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One of the things that has always bugged me about the Madden video game is that it incorrectly uses the college rule regarding the coin toss.
Put simply, the NFL rule is that the team that wins the toss gets to choose whether to kick or receive. The team that loses the toss gets to make that decision at the start of the third quarter.
There is no ability at the NFL level to defer the decision on whether to take the ball until the third quarter. If the team that wins the toss chooses to kick to start the game, the team that loses the toss then can choose to receive to start the third quarter, getting the ball to start both halves of the game.
Madden has had the rule wrong from its inception. But now, Madden could end up being right. But only because the owners might adopt the Madden version of the rule.
The proposal is mentioned in an item from Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer, in which many of the various proposals are identified.
Now, we’ll sit back and wait for all the comments to be posted insisting that NFL teams currently have the ability to defer the decision as to whether to receive the kickoff until the second half. Even though they don’t.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
They oughta be discussing making pass interference reviewable. THAT actually matters.
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March 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
omg,
i just found out why i never get the ball to start the 3rd quarter in madden. wow i’m stupid.
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March 27th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
That is a better rule. They should also adopt the college version of in or out of bounds on a catch.
Eliminate the force out judgement calls and allow the defense to force out WRs, but only require one foot or any body part for possesion.
I also think they should just allow the type of inside the shoulder pads holding that is currently unfairly and inconsitantly called.
The defense should be allowed the ability to jam, bump and even hold and grab eligible recievers as long as the only jersey grabbing is on the numbers by the chest pad. Hand checking, arm bars and no pass interefrence should be called inside the first 5 yards of contact bump area. Call it the defensive backfield or whatever.
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March 27th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
sorry florio you re wrong. why would belichick opt to kickoff when he wins the toss if the opposing team could elect to receive again
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March 27th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
NFL teams currently have the ability to defer the decision as to whether to receive the kickoff until the second half.
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March 27th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
This is using the linked article as a guide.
I would love the rule change that awards wild card teams with better records than division winners that have the third or fourth best record home field advantage. It makes, well, perfect sense.
The force out rule should not be taken away. Just because officials last season failed to impose it properly (aka costing the Cleveland Browns a playoff spot; this still really ticks me off, as it was the #1 example of injustice in the NFL of ‘07 BY FAR), does not mean that the rule is bad. If a player is going to comedown in bounds but is shoved out while in the air, that’s just not fair. There will be many times when defenders just wait for offensive players to go in the air, and then shove them out of bounds. The rule is a fine. It just needs to be enforced better. How that Kellen Winslow grab was not considered a catch is beyond me; that call was as obvious as it gets.
And why take away the 5-yard face mask? I suppose it might not be the worst idea, considering that an accidental pull can be more harmful than an intentional one, and perhaps result should be more important than intent. But c’mon, if it is obvious a guy accidentally pulls a tiny bit but then releases right away, that should not be 15 yards.
The rest of the proposals are good, except for that stupid audit thing. A TEAM OFFICIAL will be entrusted for this audit? The honest ones will be punished, and the liars will be rewarded. This seems like a dumb idea that is just for PR.
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March 27th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I like the rule and I agree with it.
One rule from college that should be adopted into the is the overtime rules. College football’s overtime rules make for a very exciting and dramatic ending to each overtime game. The NFL rules for overtime make whatever team can get inside the 30 to kick field goal the winners.
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March 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
People, do you not see that you were bated by Mike? This quote here should have been a clue,
“Now, we’ll sit back and wait for all the comments to be posted insisting that NFL teams currently have the ability to defer the decision as to whether to receive the kickoff until the second half. Even though they don’t.”
That should have been the first hint that Mike had the rule in front of him when he posted this. Now he’s sitting back laughing at most of you.
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March 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Damn, I’m ecstatic I learned that rule.
I guess it really is a slow day…
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March 27th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Why would anyone doubt what Florio is publishing?
1. The toss of coin will take place within three minutes of kickoff in center of field. The toss will be called by the visiting captain before the coin is flipped. The winner may choose one of two privileges and the loser gets the other:
(a) Receive or kick
(b) Goal his team will defend
2. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.
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March 27th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
College overtime sucks, i’d rather leave it a tie. The NFL could even up the imbalance of winning the toss by not allowing a Field Goal attempt on the first possesion. If you receive the OT kickoff you have to get a TD to win.
