If I Ran the NFL

As a child, I became a Minnesota Vikings fan and memorized National Football League statistics. Sometimes I made up fictitious leagues. I created nicknames and uniforms for these teams in my mind’s eye. I also rooted for competitors like the United States Football League to succeed. Because the NFL has become a multi-billion dollar monopoly, a new league will unlikely give them a serious challenge soon. The USFL recently made a comeback but has since merged into what’s now the United Football League, a minor league playing in the spring.

In recent years, I’ve cut back on watching NFL games. To save time, I watch highlights on YouTube (especially when the Vikings are playing well). I also don’t like recent changes the league made. If, by some act of God, they made me the NFL commissioner, I would like to see the following things happen:

  1. Expansion. The league now plays a few regular-season games in London and Mexico City. Many U. S. cities desire an NFL franchise. Eight might be too many to add at the same time. However, it would result in every division having the same number of teams (eight groups of five or ten with four). I could see cities like San Antonio and Honolulu supporting teams. Fans in St. Louis and San Diego would like the NFL to return there.
  2. Each team plays an even number of games. 16 for the regular season was plenty. Adding a 17th has resulted in half the teams having one fewer home game. Because the owners did that to generate more revenue, the regular season will likely grow to an 18-game schedule someday. The Canadian Football League has that. The USFL had it in the 1980s.
  3. Go back to a normal kickoff. The NFL adopted new rules for kickoffs this season. Except for the kickers and receivers, players cannot move until the ball is caught. I also don’t like the requirement of informing officials if an onside kick will be attempted. That eliminates the element of surprise, such as what the New Orleans Saints did at the start of the second half in Super Bowl XLIV, which played a major part in their victory.
  4. Allow questionable penalties to be challenged. Referees are human and will occasionally make mistakes. Still, I’m starting to agree with some people’s suspicions that selected games could be fixed, particularly those involving the Kansas City Chiefs (who are aiming to win their third consecutive Super Bowl next Sunday). I’ve seen a few that would likely have different outcomes if bad calls were reversed.
  5. Change overtime periods so that both teams have an opportunity to score. Except in the playoffs, teams are victorious if they win the coin toss and score a touchdown on their first possession without the other team getting their offense on the field. That would be similar to a baseball game going into extra innings and the visiting team scores a winning run in the tenth before the home team gets another turn at bat.
  6. Fewer (if any) wild-card teams. Like other major league sports, the NFL allows too many teams in the postseason. It defeats the necessity to play well enough throughout the regular season. I’d rather see division winners only qualify for the playoffs. Then again, I wouldn’t complain too much if the Vikings won the Super Bowl as a wild-card team.
  7. Stop performing the so-called “black national anthem” (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”) before games. There is only one national anthem: “The Star Spangled Banner.”
  8. More family-friendly entertainment during the Super Bowl halftime show. That reduces the possibility of controversial moments such as Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004. Other performers have looked (in my opinion) demonic and promoted ungodly causes.
  9. Play the Pro Bowl with normal rules. I understand the safety concerns, but the players didn’t make it to the NFL playing flag football. Also, I’d like to see the Pro Bowl scheduled after the Super Bowl like they used to do. That would give players from all teams the option to play.
  10. Stop selling stadium naming rights. Can you imagine having a corporate sponsor for historic places like Lambeau Field?

It’s unlikely most of these ideas will ever be implemented. Regardless, there are more important matters, such as where people will spend eternity. As Howard Cosell famously stated one Monday night in 1980 before announcing John Lennon’s assassination, “Remember, this is just a football game.”


“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” - Colossians 3:2


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe...
Read more

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of ...
Read more

A Tribute to Al Best

Image
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This tribute is for one who went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Al Best oversaw Light in Anoka Church in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. Originally from Florida, Al first gave his life to the Lord at 17 but then backslid. Meanwhile, he served 21 years in the Navy and worked various jobs. That included selling Rainbow vacuum cleaners. I would eventually get to know his sales manager. Eric Gonyon became an associate pastor at Rodney Howard-Browne ’s church (I usually attend services there when in Tampa).  A few years after recommitting his life to the Lord, Al became a pastor. In 2007, the Lord directed him to head north to Minnesota, where his wife Jean is from. First, they ministered in the small town of Dassel. What started as a youth mission transitioned into regular services for all ages. Then in 2016, Al and Jean moved to Anoka to take on a church originally called New Day Fellowship. To counter the city’s motto as the “Hallowee...
Read more