It may be the NFL’s offseason, but there is still more than enough football for the nation to consume. With the first two weeks of the Alliance of American Football league in the books, fans are getting their gridiron kicks in. However, it’s not just football fans who are taking a close look at the AAF.
The NFL is certainly paying attention to the games, and more specifically, the differences in the rules. Since the NFL is known as a copycat league, it’s safe to assume they are monitoring which changes work and which do not.
The AAF is doing some truly experimental things with their games, and here are three takeaways for the NFL to consider:
No. 1 – The kickoff is hardly missed
One of the biggest differences between the two leagues is that the kickoff doesn’t exist in the AAF. At first, it seemed this would be a noticeable change, one which would make fans wonder if this would still feel like football.
Turns out the kickoff isn’t terribly missed. Given how the AAF wants to make their games faster paced, eliminating the kickoff entirely helps to speed things along. Giving each team the ball on their own 25-yard line seems only logical, considering it’s where most teams in the NFL start because of touchbacks on kickoffs.
Plus, eliminating kickoffs helps with injuries as well. Football is still a violent sport, and while players will still get hurt, eliminating one of the most dangerous aspects is something the NFL should strongly consider.
No. 2 – Don’t force automatic 2-point conversions
What is more exciting than a two-point conversion attempt? When they are mandatory after every touchdown, quite a bit actually.
In the NFL and college football, having the choice to go for a two-point conversion is a decision with plenty of weight behind it. Can a team take a surprising lead? Will they tie up a game that way? Will they make a lead completely insurmountable? The rarity associated with the play makes the excitement more palpable.
Having mandatory two-point attempts after touchdowns makes them feel as mundane as a regular PAT kick. Also, touchdowns are hard enough to come by. Forcing the offense to run one more goal-line play seems to be a bit unfair.
No. 3 – The increased pace of the game is better
Other major changes in the AAF including reducing the number of TV commercial breaks, instituting shorter review periods, and reducing the play clock from 40 seconds to 35 — all in an attempt to streamline the game.
These changes have proved to be in the AAF’s favor. Games are shorter, more action-packed and faster paced. While there are still plenty of die-hard NFL fans who will gladly watch a three-and-a-half hour to four-hour game, there are a healthy number of casual fans who perhaps start to lose interest in contests that last half the day.
