In all honesty, I can't think of a better title.
If tying in sports is supposed to be like kissing your sister, then the Eagles-Bengals game in Cincinnati on Sunday was about as close to incest as you'll find in the NFL.
I thought Bud Selig had problems when the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee ended in a tie. My god. Whoever decided that NFL games should end in a tie ought to be shot. Seriously.
First of all, let's look at the context of this game. Because this crapfest ended without a winner, the Eagles are going to have a much more difficult time trying to gain ground on the wild card, and it pretty much kills any hopes of a miracle run to a division crown with the Giants sitting there at 9-1.
For the Bengals, who came in 1-8, this tie could eventually cost them the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft (I think it's safe to say that Detroit can already go on the clock.)
Aside from professional soccer, can you think of any other pro sport where two teams will settle for a tie? Baseball, you have extra innings. Basketball, you keep playing and playing. Hell, the NHL even has shootouts now during the regular season (although I will say the points system and the fact there's such a category as overtime losses is beyond moronic). Only in the NFL this happens.
There would honestly be nothing wrong with having a second overtime if need be. Just look at the playoff game in 2003-04 when the Panthers got a Steve Smith touchdown in the second OT to beat the Rams, as they inched closer to Super Bowl XXXVIII. That's exciting to me.
In high school and college football, they keep playing until there's a winner on one sideline and a loser on the other. Why can't the NFL? These guys are grown men making millions of dollars. Don't stop giving 100 percent until the final whistle has blown (or in this case, they should have kept playing beyond the whistle).
Not to mention this is a rip-off to Cincinnati fans. They're already miserable because they waste so much money to watch a garbage football team. Making them sit through 75 minutes of "WTF?" and NOT have a winner is absurd.
Roger Goodell, if you're reading this, the first thing you need to change in the off-season is getting rid of ties. They're pointless and only wind up making the playoff picture and ensuing draft order more confusing to dissect.
- Brendan
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Ties are stupid. I'm a little surprised the rules haven't been changed to allow for sudden death after the first OT. Maybe since they are somewhat of a rarity, no one has felt compelled to change the way things are done.
What changed would you propose to the overtime rules? I'm amazed at games that end in overtime in college football. It should be easy to score if you start with a first down on the 25 yd. line!
Here's my proposal:
Instead of sudden death, which is also dumb, give each team one possession that starts at the 50-yard line and no punts are allowed i.e. on fourth down, you either go for it, or attempt a field goal if you're within range. Keep doing this until you have a winner.
Stiles, I like the proposal, it's interesting.
I don't think the college rules would work in the NFL, even if they start at the 35 because field goals aren't missed in the NFL as frequently as they are in college.
If teams start at the 50-yard line then they need at least 1 first down if not 2 to be in field goal range.
I think it's a proposal that Goddell should consider in the offseason.
The best part about the tie was McNabb's reaction saying he didn't know games could end in a tie. Really? He's only been in the NFL for what nine years and didn't know?
Come on now D-McNabb.
Ties are for business suits and gift wrapping. Get them out of the NFL!!!
P.S. the Vikings tied a preseason game with the Cowboys a few years ago I believe and that was also craptastic, which brings me to my next point. They're shortening the preseason right???
Post a Comment