Mark's World

The NFL is changing and I don't like it. Call me an old fuddy duddy if you like. I don't care. The league is offense crazy. We all know the league tweaked the rules after the Patriots manhandled the Colts in the playoffs a few years ago. Now they have adjusted the rules to protect a magical orb surrounding quarterbacks knees. (I don't have any specific evidence, but I'm sure this really only applies to a certain few QBs)

I know there's nothing that can be done and the league is loving the offense, but does anyone else have the feeling that the NFL is going through what MLB went though when Sosa and McGwire and Bonds exploded? I'm not saying that there is obviously rampant steroids in the NFL. OK, there is obviously rampant steroids in the NFL. But I'm not blaming it for the offensive explosion. I'm blaming the refs and the league directive that pushes them to watch over defenses like a nagging girlfriend.

It just bothers me that just a few years ago elite QBs contending for the MVP were throwing maybe 30 TDs and now nobody is batting an eye at 40 TD seasons. I'm yawning every time I see a two-minute drill. Hell, if there's two minutes left in the game and the team with the ball is down by one score, I'm almost certain they're going to score.

With that said, here are a few rule changes I'd like to see implemented. Not all of them are directed at curing the viral offense, but its my blog and I don't have to make sense:

1) Holding on a running play should be 5 yards, not 10. I understand why holding on a passing play, which hypothetically prevents a sack is a 10 yard penalty. But rarely, if ever, would you see a running hold prevent a massive yardage loss

2) No penalty for hitting a QB's helmet. Maybe 5 yards, but not a 15 yarder/automatic first down. My problem with this rule is that I don't see the danger. At least with the Brady knee protection you can point to an instance that it took a player out. Every hands to the helmet of a QB I've ever seen has been incidental. Plus, the QB has a helmet. Plus, every other player on the field is getting their head knocked off. Besides, if there's a glaringly obvious punch to the head, you can still throw a roughing the passer penalty or a unsportsmanlike penalty.

3) There should never ever be a 1st and 5. It's just stupid. Move the ball five yards and leave it first and ten.

4) If an offense is backed up inside their own ten and commits a penalty like a personal foul, instead of just backing it up half the distance, they should add the missing yardage to the other end of the down. For instance, if you are on the five and commit a personal foul on 2nd and 10, it should become 3rd and 22.5. (I can't take full credit for this one. My coworker came up with it and I like it)