Wednesday, March 10, 2010

NFL OT: Addition By Subtraction Benefits All

By Iain Bartholomew

The overtime debate is probably as old as the concept of overtime itself. The NFL, keen to continue maintaining the league’s position at the head of the American sports table, is discussing proposed changes to the current system in an effort to best implement the value of fairness and promote a positive conclusion to tight matchups.

Opinions vary all over the media. For example, Peter King of Sports Illustrated, an often-heard and largely respected commentator, is pro-reform whilst ESPN’s Mike Sando prefers to retain the current system but suggests possible tweaks to determine starting possession.

The Internet holds an infinite number of suggestions for how to improve overtime so that it is both fair and representative of the game in its format and determination. The one possibility that has received the least, if any, consideration is perhaps the simplest and at the same time most radical – do away with overtime in the regular season altogether.