The NFL open to widening the field to CFL size to make the game "safer"

[pwaldo]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...-playing-field

In a continuous effort to create a safer game, the NFL could look into widening the field, similar to the CFL dimension. Former competition committee member Bill Polian told the National Football Post's Dan Pompei the league contemplated the move years ago and might do so again.

"It's a radical idea, but I think it's worth thinking about," Polian said. "You would have more space and perhaps a safer game. I say that based on my CFL experience. There are less collisions of that type in the Canadian game."

The Canadian field is 35 feet wider than the NFL's 160 feet.

Widening the field would drastically change the game in favor of the offense, where more space would make it even more difficult for secondary players -- cue Fantasy Football fans salivating.

Some believe the NFL has gotten too big, fast and strong for its field and spreading out the game could reduce the amount of high-speed collisions.

Not everyone is convinced, however. Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith told Pompei he believes if a player has more space to run, the collisions over the course of a game will be more significant.

The big, debilitating hits the league is trying to jettison, however, usually come from 5- to 10-yard bursts, with the defender lunging at an offensive player, not a 20-yard run-and-hit.

[sanfran22]

Gonna have some offense it appears,lol.

[duane1969]

Widening the field would drastically change the game in favor of the offense

This is all that needs to be addressed. There is no purpose but to try and create a big play, offense dominated game, in other words, arena league on a bigger field.

While they are at it they should go ahead and make a rule preventing the defensive players from running at all, allow a 10 man offensive line to make sure the only important player on the field (the QB) is properly protected and can do post-game interviews in a nice, clean uniform, and create a 20 yard WR buffer zone that DBs can not enter until after the WR has caught the ball and ran for at least 50 yards.

[MichiganMan]

You forgot to mention a fair catch rule for the wide receiver.

-Robert Lewis

[meandsharon11]

I don't think its a bad idea.......if they allow an extra defender on defense. This won't happen anyway. That would call for all owners to reconfigure their stadiums. Don't see them going for that

[duane1969]

You forgot to mention a fair catch rule for the wide receiver.

-Robert Lewis

Technically they already have it. It's called the 5 yard rule.

I don't think its a bad idea.......if they allow an extra defender on defense. This won't happen anyway. That would call for all owners to reconfigure their stadiums. Don't see them going for that

Most stadiums have enough room to widen some already. There is about 40-50 between the stands and the edge of the field, so they could take 15 feet on each side and increase the width by 30 feet and still leave 25 or more feet of buffer for the player benches, coaches, etc.