NFL Wider Field

[MD Longhorn]

Here's one for the slow time.

NFL has considered widening the playing field 35 feet, and reportedly may revisit the idea

Y! SPORTS

Thoughts?

[Welpe]

Sure. Let's make it longer, the end zones deeper, take a down off and eliminate the fair catch.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Sure. Let's make it longer, the end zones deeper, take a down off and eliminate the fair catch.

I've got my resume primed with 17 years experience working this type of game.

[Robert Goodman]

I can suggest ways they could have the game "play larger" by a little without needing to redo fields: Allow possession of the ball to be gained by a player in the air, without regard to where he lands. Then it'd be all about where he previously stepped. An add'l possibility would be to allow players to bat the ball while touching out of bounds; then it'd have to be about where the ball was, as in Rugby Union, so you'd need a view down the sideline.

Or you could go more radical and say a player's not out of bounds until both feet are touching ground beyond a boundary. Or you could have a "supporting points" standard as in wrestling.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I can suggest ways they could have the game "play larger" by a little without needing to redo fields: Allow possession of the ball to be gained by a player in the air, without regard to where he lands. Then it'd be all about where he previously stepped. An add'l possibility would be to allow players to bat the ball while touching out of bounds; then it'd have to be about where the ball was, as in Rugby Union, so you'd need a view down the sideline.

Or you could go more radical and say a player's not out of bounds until both feet are touching ground beyond a boundary. Or you could have a "supporting points" standard as in wrestling.

Or they could leave a great game alone.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Rich

Or they could leave a great game alone.

Yabut haven't you seen the new NFL commercials? They're all about evolution!

[APG]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I can suggest ways they could have the game "play larger" by a little without needing to redo fields: Allow possession of the ball to be gained by a player in the air, without regard to where he lands. Then it'd be all about where he previously stepped. An add'l possibility would be to allow players to bat the ball while touching out of bounds; then it'd have to be about where the ball was, as in Rugby Union, so you'd need a view down the sideline.

Or you could go more radical and say a player's not out of bounds until both feet are touching ground beyond a boundary. Or you could have a "supporting points" standard as in wrestling.

No

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

I've got my resume primed with 17 years experience working this type of game.

But would the NFL adopt the rule allowing teams to kick the ball in and out and in and out of the end zone?

[Texas Aggie]

This would have the OPPOSITE effect of making the game safer. Wider open areas would lead to collisions by players running faster. Thus, more injuries are likely.

[Matt-MI]

I think most of the new NFL stadiums would be hard pressed to give up 35' from the sidelines

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This would have the OPPOSITE effect of making the game safer. Wider open areas would lead to collisions by players running faster. Thus, more injuries are likely.

I think THIS point, and the point being made by those in favor of this (more space means less collisions in total) are both true, with the effects of these cancelling each other out and the overall total effect would be negligible.