NFL can't keep rewarding defenses for doing nothing

Published 4 months ago• 2 minute read

There is one rule in the NFL that always infuriates me when it comes up.

When the offense fumbles the ball going into the end zone and the ball rolls out of bounds either on the sideline or out of the back of the end zone, the defense gets the ball on the 20-yard line.

You’ve heard a referee explain a call and you’ve said this to yourself, to others or both:

“That’s such a dumb rule.”

You’ve been watching a game and you’ve said this to yourself, to others or both:

“Why don’t they change how they do that?”

We all follow sports. And we know when a rule needs changing or a league policy requires overhauling. So let’s do it.

Today begins a five-day series at The Post where our writers will argue for which rules need changing, what those changes should be and why. We’ll tackle the NFL, the NHL, the NBA, the WNBA and MLB — plus we’ll dabble in college sports, golf and soccer, too. No stone left unturned — and no silly rule left unchanged.

Some of our proposals are minor. Some of them are major. Some of them are completely radical.

Welcome to GameChangers by The Post.

Why does the defense get such a reward when it really did nothing? Many times, the fumble is not even forced. This rule comes into play mostly when the offensive player extends the ball, reaching for the end zone and then loses control of the ball.

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