5 Adjustments the NFL Should Consider Implementing

The NFL has quickly become America's new pastime, taking over televisions every Sunday and building weekly anticipation in between each game.

The National Football League is the most popular sport in the United States.

So, why fix what isn't broke?

There are a few tweaks that commissioner Roger Goodell and his staff should consider making that would improve the product even more.

These changes will not dramatically change the games, but will instead increase the entertainment value for all viewers.

Ready to see what they are? Let's get started. 

Automatically Review Scoring Plays and Near Scoring Plays

A new instant replay rule implemented by the NFL for 2011 stated that all scoring plays must be automatically reviewed.

Other than frustrating pauses after every score, this rule has one glaring flaw.

Plays that are almost scoring plays require a coaches challenge in order to be reviewed.

In other words, a player who is ruled in for a touchdown but actually did not get in is automatically reviewed. But, a player who is ruled short but actually scored has to rely on his coach to throw a coaches challenge flag for review.

Thus, all plays that could result in a score, whether ruled as such or not, should be automatically reviewed in order to ensure fairness and to put less pressure on the referees to award touchdowns. 

Adjust Playoff Seeding

Winning a weak division should not guarantee a higher seed over a wild card team with a better record.

If the playoffs started today, the AFC West winning Denver Broncos would be the No.4 seed while the Baltimore Ravens would be the No.5 seed.

The record of the Broncs is 8-6 whereas the Ravens' record is 10-4.

The Ravens simply should not have to travel to Denver as a road opponent in the playoffs despite finishing the season with a better record in a tougher division.

Thus, I recommend proposing a re-seeding in the playoffs according to record that does not take into account division champions. 

Move Trading Deadline

Three of the four major sports have their trading deadlines after the midway point of the regular season.

The NFL has its trading deadline in Week 6 and no one really knows why. There is virtually no buzz surrounding potential moves that early in the season.

Moreover, teams have no idea whether they are buyers or sellers with 10 games remaining on the schedule.

Roger Goodell should propose the movement of the deadline to Week 10 or Week 12 in order to build anticipation of the trade deadline and give more opportunities for player movement.

The move would change the NFL trade deadline from completely irrelevant to intriguing during the season's final weeks. 

Use Instant Reply on Helmet-to-Helmet Plays

It is completely preposterous to expect officials to make the right calls in-game on helmet-to-helmet collisions when the NFL game moves so quickly.

While the league office obviously reviews each hit and acts accordingly during the week, the in-game punishments are often misjudged by referees because of how difficult these particular calls are to make.

It would make more sense to have the replay official always on guard to watch for illegal hits. If the video judge deems a hit to be questionable, he or she can signal down to the referee to take a look and act accordingly.

If the NFL wants to get serious about player safety, it will enforce this rule. Fines do not deter the illegal hits, but 15-yard penalties that hurt the teams will put a second thought into players' minds before leading with the helmet versus defenseless players. 

Don't Limit Coaches Challenges If They Are Successful

Coaches who get challenges correct should not be limited to three challenges.

As the rule is currently written, coaches who get their first two challenges right receive a third challenge. Even if that coach is successful on all three, he is out of challenges after the third protest.

This makes no sense.

As long as the coach is correct in protesting missed calls, he should get the opportunity to continue challenging.

Rarely do referees miss more than three calls in a game, but coaches should be rewarded for successful game managing if he uses his challenges responsibly.