Double coverage: Overtime debate - ESPN

Mike Sando: I'm not feeling much urgency on this one. There's too much emphasis on everything having to be perfectly fair. The current rules aren't perfect, but this is football, not the legal system. I didn't have a problem with Brett Favre never touching the ball in overtime against the Saints in the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings botched the end of regulation and deserved to lose and we all know what happened the last time Favre had possession during overtime in a playoff game. He threw it to the other team.

Winning or losing by a field goal is part of football. There's nothing cheap about a kicker coming through in the clutch and getting mobbed by his teammates. Those kicks aren't gimmes under pressure, as kickers demonstrated last postseason. They're dramatic precisely because the game's outcome hangs in the balance. I also think it's vital for the league to consider unintended consequences for any rule change. More on that in a bit. Before we go any further, what are the odds of this rules change even passing when owners get together in Orlando for their spring meetings later this month?

John Clayton: I would give it only about a 45 percent chance even though it’s a good proposal. The main problem for passage is that there are a lot of traditionalists in the NFL -- the Bidwills in Arizona, Mike Brown in Cincinnati. They are typically going to say no because they don't like change. There has always been a block that was against replay and a block against rules such as this one. But that 45 percent chance is the best chance for an overtime rules change in many years.

Well, at least Mike has the courage to not try to diminish the Saints' win over the Vikings, as many MSM talking heads have. GAAAA! It's not all about the quarterbacks and offenses, John! Special teams and defense have to show up in overtime too!!

almost 2 years ago David "Satch" Kelly 6 comments 0 recs |

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I find it interesting

that as soon as the Saints win a conference championship—playing by the same rules as everyone else—suddenly those rules aren’t “fair” and the victory was “cheap.”

I honestly think there is a strong contingent out there, fans and journalists alike, who simply can’t adjust to the new reality: the New Orleans Saints are champions, baby. We’re better than your team, whichever one it may be. It ain’t the rules that need changing, it’s your diapers.

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.." --J.O.L.

by MtnExile on Mar 10, 2010 3:28 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

KABOOM! Rec'd!

My thoughts exactly!

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Mar 10, 2010 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

This pic reminds me of.....

a great Gary Larsen “Far Side” cartoon where the two fishermen see this and one says, “I’ll tell you what this means, Norm. No size restrictions and screw the limit!” Here’s another great “Far Side” that makes me think of John Clayton and few other MSM pundits:

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Mar 10, 2010 4:57 PM CST up reply actions

I love that krill has its very own jar.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Mar 10, 2010 8:09 PM CST reply actions

At last...

The Vikings botched the end of regulation and deserved to lose

Nah, that's just some dust in my eye....

by FrenchFreak on Mar 10, 2010 8:29 PM CST reply actions

I guess I'm weird

As a Saints fan I don’t doubt our win, second guess it or feel we were lucky that Favre wasn’t on the field. But as a footall fan, for years I have wished we would go to some other way of doing overtime. I don’t mind the college way of another “quarter” and I’m not opposed to winning by 2 field goals or 1 touchdown. I don’t know the details on them and it’s not for me to work out. I’m nothing but a football fan. BUT, I do have a problem with it being in the media like it is and addressed at owners meetings when it seems to have benifited the Saints. Are we really the ugly step-child? Ok I’ll take it and I would also take the change in overtime. Just don’t do in such a way at such a time that it seems to lesson our hard fought win. WIN

by maybetoday on Mar 10, 2010 9:32 PM CST reply actions 1 recs