Hey everybody! Help me simplify the NFL rulebook!

KB1122

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My position is that the NFL has too many rules. Its rulebook is longer than any other major sport. It's my belief that a lot of rules developed for mysterious one-time reasons and have just continued because no one bothers to re-think them. So the purpose of this exercise is for each poster to name rules they would like to see repealed, changed, or streamlined/simplified. i'll start with a couple, and probably add more.

1) The Hideout play -- This is the Johnny Football reception from earlier, which was apparently illegal for being too awesome. This play apparently was in fact outlawed in the fifties because someone scored on it, and the commissioner took a dim view of it. I would agree you need to start the play on the field. Beyond that, it's up to the defense to count and find you.

2) Illegal/ineligible player downfield. -- Why is it a problem if an offensive lineman is downfield? On a punt, what is the problem if the coverage team linemen leave before the punt?
 
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