by Wayne Reeves

Created on: May 08, 2009   Last Updated: May 09, 2009

The National Football League has always seen fit to change to evolve the game to best suit its owners, players, TV networks and fans. Following on from the conclusion of each season, the league's own self-appointed competition committee oversee all proposals that may be presented from any of the NFL teams.

The majority of the rules currently in use help make the NFL game one of the best (if not the greatest) team sport in the world. That isn't to say there couldn't be some changes made further; to improve the overall quality and integrity of the game as it stands today.

Not all the potential changes are game related; the first major change would have to be with rookies. The current system where high-picked draftees are signed to enormously generous contracts has to stop. It is getting to a farcical situation where a rookie is playing for more money than a proven 10-year veteran.

There is a desperate need to incorporate a rookie salary-cap which would help keep contracts in line with the rest of the NFL. It is not unreasonable to expect a rookie to get signed for a minimum contract (for two-years) then renegotiate after that based on performance or potential.

On the field of play, there are a few tweaks that should be made to avoid awkward "did he-didn't he" situations. One of the most frustrating aspects has to be the "completed catch" definition. The NFL rules a catch having to be held until the player has stopped his action on a given play - if he's going down to the ground, hits the ground, rolls over and then loses control it's ruled incomplete. This also applies to receivers hit out-of-bounds, a catch must be held even if the player hits the turf off the field - irrespective of the inbounds catch.

A simple revision of this rule - catch the ball in the field of play and still hang onto it when hit or when a player initially hits the ground (with the ball in their hands) then it's a reception. Any caught ball that a player gets hit out of bounds is still a catch. This would eliminate all the unnecessary challenges and replays that seem to occur on far too many pass plays.

The infamous "tuck" rule has to be consigned to history - a quarterback cannot have the luxury of changing their mind and the pass attempt gets conveniently "forgotten". Similarly if a quarterback is going to pass then it's a pass - defining when a QB is actually throwing a ball forward is taking the game into microscopic proportions - it's a game not a science-class!

Kickers and

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