By Alastair Ingram
The fact that it took the NFL this long is a joke.
But there may finally be a change coming to the league's overtime policy, a sudden death approach beginning with a highly trivial "coin flip" for the last 35 years.
The proposed change would basically force a team to score at least 6 points in the extra session to win the game.
Both teams would be guaranteed an offensive possession, unless the team with the opening possession scores a touchdown (in which case, game over). If the first team kicks a field goal, the other team would have the chance to match with a field goal, or win with a touchdown. If both teams kick field goals, overtime continues in a sudden death, first team to score wins scenario.
These changes, while LONG overdue, make a ton of sense. If you can't stop the opposition from going the length of the field and getting into the endzone, you don't deserve to win the game.
But winning a coin toss and getting to the opponent's 30 yard line for a game-winning field goal is no way to end any game. When you only play 16 games all year, that gets magnified.
If the proposal passes, both quarterbacks will, in all likelihood, have a chance to lead their offenses down the field one final time.
If a QB is left holding his helmet on the bench as the other team celebrates a victory, he'll have his own defense to blame.
So, there's the good news.
The bad news? This will only apply to playoff games. That might even be dumber than the original policy itself.
Why wouldn't you use it for all games? Do regular season games mean nothing? Are you really extending the game that much longer? Is anybody listening?
I applaud the NFL for doing something about its extremely flawed OT system (although it's a shame that it took an NFC Championship game for the league to wise up). But if you're going to make a change, make a change.
Why have different rules for different games? It makes so much sense, and yet, so little. I guess beggars can't be choosers.
Maybe we'll have to wait another 35 years for the regular season coin flip to take a hike.
