NFL Changing OT Rules in the Playoffs?

[Mike L]

Why not just ban field goals in OT?

[Robert Goodman]

They're pros, they ought to be able to play full periods.

[Texas Aggie]

I think both the NFL and the NCAA should take the kicking game entirely out of OT -- no FGs, extra point FGs, or (NFL), free kick FGs.

That, of course, doesn't rule out safeties, but they are so unusual in OT periods (probably unheard of in the college game), that it won't matter much. The first to 4 (NFL) makes a lot of sense.

[Andy]

College has it right...each team gets a chance..you have to play offense and defense.

IMHO, the NFL should use the college format with each team starting from the opponents 40 yard line.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Andy

College has it right...each team gets a chance..you have to play offense and defense.

IMHO, the NFL should use the college format with each team starting from the opponents 40 yard line.

Yeah, who cares about special teams?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Andy

College has it right...each team gets a chance..you have to play offense and defense.

IMHO, the NFL should use the college format with each team starting from the opponents 40 yard line.

But why doesn't playing full periods satisfy that criterion just as well?

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But why doesn't playing full periods satisfy that criterion just as well?

What I've heard is the NFL is worried about exposing their players to another 15 minutes of potential injury and the game is so much more intense most players are spent by the end of 4 quarters. A full additional quarter would likely result in more injuries due to exhausted players and in the NFL, injuries could mean huge money. Especially for regular season games, they want to limit that exposure as much as possible.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

What I've heard is the NFL is worried about exposing their players to another 15 minutes of potential injury and the game is so much more intense most players are spent by the end of 4 quarters. A full additional quarter would likely result in more injuries due to exhausted players and in the NFL, injuries could mean huge money. Especially for regular season games, they want to limit that exposure as much as possible.

Then why do they break ties in regular season games at all? They don't need to, and didn't use to. Tie games help spread out the standings for post season play more transparently and satisfyingly than standings tiebreakers do.

Plus, with the 2 point conversion option, they don't have the excuse any more (as they did when regular season OT was adopted) that teams didn't have a chance to go for the win. Of course the trick has always been that 2 point conversions in the pros have almost always been used to tie the score rather than break a tie, even in the AFL where there was no regular season overtime. But hey, that's their choice. So what is this, "Stop us before we tie games again!"?

OK, you want to break ties fast and without necessarily any regard to what the game is they're trying to break the tie of? Toss a coin...hardly any chance of injury.

You want to decide the game quickly, yet play something that resembles the game you were trying to break the tie of? I can think of better than either frames that neglect field position or sudden death with its problems. How about taking a cue from the NHL OT, removing one or more players from each side, to produce more open field, and play a short period, but without sudden death?