Which Canadian rule should be added to American football?

Question

Although I mainly watch American football (makes sense since I'm from the US) I sometimes see a CFL game. I want to know what rule the CFL fans think would change the NFL the most if it was adopted.

Answer 1

no fair catch on punts

Answer 2

Have a 20 second play clock instead of 40 seconds or whatever it is in the NFL.

Answer 3

I see a couple previous have mentioned the no fair catch rule but, the you would need to combine that with the no yards rule to give the receiver of the kick a chance...the XFL tried that with their "Halo" rule.

However, truly I think that the NFL should allow offensive backfield motion like the CFL.  I would say it is similar to how the Arena Football League does it.  Other than the linemen, anyone can be moving any direction.  This makes the game much more open as the receivers could be at full speed at the line of scrimmage as the ball is snapped...if they time it right.

Answer 4

The wider field - players have gotten so much larger in the past thirty years, that a wider field would put a premium on speed and endurance over pure strength, and might turn around some of the less desirable elements of today's game.

Answer 5

NFL -- allow others in motion prior to the snap, make the field wider and longer as well, and get rid of the 4th down. The game would be more exciting, as CFL is to watch. In American football, it is possible to be an armchair coach and call plays and be right 75% of the time, because you can say, "Okay, it's 2nd and 12, they are probably going to do this ...".

Answer 6

I see the no fair catch on punts, and raise you no touchbacks without giving up a point.  Both are rules that make special teams more exciting--although they quite often lead to no-yards penalties, which aren't always fun to watch.

Answer 7

I think if you got rid of the fair catch, and had to give five yards to the man receiving the punt, it would open up the game, and make it more interesting.

Answer 8

3 downs instead of 4.  The Canadian game is much more pass-oriented, teams are much more aggressive offense-wise, and hence the scores tend to be higher.  In the NFL, you often have sustained drives consisting of 3-5 yard runs because you have 3 downs to get 10 yards.  In the CFL, this is very unlikely as you would need to average 5-6 yards on every run.  

Teams must pass and pass often to consistently advance the yardsticks.  In the NFL, you can get away with having an average-passing QB, but having good RBs is vital.  In the CFL, it is vital you have a strong-passing QB and can get away with having an average RB.  

So if the NFL went to 3 downs, it would change everything from how teams select their personnel, to play selection, to scores in the game.  In short, it would change just about everything.

Answer 9

Only one?  Hmm.....there are so many:

- one yard neutral zone on the line of scrimmage would open up the running game by giving the o-line a bit of momentum

- backfield in motion

- one foot down for a completed pass

I don't like either of the "fair catch" or "no yards" (does anyone remember when blocking wasn't allowed on punt returns in Canada?).

Answer 10

Dude, as a fellow American, I ask you, why, WHY would you even consider wanting Canadian rules to the NFL?? To suggest that is sacrilege. Also, The fair catch was added for safety, the players are bigger, stronger, and faster here than in Canada, you'd have guys getting killed in the NFL.

I don't want to see ANY Canadian rule added to our vastly superior NFL, it is fine the way it is.   The NFL is much faster, harder-hitting, and feature the best athletes. The inferior ones go north of the border. Ricky Ray is a stud in the CFL; here, he couldn't stick as a third-string quarterback for the NY Jets.  Why would you want to mess with a good thing?

Answer 11

No fair catch.  Run the ball or leave it alone.

Answer 12

I say "Bigger Balls" Like us Canadians