2020 Miscellaneous NFL News

[OldHeidelberg]

They really should be a rule that if a division winner has less than a .500 record and another team not in the playoffs does they should go instead.

 

The NBA effectively eliminated divisions years ago. I think 2 eight team divisions per conference is the way to go, just alternate the home and away division schedule every year like college does. For the Packers I think this would likely mean a merger with the NFL west, would prefer the East of course but there are a lot of old historic NFL teams in the west and we actually have rivalries with Rams/Niners/Cardinals that go back beyond most of our memories. Makes too much sense though and the NFL is loathe to admit how they are doing it now isn't perfect, they still make a coin toss in OT a major play.

[adambr2]

They really should be a rule that if a division winner has less than a .500 record and another team not in the playoffs does they should go instead.

 

The NBA effectively eliminated divisions years ago. I think 2 eight team divisions per conference is the way to go, just alternate the home and away division schedule every year like college does. For the Packers I think this would likely mean a merger with the NFL west, would prefer the East of course but there are a lot of old historic NFL teams in the west and we actually have rivalries with Rams/Niners/Cardinals that go back beyond most of our memories. Makes too much sense though and the NFL is loathe to admit how they are doing it now isn't perfect, they still make a coin toss in OT a major play.

 

The coin toss actually has a very minimal effect on who wins now -- I think it's less than 53%, as opposed to college rules where the coin toss winner wins about 55% of the time.

 

I don't have a big problem with the NFL overtime rules. I don't really like that they shortened it to 10 minutes, but it's a heck of a lot better than when first FG won the game. Especially now that the 40 yard line is FG range for most NFL kickers.

[MrTPlush]

Mike McCarthy went for it on his own 34 yard line in a 10-10 game with halftime about 5 minutes away. Instead of a QB sneak or running in general (like a foot for a first down) he opted for an outside pass that was not completed. It failed and to make matters worse there was a 15 yard penalty on Dallas to set up the Redskins on the 19 yard line. The Redskins then scored a touchdown.

 

When a similar situation came up shortly after he called a QB sneak and they easily converted.

 

McCarthy in Dallas has not made me miss him one bit.

 

McCarthy just fake punted on his own 24 yard line on 4th and 10.

 

-1 yard gain

 

EDIT: 23 yard touchdown run, Dallas now down 27-16 in the 4th. What on earth is McCarthy thinking today.

[wildcat83]

The fake punt call was awful. If they convert they still have to drive the length of the field. There’s still probably less than a 50 percent chance of scoring even if you convert that. That’s a gigantic risk for very little reward. If you’re between the 40’s maybe the risk becomes worth it. No way from your own 24....

[yourout]

That was a heck of a play by Sweat.

[adambr2]

Man I wish the Steelers/Ravens was on now.

[nodakfan17]

The coin toss actually has a very minimal effect on who wins now -- I think it's less than 53%, as opposed to college rules where the coin toss winner wins about 55% of the time.

 

Why even flip a coin? Why not just let the home team decide? 53% is still an advantage. The Packers have lost 7 coin tosses in a row and it is costing them possessions (but so are the turnovers, obviously).

[adambr2]

The coin toss actually has a very minimal effect on who wins now -- I think it's less than 53%, as opposed to college rules where the coin toss winner wins about 55% of the time.

 

Why even flip a coin? Why not just let the home team decide? 53% is still an advantage. The Packers have lost 7 coin tosses in a row and it is costing them possessions (but so are the turnovers, obviously).

 

53% is basically within a margin of error. You're not going to be able to make it exactly 50/50. (I was referring to the OT coin toss on that stat, not all coin tosses)

 

The coin toss isn't costing the Packers anything. They won the OT coin toss the other day, possessed the ball in OT and still lost. Losing the opening coin toss means nothing. It's just flipped in half 2. Each team still gets the exact same amount of possession opportunities whether they win or lose the coin toss. Losing the coin toss is a red herring, it simply isn't among the Packers' issues right now or in any way comparable to turning the ball over.

[nodakfan17]

The coin toss actually has a very minimal effect on who wins now -- I think it's less than 53%, as opposed to college rules where the coin toss winner wins about 55% of the time.

