Three Things to Improve the NFL
As I sit and watch the games and think about the league, I came up with a few ways to improve the NFL as a whole.
Football and the NFL are explicitly ratings and money-making monsters that are literally cash machines, but like anything else, there is always room for improvement. If I could make three changes to the NFL, they would go as follows:
Divisional Bye Weeks
The NFL goes overboard promoting all the work into the scheduling process, but someone needs to explain why teams within the same division have such drastic bye weeks. The simple solution is for the division to have the same bye week and play each other the following week.
It eliminates any unfair advantage for any divisional team and sets up some great return games the following week. You can even book your Sunday or Monday night with the best divisional rivalry the next week. (Dallas vs Philadelphia, Baltimore vs Cincinnati, San Francisco vs Seattle, and so on)
NFDL (Minor League)
The UFL (United Football League) is a great start to test new rules and technology, and the success of Brandon Aubrey, KaVontae Turpin, P.J. Walker, and others, but a real legit tie to the NFL minor league would be a great addition to the sports landscape.
My dream has always been that the NFL buys the CFL (keeping those nine teams in Canada), uses the newly formed UFL teams (rumored to be eight teams), and, for the remaining teams, look to expand in those markets that MLB targets for their AAA affiliates. Run the season similarly to the CFL, starting a few weeks before NFL training camp and ending near Halloween.
Imagine the financial windfall in NFDL merchandise, TV deals, and marketing options, not to mention an area for the front office, coaches, officials, and executives to cut their teeth with before working on the most prominent sports league …the NFL.
Full-Time Referees
Every year, the cries go out about poor calls in the NFL, but this season seems to be even more. The NFL must expand its referee base and make this a full-time job. Another plus is a developmental league. Also, they need to work at not having the same crew doing the same teams multiple times. Shawn Hochuli might qualify for a ring if Philadelphia wins the Super Bowl. We certainly need to eliminate any Tim Donaghy feel to any NFL game.
My wish list is if I run into a football genie and get three wishes to improve the great game. Does anyone have anything they would want to add?