Rules for Dummies

The NFL does realize they're admitting Bill Belichick is the smartest guy in the room, don't they?

 

First of all, I don't get why the NFL feels the need to change the rules of the game because of the ineligible/eligible formation the Patriots used against the Ravens in their divisional round playoff game. I mean, the bull has seen the cape, if you will. Surprise was certainly an element in the success of this unusual offensive formation. Every other team in the NFL has this "on tape" now.

Secondly, I believe it was a Ben Volin tweet that noted how the Wildcat formation – with a running back taking the snap and a quarterback lined up as a wide receiver – has been lauded as genius while the ineligible/eligible formation is deception. Of course, the Wildcat debuted in a game where the Dolphins used it to beat the Patriots, so of course. Genius!

Just saying.

Anyway, it didn't take action on the part of the competition committee to stop the Wildcat from ruining the NFL. Defensive coordinators figured out the Wildcat was a running formation and coached up their players accordingly. The Wildcat is still used, to some success, of course but it hardly returned the NFL to the days of the single wing and leather helmets. It's still a passing league and it's a much better idea to have your quarterback take the snap than it is to have him split out wide where he is of very little tactical use to the offense.

Similarly, lining up a running back at tackle isn't really a long-term strategy for success on offense. A player like Shane Vereen is most dangerous when he lines up as an eligible receiver, of course. In both cases, we're talking about what are essentially trick plays. Julian Edelman's wide receiver pass to Danny Amendola qualifies as a trick play as well. Shall we ban all trick plays? How about those bizarre alignments on extra points I've seen with just the center and guards lined up tight with the holder and kicker and little groupings of lineman and eligible receivers split wide in groups of three or four? Should the fake spike be made illegal? Deceiving deceivers of deception, I say!

Maybe I shouldn't speak for all football fans but I love the trickeration, the crazy formations, the plays that conjure memories with a simple phrase. The "Hook and Lateral," "Statue of Liberty," "Flea Flicker," the "Swinging Gate," the "Fumblerooski" and even the "Big Sleeve" (which isn't a real play but was featured in the book "Semi-Tough" and that is a totally cool name). The only problem I can see with the ineligible/eligible formation is its lack of a cool/memorable name.

The "Married Bachelor?"

I think I may need to keep working on that.

The NFL has generally understood that while it's product is specifically football, it is fundamentally entertainment. Making the game less entertaining doesn't seem like a particularly good idea but the jealousy of the Patriots success during the Belichick-Brady era may be too much to overcome in this case.

If the rule is changed I doubt it will signal the end to New England's pigskin hegemony but it will certainly diminish the game, if only marginally. It will also mark the second time the league has bowed to the petty whining of sore losers who lacked the class and dignity to simply admit they were beaten by a better, smarter, tougher team.

By the way…

Bill Belichick will still be smarter than you.

All that's left is for you to publicly admit to it.