 

Why even flip a coin? Why not just let the home team decide? 53% is still an advantage. The Packers have lost 7 coin tosses in a row and it is costing them possessions (but so are the turnovers, obviously).

 

53% is basically within a margin of error. You're not going to be able to make it exactly 50/50. (I was referring to the OT coin toss on that stat, not all coin tosses)

 

The coin toss isn't costing the Packers anything.

Apologies, I didn’t pick up on the OT disctinction. Still, if there was no advantage to winning the coin toss, why have 6 consecutive teams deferred against the Packers?

[OldHeidelberg]

Mike McCarthy went for it on his own 34 yard line in a 10-10 game with halftime about 5 minutes away. Instead of a QB sneak or running in general (like a foot for a first down) he opted for an outside pass that was not completed. It failed and to make matters worse there was a 15 yard penalty on Dallas to set up the Redskins on the 19 yard line. The Redskins then scored a touchdown.

 

When a similar situation came up shortly after he called a QB sneak and they easily converted.

 

McCarthy in Dallas has not made me miss him one bit.

 

McCarthy just fake punted on his own 24 yard line on 4th and 10.

 

-1 yard gain

 

EDIT: 23 yard touchdown run, Dallas now down 27-16 in the 4th. What on earth is McCarthy thinking today.

 

Maybe he wants to get fired so he can retire after his one last big contract? I am of the opinion he was just coasting his last few years in GB so no surprise the team that let him cash in on his SB ring one last time got burned. Glad it was Dallas.

[OldHeidelberg]

The coin toss actually has a very minimal effect on who wins now -- I think it's less than 53%, as opposed to college rules where the coin toss winner wins about 55% of the time.

 

Why even flip a coin? Why not just let the home team decide? 53% is still an advantage. The Packers have lost 7 coin tosses in a row and it is costing them possessions (but so are the turnovers, obviously).

 

53% is basically within a margin of error. You're not going to be able to make it exactly 50/50. (I was referring to the OT coin toss on that stat, not all coin tosses)

 

The coin toss isn't costing the Packers anything. They won the OT coin toss the other day, possessed the ball in OT and still lost. Losing the opening coin toss means nothing. It's just flipped in half 2. Each team still gets the exact same amount of possession opportunities whether they win or lose the coin toss. Losing the coin toss is a red herring, it simply isn't among the Packers' issues right now or in any way comparable to turning the ball over.

 

Well, you are never going to convince me that winning the OT coin toss isn't an advantage. I was really making the point that the NFL just doubles down rather than fixing obvious issue like 4 team divisions. But a lot NFL fans probably like these quirks and feel like GB-Bears twice a year is worth getting a lousy playoff team that gets quickly bounced every year. I think their argument for giving division winners home games is they want to get the 1st round home games spread around so the same teams don't get all the extra revenue every year.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe he wants to get fired so he can retire after his one last big contract? I am of the opinion he was just coasting his last few years in GB so no surprise the team that let him cash in on his SB ring one last time got burned. Glad it was Dallas.

 

Only thing that could possibly save him is the fact his QB got whacked early in the season. Of course they still do trick plays that causes their current QB to run downfield and get his world rocked trying to catch a pass.

 

I thought McCarthy sucked at the end of his GB tenure, but wow...his Dallas days may be even worse. Yesterday should be a prime example of how not to coach a football game.

[FVBrewerFan]

The fake punt call was awful. If they convert they still have to drive the length of the field. There’s still probably less than a 50 percent chance of scoring even if you convert that. That’s a gigantic risk for very little reward. If you’re between the 40’s maybe the risk becomes worth it. No way from your own 24....

 

That was the worst decision I've seen in a longgggg time. First, you're on your own 24. It's not 4th and 1, it's 4th and 10! Then the play itself was horrible. Long developing double reverse 15 yards behind LOS. Wow.

[MrTPlush]

The fake punt call was awful. If they convert they still have to drive the length of the field. There’s still probably less than a 50 percent chance of scoring even if you convert that. That’s a gigantic risk for very little reward. If you’re between the 40’s maybe the risk becomes worth it. No way from your own 24....

 

That was the worst decision I've seen in a longgggg time. First, you're on your own 24. It's not 4th and 1, it's 4th and 10! Then the play itself was horrible. Long developing double reverse 15 yards behind LOS. Wow.

