Overtime Rules

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 12:54 PM CDT

LeBron James receives the pass with 5 seconds left to play, with the Cavs down by 2 points in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Albert Pujols steps up to the plate in the bottom of the 9th with a man on second and two outs, with a chance to take the Cardinals to the World Series.

Ryan Succop enters the game to notch a 35-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime to seal the win for the Chiefs.

What is the difference between the three? The superstars in other sports are allowed to secure an overtime victory for their respective teams, where in the NFL the no-named kicker (no offense Ryan) who sells no jerseys or merchandise celebrates the game-winner.

That said, there are two problems with the NFL overtime rules. The first is obvious: It's not fair. I've read that the team who wins the coin toss in an NFL playoff game wins 60 percent of the time. With today's high-flying offenses and rules that stifle defensive backs, it's no wonder most teams (not including the Chiefs) are able to win a game by simply driving 35 yards to kick a field goal.

Secondly, and possibly my biggest beef with overtime, is what I spoke of in the introduction. Kickers should not be the focal point of every NFL overtime game. We want the stars of the league to make the game-winning plays, but the current rules rarely allow for that to happen.

Remember during the 2003 season how exciting the overtime pass from Trent Green to Eddie Kennison in Green Bay was? I remember it vividly because those moments rarely happen. The playmakers won the game for the Chiefs, in overtime. Those memories stick with you, but a 20-yard pass that sets up a game-winning field goal is not going to be remembered; the kick is.

So, the NFL owners must vote to change the overtime rules. Let's give teams a reason to want to score a touchdown in overtime, and not just target the 20-yard line. Let's see Matt Cassel or Jamaal Charles get taken off of the field on their teammates shoulders, not the lowly kicker.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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Oops

Didn’t see someone just posted a similar article. Oh well, rookie mistake.

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 12:58 PM CDT reply actions

its cool i posted the other one

i did it just for the same reason you did, if the NFL changes the rules its going to take some getting used to.

Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....

by jrcnc on Mar 18, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah you can pretty much delete this

nah jk.. But I totally agree, overtime is kind of ridiculous

The newest addition to the Eric Berry fanclub

by 808NaNz808 on Mar 18, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

come on guys...

I know you noticed that another post was already made like this so delete it… no need to keep posting the same things over and over.. Im sorry this is directly towards you and I know your new but its as simple as hitting delete. We have had multiple fanpost and fanshots of the same info lately when we really just need it once.

by tomahawk44 on Mar 18, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

isnt*

by tomahawk44 on Mar 18, 2010 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah

I’m not going to spend 20 minutes writing something and then trash it just because someone had a different take on it.

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

20 minutes?

some of the guys below spend hours or even days researching and creating a post to just have it pushed down off the page b/c of people duplicating topics which is not fair.

by tomahawk44 on Mar 18, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry

I’m at work and just wanted to get this topic off my chest. Hope I didn’t ruin your day because of it. Thanks for making a new poster feel so welcome.

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

D-Steak

they did that to me too on my first post, dont worry its not personal. Just makin you aware of the “preferences” on this site for posts and such :). nice work tho. If youre new to this site I can see how you would miss the other one, now you know tho! So dont let it happen again lol

Winning isnt a matter of life and death, its more important than that.

by Pollard49 on Mar 18, 2010 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Not trying to make you feel unwelcome

I even said that it wasnt directed only at you. This post just seemed to be the latest one up. I mean if you know it been brought up before and discussed especially in the last day there should be a need for two post about the exact same thing. You should just comment on the one that was posted first. Again not trying to make you feel unwelcome.

by tomahawk44 on Mar 18, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I know

I’m just saying it was an honest mistake. I think the other post was put up while I was typing this one, and then I saw it once I refreshed the list. Oh well, now I know ; )

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey man sorry if I sounded like an a-hole..

