If I Were in Charge Of.....the NFL

Welcome to the final installment of "If I Were in Charge Of.....", this installment we look at the NFL.  It is arguably the most popular sport in America today.  It also has it's share of on and off the field problems.  While it is is highly successful, there are some changes that could be made to improve the league.  So if I were in charge of the NFL.....

*Give players guaranteed contracts.  The NFL is the only league (to my knowledge) that doesn't have guaranteed contracts for players.  Given the nature of the sport & what is asked of the players, they deserve guaranteed contracts.  Job security is a good thing and I don't think it would hurt the business of the owners to give that to players.

*Expand the rosters, allow more players to suit up for games & have a modified injured reserve.  Right now there is a 53 man roster but only 45 can suit up each week (due to the idea of making it competitive for teams who may have more injuries than others).  Make it 55 players and everybody can be eligible to play.  Also right now if a player is placed on injured reserve he's done for the year & can't come back even if was physically able to.  There should be a modified injured reserve similar to the other leagues (like baseball) where a player could be placed on the injured list and a roster move could be made to take the roster spot.  If the player is deemed healthy enough to return that season, he should be able to.

*Bring back touchdown celebrations, with a few exceptions.  One of the disappointing trends is the taking away of touchdown celebrations which were a fun and entertaining aspect of the game.  Players should be allowed to celebrate when they score and not be penalized for it.  If they bring in outside props then yeah that should be a fine but other than that, fair game.  It is a game after all.

*Work on improving player safety.  Player's health, especially when it comes to concussions is at the forefront of the news.  Make it priority number one to improve the equipment (including helmets).  Regulate that players wear all protective gear (including all the various pads & mouthpiece).  Penalize and fine players who do not keep their helmets strapped onto their heads.  Teach players the proper way to tackle (wrapping up) rather than to launch themselves with their heads like a missile.

*Develop a minor league system.  With the demand of the sport so high, there can be a minor league system in place to put franchises in places that don't have pro teams but would love to have something like this.  It would be a good feeder system to the NFL in case of injuries and would give players an opportunity to continue playing football that might not be able to now.

That's the changes I would make.  What would you change?  Leave a comment and let me know.  Also feel free to go back and check other installments in this series.

Random Sports Reflections

It has been awhile since my last post but there hasn't been anything pressing so it's always good to throw up a few random reflections in bullet style points.

*A friend of mine had a tweet about the possibility of college football being an idol.  Now I know where my friend is coming from.  I know him from college and I'd consider him a good friend and he's a strong believer (and also a youth pastor which means he has a huge calling in my book) so I know he's not like sports is evil.  Though there are some people that do have that feeling.  To them I would say this.  Sports is not evil.  It is like anything.  It is good and honoring to God....if it is in the proper relationship to Him.  If sports is put above God, then yes it is an idol.  However, anything can be put above God and hence become an idol.  Food, friends, one's spouse, anything can become idol.  But those things in an of themselves aren't bad.  God created those things to be enjoyed in the proper place.  And I feel that sports is one of those things.  Do some people make sports their idol...yes.  But one should not throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Sports can be an instrument for God to be glorified.  It's about keeping it in the proper perspective.

*I thought it was really cool (though I don't like Texas) the celebration the Rangers had in their locker room following their ALDS series victory.  They celebrated with ginger ale, because they wanted to include OF Josh Hamilton in the celebration.  Hamilton, a follower of Jesus and a recovering alcoholic, skipped the AL West clinching win celebration because they used champagne because he didn't want to be tempted to drink.  This time his teammates used ginger ale.  I respect Hamilton because he's someone who has made mistakes, owned up to those mistakes and continues to move forward and be honest about his faith and his struggles.  That is something that should be an encouragement to all believers as we struggle to live out our faith on a daily basis.

*Speaking of baseball, all the teams I rooted for in the Division series lost....which means I'm stuck with four teams that I'm not really fans of (or don't like at all).  I'm pulling for whoever wins in the National League.

*Hockey season has started as well and the Predators are 3-0-1 in their first 4 games...not bad at all :)