 

There was actually someone massively wide open on that fake punt...though it didn't look like there was any intention to try a pass there.

[PeaveyFury]

Maybe he wants to get fired so he can retire after his one last big contract? I am of the opinion he was just coasting his last few years in GB so no surprise the team that let him cash in on his SB ring one last time got burned. Glad it was Dallas.

 

Only thing that could possibly save him is the fact his QB got whacked early in the season. Of course they still do trick plays that causes their current QB to run downfield and get his world rocked trying to catch a pass.

 

I thought McCarthy sucked at the end of his GB tenure, but wow...his Dallas days may be even worse. Yesterday should be a prime example of how not to coach a football game.

 

He literally managed the game yesterday like a guy TRYING to get canned.

 

I think he has two wildcards in his pocket to save him, one being the Dak injury as you noted- Jerry is egotistical enough that he knows the optics of canning his hand-picked guy after one season makes HIMSELF look bad, and that may give MM a second year.

 

Whether that's enough to give him a pass on their miserable season and ignore the fact that their division is so terrible that they could have sleepwalked to the playoffs this year remains to be seen...

[adambr2]

Well, you are never going to convince me that winning the OT coin toss isn't an advantage. I was really making the point that the NFL just doubles down rather than fixing obvious issue like 4 team divisions. But a lot NFL fans probably like these quirks and feel like GB-Bears twice a year is worth getting a lousy playoff team that gets quickly bounced every year. I think their argument for giving division winners home games is they want to get the 1st round home games spread around so the same teams don't get all the extra revenue every year.

 

It's an advantage, again, just a very minimal one. It's so much better than when a FG won it immediately.

 

What would be your 50/50 solution with no advantage to either side? Again, college rules still favor the toss winner even more.

[OldHeidelberg]

Well, you are never going to convince me that winning the OT coin toss isn't an advantage. I was really making the point that the NFL just doubles down rather than fixing obvious issue like 4 team divisions. But a lot NFL fans probably like these quirks and feel like GB-Bears twice a year is worth getting a lousy playoff team that gets quickly bounced every year. I think their argument for giving division winners home games is they want to get the 1st round home games spread around so the same teams don't get all the extra revenue every year.

 

It's an advantage, again, just a very minimal one. It's so much better than when a FG won it immediately.

 

What would be your 50/50 solution with no advantage to either side? Again, college rules still favor the toss winner even more.

 

If it was me I would give one possession to each team and the game ends after that no matter what the score, save sudden death after that for playoffs when you have to have a winner. That solves the get it over quick TV problem that brought about the sudden death rules in the first place. I don't expect much support for this lol but the idea of ties doesn't bother me like they do most other NFL fans and I think it would be interesting how teams play it, especially late in the season.

[nodakfan17]

The Texans released Kenny Stills .... hmmmm

[adambr2]

Well, you are never going to convince me that winning the OT coin toss isn't an advantage. I was really making the point that the NFL just doubles down rather than fixing obvious issue like 4 team divisions. But a lot NFL fans probably like these quirks and feel like GB-Bears twice a year is worth getting a lousy playoff team that gets quickly bounced every year. I think their argument for giving division winners home games is they want to get the 1st round home games spread around so the same teams don't get all the extra revenue every year.

 

It's an advantage, again, just a very minimal one. It's so much better than when a FG won it immediately.

 

What would be your 50/50 solution with no advantage to either side? Again, college rules still favor the toss winner even more.

 

 

If it was me I would give one possession to each team and the game ends after that no matter what the score, save sudden death after that for playoffs when you have to have a winner. That solves the get it over quick TV problem that brought about the sudden death rules in the first place. I don't expect much support for this lol but the idea of ties doesn't bother me like they do most other NFL fans and I think it would be interesting how teams play it, especially late in the season.

 

Ok, but that's a huge advantage for the second team to possess. Probably a lot more than 53%. They already know what they need. They can play for the win, play for the tie, however much risk they're willing to take on.

 

The first team knows nothing -- they can't take those risks. Additionally, if they go 3 and out, what do they do? Just punt and play for nothing better than a tie? Now if they don't get it, the other team can just bring out the FG and win it.

