re: 10 Ways to Improve the NFL

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2. Eliminate the Automatic First Down - unless the penalty is an unsportsmanlike conduct. It's stupid that a 5 yard illegal contact down field results in an automatic first down.

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i'm on the fence... i mean if its not an automatic penalty and its 3rd and 12... you're giving the D two free opportunities to just illegally contact a defender without too much serious repercussion?

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3. If an offensive player drops his head as he braces for a tackle, the defensive player cannot get flagged for illegal contact to the head.

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yeah, lots of what ifs around stuff like this.

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4. If you hit a player with your shoulder, your head will lead. The "leading with your helmet" penalty is bullshite. There used to be a penalty called "spearing". Let's go back to using that penalty when it applies - all other instances do not warrant a flag.

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same as above, the whole thing needs to be re-evaluated more fairly to defenses.

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6. An official upstairs determines the result of the review - not the official on the field who blew the call in the first place.

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Why is that official upstairs and not on the field? BC he's not as competent?

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7. Pass interference be a 15 yard penalty or spot of the foul - whichever is farthest. This helps a defense not get killed by a bad call by the officials.

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whichever is shortest you mean?

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8. Quarterbacks are players too - same rules apply to them as everyone else. No more rules specifically for hits on the quarterbacks.

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you can hit them, just not high and not low... maybe starting hitting them in their pecker every play.

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9. Get rid of the illegal contact downfield. Too many officials blow this call because the receiver runs right at the defender, initiates contact, and the defender gets the flag.

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lets get rid of cornerbacks and just have like 6 roaming safeties none of which playing man to man.

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10. Use common sense. A lot of the NFL rules are actually not that bad if the official would use common sense when interpreting them and not enforce them literally. A "blow to the head" is not when a player grazes a helmet in the act of swatting for a ball. An official can, and should use his judgement when determining intent on a personal foul. Did the player act in a reckless manner or a manner that they intended to hurt the player? If the answer is "no" then don't throw the flag.

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common sense isn't all too common so is it still common sense?