If I was in charge of Football (American)

If I was in charge of all things football, there would be a lot of changes made.

From the Pro leagues, to the college level there is enough there to keep anyone busy for a long, long time.

Pro Ideas to start:

• FG's longer than 45 yards worth 4 pts.
• Retool the schedule so there are less weeks to play.
• Develop either a true minor league or fix college football first. :)
• Los Angeles doesn't deserve a new pro football team. Period.
• Technology-use it.
• No expansion for 10 years at least.
• Draft Day moved to various NFL cities on a round robin schedule.
• More Super Bowls hosted by cold weather stadiums.
• Make the full team roster available every game.
• Get TV coverage to understand less is more and move some NFL Network shows to broadcast/cable stations.

Short list, I could go on forever.

Some people think the FG is overrated, I say look at Indy's "idiot kicker" in 2005, long completion streak, but chokes in the big games, they aren't. That is why you see Vinateri in Indianapolis now, instead of the idiot. I say 50 is too far, make it 45 yards minimum for a FG that scores 4 points. 30-44- now scores three points, 0-29 now scores 2 points.

Why punish the up close shots? They are mostly chip shots, and I say make a team choose between 2 points and 6. Do you go for the minor points hoping to catch up, or do you go for it all making it a much more exciting game? Making the field goal 4 points from 45 and farther gives your best kickers a reason to put their best foot forward so to speak.

Brings a whole new wrinkle to the game. :)

Everyone loves watching pro football, but let's face it. IT IS TOO LONG. Let's cut the weeks of preseason training down to 2 weeks, and screw September, let's start it in August. That way the cold weather cities can have two games in decent weather, (yes I know it is hot, but baseball fans still go right?) and generate some more income!

So that gives us 18 weeks of glorious enjoyable football with no interruptions of an offweek during preseason, etc.. If the guys can't get ready in two weeks, they don't deserve to be pros.

Ok minor league system. It is simple. The pros use the NCAA and all their shortsightedness and heavyhanded behavior for their players. I say it is time to develop the game on our shores first, forget Mexico, Japan, and Europe (although that one works, but let's not get carried away).

If they want the game to get better, they need to develop a minor league system similar to NBA's Dev League, and soccer's (the real football) tiered system. Develop a team for each city, even if not the same city, at least make it close to the host city, developing the talent and the game from the grassroots to the pro level.

We have a small semipro team year that has had a lot of success over the years, and they among other teams could become a feeder system that isn't being controlled by the NCAA and all their two faced leaders. Make fall football an exciting sport for all levels of pro football.

Next, LA. Look at the teams they have hosted over the years: Chargers, Rams, and Raiders and Buccaneers. Four chances over the last 80 years or so to make a team successful. They don't deserve another shot. If they need a presence so bad in LA, make San Diego hold some of their games there. No wait, send them to Anaheim. That seems like the chic thing to do now. They can't compete in the Hollywood/LA scene , and they need to understand that now. NFL can do more for their market than adding a overpriced stadium and tickets and taking 6 to 8 hours to get or leave a game..

Technology is next, there is so much that can be done today with technology, why not use it? For out of bounds plays, touchdown calls at the goal line, downed fumbled football, forward motion of back, receiver, forward motion of the passer's arm, completions along the sidelines (getting two feet in) is just a few ideas. We have seen upgrades in the uniform equipment for the players, let's make it for the whole game itself. Let's hear the action on the field. Give us a ten second delay if you have to, but let's hear that hit, or the ball whistling out of the passer's hand, taped bloodied hands flexing and unflexing.. Oh yeah.

Ok expansion. No. Not. FORGET it. Not on your life. Let's get the game to mature with the markets that are there, and if teams have to move, offer them to unaffiliated cities first. Places like LA and NY don't get the chance to get a team until all potential host cities get their shot first. Chicago and Dallas, LA and NY could only after others have chance though.

I would love to see a second team in Chicago and Dallas. Not that other places in Texas and other cities aren't worthy, but Chicago needs some competition and so do the Cowboys. Putting another team in Texas outside of the Big D is just stupid.

Draft Day, Super Bowls. Move Draft Day to various markets, hey you can even move it to LA for a turn or two, add in places that can handle the crowds, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, LA, Atlanta and give other cities their chance to show their team spirit. I get tired of the NY crowds. Let's give the shot in the limelight to other teams and cities for while. And speaking of the limelight, it is time to recognize that all these teams that play in the NFL don't all play for warm-weather sites. So, why should the big game only be in warm places?

Give the game to Chicago, Philly, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New England, Cincinnati, Kansas City, etc.. they pay their dues like any other warmweather site, so let them have the big game. Stop the Miami's and Atlanta's from hosting the game, give it to teams that don't have the opportunity to host the game otherwise.

Also, TV coverage. It really needs to lay off the graphics. This isn't a console game or sports sim game, let us watch the action without a lot of stuff cluttering the screen. Not everyone has a flat panel 150" TV to watch a game on. Be a part of the game, not make the game a part of your telecast. Maybe we could ask NFL to add some NFL Network programs on broadcast (free) and cable (NOT free) TV stations as well. Last I checked not everyone has cable or dish capabilities, and seeing some good league based programming would develop their product not harm it.

Last but not least. Make the full roster available EVERY game, since you are going to expand two more games a year, why not allow the full roster of 53, isn't it now, available? Seems like a smart move albeit more expensive financially for the teams, but allow teams to have choices available without penalizing them. I would rather keep 8 players on the payroll that I can use, than the taxi squad thing hoping I can use them or that they might still be there after I release them temporarily... stupid way to do things. Let's get that full roster available and see what happens!

Ok, now you have it. That is just a sample of what I would do to make pro football better. Be looking for another post if I was in charge of... this week!