 

Maybe you're saying both teams get 4 downs and there is no punting -- if Team A fails on 4th down then Team B starts their possession back at their own 25 or whatever. But team B still has a big advantage knowing what they need to play for. I think you'd have to take field goals out entirely for this to really be equitable, and then you are going to have a LOT of ties.

 

I guess what I'm saying is there is no perfect way to do OT. Ties don't bother me a ton either, but I think they'd bother the average fan if the majority of OT games were ending in ties.

[CheezWizHed]

[sarcasm]Start both offenses and both defenses at the 45yd line (45 yards from the goal line - going opposite directions). You only get 4 downs to score or you go back to the 45 yd line; snaps happen (essentially) at the same time. Each team has equal possessions and the first team that has the lead wins.[/sarcasm]

 

I put that in blue, but the more I think about it the more I like it.

[CheezWizHed]

The Texans released Kenny Stills .... hmmmm

 

That would cost about $2.2M for the final 5 games if they claimed him ($436k/game). I'd expect no one claims him, however.

[nodakfan17]

The Texans released Kenny Stills .... hmmmm

 

That would cost about $2.2M for the final 5 games if they claimed him ($436k/game). I'd expect no one claims him, however.

Does he fetch a comp pick if he re-signs elsewhere? A team with a lot of cap space might claim him for that reason.

[OldHeidelberg]

Ok, but that's a huge advantage for the second team to possess. Probably a lot more than 53%. They already know what they need. They can play for the win, play for the tie, however much risk they're willing to take on.

 

The first team knows nothing -- they can't take those risks. Additionally, if they go 3 and out, what do they do? Just punt and play for nothing better than a tie? Now if they don't get it, the other team can just bring out the FG and win it.

 

Maybe you're saying both teams get 4 downs and there is no punting -- if Team A fails on 4th down then Team B starts their possession back at their own 25 or whatever. But team B still has a big advantage knowing what they need to play for. I think you'd have to take field goals out entirely for this to really be equitable, and then you are going to have a LOT of ties.

 

I guess what I'm saying is there is no perfect way to do OT. Ties don't bother me a ton either, but I think they'd bother the average fan if the majority of OT games were ending in ties.

 

I really wasn't aware of the college percentage until you brought it up here but I don't know that you can use that to predict what the 2nd team having the ball would do in my proposal since the rules are different. In college if the first team possession kicks a FG the 2nd team starts in FG range and is really sitting in the catbird seat as they can take their shots and still have another likely OT round to fall back on. I would think the win percentage in the same scenario but with starting at your own ~25 yard line is quite a bit lower. But the college system definitely seems flawed, I would not want the NFL to go with that now that I see the advantage the coin toss winner has.

 

Also, I can't find the post rule change numbers but am guessing that your 53% number doesn't correlate to a 47% chance for the coin toss loser since there are also games that end in ties. So the loser probably has more of a 44-45% percent chance and an 8-9% advantage isn't really margin of error territory in my opinion, it's significant.

 

But you are right there is no perfect solution, I just think giving the coin toss winner a chance to win with a TD is the wrong one even if the percentages aren't that much different in the end. How would you feel about baseball flipping a coin at the end of 9 to see who bats first and going first run wins?

[OldHeidelberg]

[sarcasm]Start both offenses and both defenses at the 45yd line (45 yards from the goal line - going opposite directions). You only get 4 downs to score or you go back to the 45 yd line; snaps happen (essentially) at the same time. Each team has equal possessions and the first team that has the lead wins.[/sarcasm]

 

I put that in blue, but the more I think about it the more I like it.

 

That would be really fun AND fair! Everyone goes no huddle with quick snaps as they can't let the other team score first! Replay to see who crossed the goal line first! I love it.

[wildcat83]

The Texans released Kenny Stills .... hmmmm

 

That would cost about $2.2M for the final 5 games if they claimed him ($436k/game). I'd expect no one claims him, however.

Does he fetch a comp pick if he re-signs elsewhere? A team with a lot of cap space might claim him for that reason.

 

The 2.2 million seems like a huge overpay just for a comp pick. Plus I believe NFL teams can roll over unused cap money to the next season.