Could the NFL take a page from the CFL? In recent player safety discussions at the owners meetings, the idea of widening the field was discussed, according to Jay Glazer of The Athletic.
Currently, the NFL field is 53 1/3 yards wide. Over time, players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger, but offensive playmakers have the same amount of room to avoid hits in the open field. Widening the field, potentially, would go a long way towards protecting the ball carrier.
In the CFL, the field is not only longer, but also about 12 yards wider. It’s not clear whether the NFL would be willing to go that for, or if NFL owners would be willing to absorb the cost of the potential revamp. However, with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire soon, this could be an opportune time for a change.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- NFL executive Rod Graves is stepping down to become the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, according to Jim Trotter of NFL.com. The FPA is an advocacy group aiming to increase minority representation throughout NFL front offices, coaching staffs, and scouting departments. Trotter will succeed John Wooten, who is 82 years old and has been in the role since 2003. Graves, meanwhile, has been a senior vice president of football administration at the league office since 2015. Before that, Graves worked in front offices for the Jets, Cardinals, and Bears.
- A reminder of the NFL Draft’s unpredictability from former NFL PR man Mike McCartney (on Twitter): 33 players who weren’t invited to the NFL Combine were drafted. Meanwhile, 117 players who participated in the NFL Combine went undrafted.