I was actually having a bad day and let it reflect me on here and I apologize for that

by tomahawk44 on Mar 18, 2010 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions

No worries

at all. I was a bit temperamental yesterday as well.

by D-Steak on Mar 19, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

On second glance

The other post was posted yesterday, I just missed it.

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

that's okay...it was a good article...

The only point I disagree with you is when you suggest that Ryan Succop isn’t a superstar…I beg to differ. He wasn’t recognized as one last year, but the team noticed and the NFL will know his name means more than the fact that he was labeled as “Mr. Irrelevant”. He’s a beast that the great and wise Pioli stole in the last pick of the draft…I don’t mind seeing Succop kick a game winner.

Official Member: Eric Berry Fan Club
Tweet me @GiftNate
N. Gift

by giftedchiefsfan on Mar 18, 2010 1:07 PM CDT reply actions

I agree with you completly...

but only as a Chiefs fan. In our eyes he is a big time name in KC at the moment, but only hardcore football fans or AFC West fans have probably ever heard of him at this point.

And hey, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind seeing Succop kick 16 game-winners this season :)

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Remember in the 2009 season

The Chiefs were playing the World Champion Steelers and we took them to overtime and while the Steelers won the coin toss then our defense stopped them and as a team they went down the field to score the winning fg.

Remember how exciting THAT was!

Blame my wife!
Waiting until August 2010

by sir eccles on Mar 18, 2010 1:27 PM CDT reply actions

I disagree.

The whole point of the OT rules is to emphasize every phase of the game. If you want to give them bad field position, be good on special teams, dont let them return it for 35+ yards and reduce your chances to win. If you let them return it so far, than your Defense better step up and prove why they should win the game, and change the fact that they let them be in that position to win in the first place. If you get the ball back, than your offense better step up as well, and be better than the other teams defense.
I personally like the OT rules cause it is tough and wearing. This shows who is in better shape, and who really deserves to win… ALL phases of the game may be a cliche’ or whatever, but the OT is what makes that phrase or saying the truth. Good post tho :)

Winning isnt a matter of life and death, its more important than that.

by Pollard49 on Mar 18, 2010 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks

I can definitely see both sides of the argument, and you make good points. I think I lean toward a change about 60/40, so it’s not that I loathe the current overtime system, I just think it could be utilized a bit better.

by D-Steak on Mar 18, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

A change would be exciting to see tho, and how it plays out

Winning isnt a matter of life and death, its more important than that.

by Pollard49 on Mar 18, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Besides

I think it gives the kicker a legit reason for being a real “football player” thats a lot of pressure. They are the main focus in OT and I like that and how it makes them relevant or a factor in a game changing play :).

Winning isnt a matter of life and death, its more important than that.

by Pollard49 on Mar 18, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Keep it the way it is.

The first is obvious: It’s not fair. I’ve read that the team who wins the coin toss in an NFL playoff game wins 60 percent of the time.

60% of the time really isn’t that bad. This whole thing about high-flying offenses and rules that stifle defenses makes it sound like the coin-toss winner always wins. The rules pertaining to the the way offenses play, and the way defenses defend don’t change during overtime.

I personally like the OT rules cause it is tough and wearing. This shows who is in better shape, and who really deserves to win… ALL phases of the game may be a cliche’ or whatever, but the OT is what makes that phrase or saying the truth.

This is exactly why I like overtime, as well. You make the comparisons to other sports in complaint that NFL should mold to that fit. I say, that’s what makes the NFL BETTER than those other sports (including College Football). It’s all about the moment and who wants to win more in OT. That’s what makes it great.

Keep with tradition.

My long, drawn-out predictions that no one cares about, nor will bother to remember:

1. Todd Haley will still be the Chiefs Head Coach up to the 2011 season.
2. Clancy Pendergast won't make it to the 2010 season and was never intended to. Last-minute hire for a position that needed to be filled.
3. Todd Haley will not be the OC at the start of the 2010 season.

by jbj8609 on Mar 18, 2010 6:40 PM CDT reply actions