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NFL Owners Expected To Approve Proposal Reducing Length Of OT From 15 To 10 Minutes

NFL owners are "expected to approve a proposal to reduce the length of overtime in the preseason and regular season from 15 minutes to 10 minutes" this week when they meet in Chicago, according to Judy Battista of NFL.com. The shift is being "billed as a player-safety issue, because of concerns about the number of additional plays if teams play a full 15-minute overtime, particularly if one of those teams has to play its next game on a short week." However, reaction from fans has been "largely negative, mostly rooted in the premise that shorter overtimes will lead to more ties." Battista noted NFL coaches are "not convinced that shorter overtimes will lead to more ties." Texans coach Bill O'Brien in March said that he "expects more aggressive play calling at the end of regulation and in overtime to avoid a tie." One concern among owners is "whether having a shorter overtime will place even more emphasis on winning the OT coin toss, because the offense could theoretically mount a drive that would consume all 10 minutes." Still, they are "reluctant to alter overtime further or to experiment with a college-style OT, because they do not want the extra period to be played differently than the rest of the game" (NFL.com, 5/22). THE MMQB's Peter King wrote, "I doubt more ties, by percentage, will result from this change." Coaches "will adjust, and will play faster now in the extra period" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/22).

IN THEORY: ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted the "official justification attached to the rule proposal is 'player safety.'" Presumably, it will "decrease the chances for injuries." The ideas "make sense in theory, but, in a recurring theme when the NFL changes its rules, their likely effect appears minor to the point of insignificant." Historically, there "haven't been many overtime games that extend beyond 10 minutes." When they do, the amount of action past that point has "mostly been negligible until a notable blip last season." The "best argument for a 10-minute overtime is that the quality of play is brutal in the handful of games that go longer." Seifert: "Only the most hard-core people want to continue watching, playing or coaching" (ESPN.com, 5/22). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes the NFL should "go back to true sudden death" in OT. Bell: "Who wants this 10-minute proposal anyway? Not the coaches." Two veteran NFL coaches said that they "never wanted to switch from the original OT model." They are "willing to live with the coin toss, trust their defense if need be and take their chances" (USA TODAY, 5/23).

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: The NFL is expected to reduce the number of excessive celebration penalties during the '17 season, and NFL Network's Battista said while NFL execs "still don’t want anything offensive (or) too protracted,” they also want to "allow the guys to have a little fun.” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted Commissioner Roger Goodell has been “meeting with current players to take their temperature on this situation, gain an understanding of what players are looking for and what they believe would be acceptable.” Rapoport noted the relaxed rules seem like "something fans will enjoy,” and the players “will likely enjoy this too, as will the league.” Rapoport: “Goodell does like the idea of players expressing themselves, being excited about scoring and showing that” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 5/22). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said, "It's weird they would try to legislate fun in what is a game, so it's finally [Goodell] a little late coming to his senses late on this one” ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 5/22). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said he was “excited for now” on the NFL easing the excessive celebration penalties but “then they’ll go so far the other way they’ll be like soccer players” celebrating after a goal (“PTI,” ESPN, 5/22).

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