yard line.)
• Pass interference penalties will be limited to 15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage or the spot of the foul, whichever is less.
• The league will use the XFL's variable-distance conversion rule, offering one, two or three points depending upon how far away from the goal line the offense chooses to attempt the play, and prohibiting kicking for the extra point. (The USFL had allowed the two and three point scrimmage conversions but allowed for an extra point kick.)
• All touchbacks will come to the receiving team's 25-yard line. Any coffin corner punt that goes out of bounds beyond the 25-yard line will be treated as a touchback, a rule previously used in the XFL (though that league had used the 35-yard line for its touchbacks).
• The XFL overtime rule will be carried over, in that tie games will involve a best-of-three shootout of two-point conversion attempts from each 5-yard line. If the tie persists, multiple attempts will be played until one team scores, which wins it. One timeout can be called per attempt. The overtime has no game clock, but the play clock will still be used.
• 35 second play clock (NFL is 40), and play clock continues with incomplete passes and out-of-bound plays until the 2:00 mark
• Onside kicks can be attempted at any time

• Coaches' challenges: UFL allows unlimited challenges as long as the team has a timeout. Last year, they allowed ANY call could be challenged, but it appears they're not bringing that back in 2026.

• Coin toss: The home team decides to possess or defer in UFL; the NFL has a standard coin toss.

In addition to rules, it's important to note many players and coaches from the UFL (previously XFL and USFL) are now in the NFL.

 

So yes, there is a minor league of sorts for the NFL.

Love the pass interference penalty.  

As a football (and baseball) official, here’s my take.
 

1) remember, we have fractions of a second to make a call in live ball situations. 
 

2) 12 men on the field. All you have to do is go back and watch Auburn vs Oklahoma. Sategna was “jogging” off the field like he was a 12th player. However, he stopped just shy of the sidelines and ran a go route and caught a touchdown pass. Per rule, that should have been an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. 15yds from the previous spot, repeat the down. That’s why there is the 12 men on the field penalty. 
 

3) international games: without international games, would we have seen arguably the greatest baseball player of our time in Ohtani? He is (IMO) the best player to have played the game as it has evolved into today. It’s hard to compare him to Ruth (for example) because the game has evolved so much in 100 yrs. He is by far the best player I have seen in my 51 years alive.

 

4) replay: replay sucks. Nobody likes it because of how we grew up playing the game(s). However, the games are evolving and the administration of the game has to evolve too. Again, we as officials have fractions of a second to make a live ball call. 
 

5) One thing to remember and I hope everyone will take this to heart is that we, as officials, don’t go come to your accounting job and yelll and scream at you about how awful you are at data entry. I mean, come on, it’s just typing stuff on a keyboard. We don’t go to the doctor and tell him he’s awful because we don’t like what he told us. I get that every fan is passionate, as am I about my sports teams, but come on man, we are out there getting paid (not very much either, mind you) to do a job that we all love. I’m not making a lifestyle as an official. I have other sources of income. I do it because I enjoy the games and I enjoy mentoring young adults. 
 

Please be nice to officials. As a side note, in many states, it’s a felony to harass or otherwise abuse a sports official. Without us, you wouldn’t have anything to cheer for because the game couldn’t be played.  

Just go with what the official calls, no rebuttals 

 

The worst is when you are at a game in person and it slows to a crawl and they won’t show the replay on the Jumbotron 

 

college games are ridiculous, they take 4+ hours, review everything, and still miss the calls. NFL at least gets most games over in a timely fashion 

 

sooooo…….. again…… what’s the point ???

 

I think we had a single quarter last an hour and a half in the season opener vs Syracuse