If I Was King of Sports: Rules NFL should adopt from other football leagues

There are some NFL football rules I would like changed, but I am not going to focus on those, including the "Calvin Johnson rule" about the "complete process of a catch".  I will say it was a stupid rule when it happened to Calvin Johnson, and it was stupid when it happened to Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys.  This blog will focus on the rules that are in place in other football leagues, that I think should be in place in the NFL.  By the way, adapting rules from other leagues would not be unprecedented.  The NBA adopted the 3-point line when it merged with the ABA in 1976.  Before that, the NBA did not have a 3-point line, but the ABA did to generate more offense.

Rule 1: Pass interference calls can be challenged by the coach.  Where it is found: CFL

In the Canadian Football League (CFL), coaches are allowed to use one of their challenges on a pass interference call.  The NFL needs to do the same.  There are times the flow of games can be changed on a bad pass interference call.  Plus, a 15-yard penalty can make a big impact on the game.  There needs to be some accountability.

Rule 2: Have a player from each team run for the ball to determine who starts the game with the ball. Where it was found: XFL

As ridiculous as the XFL was in the one year of its existence, this rule was one of the few things it got right.  It pitted two people in a contest to see who wants the ball more.  It is more entertaining than just tossing a coin.  These days, there is more of a focus towards safety issues, so there would have to be adjustments.  Maybe the two athletes can run side-by-side, or run at a diangel.  Whatever they decide, I want to see something more than a coin toss.

Rule 3: Make field goals and extra points harder.  Where it is found: Arena football

"Goalposts" in the Arena Football League are 15 feet high and 9 and a half feet wide (as opposed to 10 feet high and 18 feet wide in the NFL).  Field goals and extra points are not automatic in the AFL, because of the height and narrowness of the goalposts.  The NFL experimented with having 14-foot wide goalposts at the Pro Bowl.  The percentage of the field goals made was reduced from kickers who are normally "automatic".

Rule 4: Review helmet-to-helmet calls.  Where it is found: NCAA

Like pass interference, the helmet-to-helmet calls can impact a game if they are mistakenly called.  I understand that in live action, it can be difficult for officials to tell whether or not a player hit another one with his helmet or not.  The referees are to rule on the side of safety in this case.  There was a dispute on whether (I think it was) Ahmed Brooks of the San Francisco 49ers hit Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, with his helmet.  The referees called the penalty, and it cost the 49ers 15 yards, and Seattle eventually scored on that drive.  Later in the week, the NFL reviewed it, and ruled that it should not have been a penalty on the 49ers.  If I was King of Sports, those plays would be automatically reviewed like it is in the NCAA.  Of course, the reason why it is reviewed in the NCAA is because those plays are grounds for ejection if the player was considered to be "targeting", and no one wants to see a player ejected for making a hard, legal hit.  Those plays should be reviewed, because they can impact a game for one team if the call was ruled to be incorrect.

Continuation of If I Was King of Sports #3-209 Basketball Tournament

This is what the 2015 bracket would look like of my 209 tournament.  The seeding procedure can be found in the original blog.

Pod A (@ Sierra-Manteca)
(8) Gregori-Modesto (MMC) vs. (1) Sierra-Manteca (VOL)
(5) Linden (MLL) vs. (4) Ceres (WAC)
(6) Atwater (CCC) vs. Millennium-Tracy (CCAA)
(7) Lincoln-Stockton (TCAL) vs. Mariposa (SL)

Pod B (@ Modesto Christian)
(8) Denair-SL vs. (1) Modesto Christian (MMC)
(5) Pitman-Turlock (CCC) vs. (4) Central Catholic-Modesto (VOL)
(6) Escalon-TVL vs. (3) Patterson (WAC)
(7) West-Tracy vs. (2) Bear Creek-Stockton (SJAA)

Pod C (@ Brookside Christian-Stockton)
(8) McNair-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (1) Brookside Christian-Stockton (CCAA)
(5) Delhi (SL) vs. (4) Summerville-Tuolumne City (MLL)
(6) El Capitan-Merced (WAC) vs. (3) Manteca (VOL)
(7) Hughes Academy-Stockton (MVL) vs. (2) Beyer-Modesto (MMC)

Pod D (@ Liberty Ranch-Galt)
(8) Oakdale (VOL) vs. (1) Liberty Ranch-Galt (SVC)
(5) Stockton Christian (MVL) vs. (4) Argonaut-Jackson (MLL)
(6) Pacheco-Los Banos (WAC) vs. (3) Tracy (TCAL)
(7) Riverbank (TVL) vs. (2) Turlock (CCC)

Pod E (@ Jim Elliot Christian-Lodi)
(8) Modesto (MMC) vs. (1) Jim Elliot Christian-Lodi (CCAA)
(5) Tokay-Lodi (TCAL) vs. (4) Hughson (TVL)
(6) Kimball-Tracy (VOL) vs. (3) Lodi Academy (MVL)
(7) Le Grand (SL) vs. (2) Chavez-Stockton (SJAA)

Pod F (@ Weston Ranch-Stockton)
(8) Gustine (SL) vs. (1) Weston Ranch-Stockton (VOL)
(5) Big Valley-Modesto (CCAA) vs. (4) Ripon (TVL)
(6) Davis-Modesto (MMC) vs. (3) Sonora (MLL)
(7) Los Banos (WAC) vs. (2) Delta Charter-Tracy (MVL)

Pod G (@ Central Valley-Ceres)
(8) Edison-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (1) Central Valley-Ceres (WAC)
(5) Bret Harte-Angels Camp (MLL) vs. (4) Enochs-Modesto (MMC)
(6) Hilmar (TVL) vs. (3) Merced (CCC)
(7) Turlock Christian (CCAA) vs. St. Mary's-Stockton (TCAL)

Pod H (@ Calaveras-San Andreas)
(8) Livingston (WAC) vs. (1) Calaveras-San Andreas (MLL)
(5) Golden Valley-Merced (CCC) vs. (4) Lodi (TCAL)
(6) Johansen-Modesto (MMC) vs. (3) Central Valley Christian Academy-Ceres (IND)
(7) Sierra Ridge/Rite of Passage-San Andreas (CCAA) vs. (2) Ripon Chirstian (TVL)

Like last year, if I was King of Sports, pod champions would meet at the Stockton Arena,
Runners up would meet at the University of Pacific in Stockton
3rd place- Stanislaus State in Turlock
4th place- UC-Merced
5th place- Delta College (Stockton)
6th place- Modesto Junior College
7th place- Merced College
8th place- Columbia College (Sonora)

Non-advancing pods
These would be optional if the teams wanted an opportunity to play more basketball

Pod I (@ Downey-Modesto)
(8) Galt (SVC) vs. (1) Downey-Modesto (MMC)
(5) Lathrop (VOL) vs. (4) Stagg-Stockton (SJAA)
(6) Benjamin Holt Academy-Stockton (MVL) vs. (3) Excel Academy-Stockton (CCAA)
(7) Waterford (SL) vs. (2) Amador-Sutter Creek (MLL)

Pod J (@ Orestimba-Newman)
(8) Tioga-Groveland (MVL) @ (1) Orestimba-Newman (SL)
(5) Franklin-Stockton (SJAA) vs. (4) Humphreys-Stockton (MVL)
(6) Dos Palos (WSL) vs. (3) Stone Ridge Christian-Merced (CCAA)
(7) Buhach Colony-Atwater (CCC) vs. (2) East Union-Manteca (VOL)