[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

No ... you've never seen it because in the NFL, if you win the toss, you elect to receive. period. I think I read somewhere that twice, in the entire history of the coinflip being noted in game reports, has the team chosen something else.

So it's not a "fair play" thing. If some idiot captain (soon to be ex-captain) chose a side or to kick, the other team would CERTAINLY choose to receive the 2nd half.

(Note - in NCAA or lower, you'll find coaches defer, or choose intentionally to take a side instead of the ball, especially in odd weather ... but never in the NFL).

Which is weird - I have a vague recollection of teams being able to elect to kickoff in the first half and still receive in the second half. Anyone know if the NFL rule has changed in the last... 20 years or so?