Anyway, thats my 2 cents on that one
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March 27th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
This rule makes since, and will give teams with great defenses a better chance to win. This is because they will get the ball in the start of the third quarter, and will give the offense more oppurtunities to score in the second half. The only problem with teams who use this strategy will be that if they are playing a team like the colts, who score alot, it will give their offence more time on the field. And it limits your offenses time on the field in the first half. The Patriots can use this strategy several ways: They can take the ball in the third quarter and with their great defence it won’t effect them, and if they decide to take it in the first…. well everyone knows how well that turned out for them last year. Also, the Giants could also use this to their advantage. Eli has really stepped up his game, and he can score alot with the Giants offence. This helps him because they can use the first half trying to score, and at halftime make any adjustments needed and score as soon as they step on the field in the second half.
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March 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
The college overtime system sucks. Do we really need Arizona/San Francisco going 6-6 in regulation and ending in 5OT with 21-18 six hours later?
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March 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
The home team should get the ball first period, both to start the game, and in overtime.
That would set up some really neat end-game strategy, where a visiting team might sometimes decide to go for two knowing that the home team is going to get the ball in OT.
It might also help with game planning, and initial scripting of plays where you know you will get the ball first if at home, vs. have to defend first if away.
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March 27th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
If Florio finds it annoying that the kickoff rule is incorrect in the game, then he must play Madden.
PFT Madden 08 Tournament?
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March 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
can anyone reference a game where a team has received the kick off both halves? I can’t.
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March 27th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
“can anyone reference a game where a team has received the kick off both halves? I can’t.”
It’s been a while, but in the ‘86 NFC championship game the Giants kicked off to the Redskins both halves. The Giants won the toss and elected to defend the goal that gave them the wind advantage. The Skins were trailing at halftime and elected to receive the second-half kickoff.
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March 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
The NFL should change this rule for sure. I can see home teams optting to kick at the start of games when their crowd is really into it at the start of BIG games. I was at that Bills vs. Pats game on Sunday night and the crowd was going crazy but than Bills opted to recieve, the crowd quieted for the offence and JP being the amazing QB he is throws a pick, NE offense comes out, two plays later touchdown. First two minutes of the game the crowd was taken out and it was all history from their for the Bills (even though it was history anyways, it would have been better if my excitment would have lasted more than 2 minutes). Anyways I have always wondered why home teams that win the toss would not opt to kick the ball to start the game with their crowd going strong, and now I understand (it’s amazing what you learn from PFT).
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March 28th, 2008 at 9:39 am
“It’s been a while, but in the ‘86 NFC championship game the Giants kicked off to the Redskins both halves. The Giants won the toss and elected to defend the goal that gave them the wind advantage. The Skins were trailing at halftime and elected to receive the second-half kickoff. ”
That is INCORRECT. The Giants chose to kick off and to have the wind at thier back for the 1st and 4th quarters. They got the ball to start the second half but agains the 40-50 MPH winds. That is how the rule works now. If you kick off one half you get the ball in the second.
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March 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
longdarkface–
I was at a Michigan football game (I think 1995) against Purdue where MI kicked off both halves. The weather was so bad that teams would punt on first down. I think MI won 5-3 or something like that. It was an unbelievable game. But besides that one time no, I have never heard of another team doing it. But I’m sure in Chicago and Green Bay it would make sense in games in winter.
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March 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I could be wrong, but I think I recall the Ravens opting to kick to the Giants in Super Bowl. I don’t remember who received in the second half because I think the game was already over.
I think the NFL should move to a soccer-like “extra time” overtime. If the game is tied after 4 quarters, it will not end without first playing an extra period. However, instead of having a coin toss, the team with the ball at the end of regulation will simply keep possession at the same spot on the field when time expired. First team to score wins, or it becomes a tie when extra time runs out.
Yes, I know nothing about soccer or how their overtime works.
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March 28th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
“That is INCORRECT. The Giants chose to kick off and to have the wind at thier back for the 1st and 4th quarters.”
Sorry, wrong. If you elect to kick, then the other team can choose to defend a goal. Had the Giants said, “We’ll kick off,” the Redskins would have been able to choose the wind advantage and they would have taken the ball.
The Redskins could have chosen the wind advantage to start off the second half but, since they were trailing, they took the ball, as was their option.
(I’m sure it’s scintillating discussions like this that make Florio turn off comments for a while!)
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