I don't really believe that the NFL overtime is "broken" just because Brett Favre never got a chance to throw a crippling "Pick 6" against the Saints. However, after hearing some of the dumbest suggestions ever on sports radio (my favorite: you have to win by 4 or more, but a FG is followed by a 2PT Conversion attempt for a possible five point possession), I decided to formulate my overtime proposal.
But first, here's the research that needs to be done. How long does a "sudden death" overtime usually take, in terms of game time? Some might go one possession and take 1:38 and some have multiple possessions taking maybe 12:49. So let's find the statistics of every overtime in the last, I don't know, 20 years. Let's say for argument's sake that the average is 6 minutes. I would propose that the first overtime period be nothing more than a 6 minute period, but NOT sudden death. It would be just like regulation....whoever has more points at the end wins.
The first possession of OT would be determined by, gasp, a coin toss. There is no doubt that whichever team won the coin toss and chose to receive would have a decided advantage, right? And what if the receiving team held on to the ball the entire six minutes (which is entirely possible) and kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired? Wouldn't there still be the problem that the other team never "got a chance"? How unfair! Well, I don't care. I refuse to "guarantee" that the kicking team will get the ball. If the kicking team can't put a stop together in six minutes, then they don't deserve to win.
What happens if the game is still tied after this first overtime period? Well, you can't say we didn't try to make it fair. We go to a second overtime, but this one is sudden death. No coin flip this time; possession just goes to whoever lost the first overtime's coin flip (a nice perk of losing the first one). As far as how long this 2OT goes, let's say only eight minutes or so...I don't know yet.
In this (rough) proposal, the regulation game is extended a minimum of six game-time minutes, and a maximum of 14. That's gotta be on par or better than the current overtime games. I hear TV doesn't like a "set time" overtime period because of scheduling.
So what do you think of this plan? I'm flexible on the length of the OT periods, but I think the structure is sound. Besides the fact I came up with it, I think it's the best proposal I've heard that's both fair and not overly gimmicky.
Again, if it were up to me, OT wouldn't be changed anyways.
2 comments:
I think you can make it much more simple.
- OT is a period of UP TO 15 minutes.
- Each team must have at least 1 offensive possession UNLESS the initial defensive team scores a defensive touchdown (then the game is over).
- After the team that was initially on defense has completes their first offensive possession, whoever is winning is the winner. If tied, then keep playing until either team takes the lead.
SIMPLE!
"Again, if it were up to me, OT wouldn't be changed anyways."
Are they actually talking about this? I'm with you. I've always thought that sudden death overtimes fit perfectly with the nature of the game: brutal and unforgiving. As in, "You all had four quarters to sort things out and couldn't, so here's your last chance. Also, we stopped serving beer half an hour ago."
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