by Todd Pheifer

Created on: January 09, 2009

Currently, the National Football League (NFL) is doing very well, both financially and in popularity. The product on the field is very interesting, and fan loyalty has probably never been higher than it is today. Despite a few off-the-field issues, most of the NFL stars have remained good citizens, which allows the league to market them to a variety of advertisers. Some might argue that the NFL could overtake baseball as America's "pastime." Still, the league isn't perfect and there are always ways that it can improve. Here are a few suggestions on changes to improve the NFL.

Shorten the pre-season

To begin with, the NFL should shorten the pre-season. Most of the players stay in shape all year, so fitness should not be a problem. Also, many of the stars barely play during the pre-season. This robs the fans of seeing their favorites, and it shows that the players do not take the pre-season seriously. It would be better if teams had one, or at the most, two pre-season games in order to get ready.

No ties

Another improvement would be to get rid of tie games. Currently, teams that are tied at the end of the game will play an overtime period. If they are tied at the end of overtime, the game ends in a tie. College football has a good system of sudden death where each team gets the ball at the 25-yard line and has a chance to score. Either the NFL should adopt the college system, or they should keep playing until someone scores.

Play more teams

While division rivalries are interesting, the NFL might think about teams playing more games against other opponents. This will allow the schedule to be a little more balanced, as teams have to beat a variety of different teams. In addition, it prevents one division from being too weak or too strong during a given season.

Lose the chains

Finally, the NFL needs to update their technology and get rid of the chains on the field. With all the advanced lasers and sensors on the market today, it seems reasonable that the NFL could utilize a digital system for tracking yardage. The current system looks archaic and it is often subject to scrutiny, as human judgments must be made on spots.

Overall, the NFL is doing very well but it can always improve. The mark of a good sports league is that it pays attention to trends and makes adjustments that allow the league to adapt and grow. Some of these changes may not happen anytime soon, but over time some may come to fruition.

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