Owners approve OT rule change for playoffs
PALM BEACH, Fla. — It took a few years, and for many fans that probably was too long.
Still, the NFL has heard the cries of “unfair” and has adjusted its overtimes rules.
Only for the postseason, though.
The NFL is changing the sometimes controversial overtime rules to guarantee each side gets the ball in the playoffs.
Concerned that the coin toss to begin the extra period has too much impact on postseason game results, the owners voted Tuesday to permanently approve a proposal presented by the Colts and Eagles.
Beginning this season, if the team possessing the ball first in overtime scores a touchdown on that series, the opponent still gets a possession. In recent seasons, that touchdown would have ended the game.
That second possession of overtime would extend beyond the initial 15-minute period if needed. Should that team tie the game, it then would become sudden death.
Outcries began back in the February 2017 Super Bowl when Tom Brady completed an incredible comeback from a 28-3 deficit to tie the game. The Patriots won the coin toss, marched to a touchdown and beat the Falcons.
In the 2018 season, New England won the AFC title on the first series of OT without Kansas City getting the ball.
When the same thing happened in Kansas City during this January’s divisional game between the Bills and the Chiefs, won by KC, a groundswell became an uproar.
“We always listen to fans,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “What brought this decision was the database and the facts. When you see that, this is an issue in the postseason.”
Rich McKay, the Falcons president and chairman of the competition committee, admitted that Kansas City’s victory over Buffalo was a factor in the balloting by owners. He said that was well beyond the required 24 votes, but would not reveal the exact numbers.
“I think what the stats show is there is a clear issue we can say since the change (in rules) in 2010,” McKay added, “and the problem comes in the postseason.”
Since the previous overtime rule was instituted for the regular season in 2012, the team
Yet despite losing All-American center Mike Gminski from the previous season, Duke finished 17-13 and reached the NIT quarterfinals before losing to Purdue.
“There are three things I tell everyone who ever asked me what it was like to play for Coach K,” said Suddath. “No. 1, he never lied to us. No. 2, he was very public about his deep love for his wife and children. He was the perfect example of what kind of husband and father a man should be. He was a true father mentor and I appreciated that so much, especially as I got older. And No. 3 was how he stood by me when I was hurt.”
A little over three weeks ago, Suddath was one of 96 former Dookies who played for Krzyzewski to return for the coach’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. If you study photos of that day, Suddath is the fairly tall guy in silvery hair and glasses standing to the right of the coach as he addressed the crowd prior to tipoff against North Carolina.
“To be a part of The Brotherhood (as Duke hoops calls itself) was wonderful,” said Suddath of that day. “I mean I’m there with Grant Hill, Jay Williams, Christian Laettner, Shane Battier, some of the best to ever play there. We all put on these shirts they’d made to honor Coach K. We then formed a kind of tunnel for him to walk through to the center of the court. As he did, he fistpumped each one of us. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
When Duke faces North Carolina in their Final Four semifinal around 8:45 Saturday night, Suddath won’t be inside the Superdome. He’ll be home watching it on television with his wife, who’s also a Duke grad.
“I think the best use of the money it would have cost to go to the Final Four would be to save it to buy Christmas presents for our eight grandchildren,” said Suddath with a chuckle.
But his whole family will be cheering wildly for Krzyzewski to win his sixth NCAA title in his final Duke season.
“It would be hugely gratifying for him to go out that way, topping off his career in such a storybook fashion,” said Suddath. “But if he doesn’t win, it doesn’t take away one bit from all he’s accomplished. Such a tremendous coach and person.”