The OT Ruling

When overtime in the game between the Minnesota Vikings and their victors, the New Orleans Saints, ended - I felt more dejected than I ever had been in betting on an NFL game.

I had £25 on Minnesota and another on Indianapolis to win the Super Bowl. The Colts had already made it to the big game so the Vikings winning would have made it a situation where I had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Bitter at the overtime loss, I started thinking to myself how pathetic the overtime rule is in the NFL.

A team could win the coin-toss, secure possession of the football, get in field position, kick a field goal and win the game. Their opponents, on the other hand, have to try their best to defend but will not get the ball.

When speaking to someone about my gripe, I noted how it should be like tennis where the team who lost the battle with the coin should have a chance at evening things up once their rival had scored.

I thought of it like tennis where the player has an 'advantage' and the opposing player has a chance to even it up.

Well, by sheer coincidence, the NFL team owners voted in favour of an over-time rule change yesterday.

28 out of the 32 teams ruled that the team losing the coin-toss gets their hands on the ball if they let a field goal through their defence.

Technically speaking, they then have to score a touchdown as a field goal will only even things up and - if both teams have kicked field goals - the current sudden death format returns where the next team that scores wins.

It is fair in that it gives both teams the opportunity to play on offense. That was one of my major gripes with the current system.

I am unhappy about one thing, though.

This new rule is for playoff games only.

I believe that this new enforcement should come in to play in all games. Wins and losses are integral to this sport as they can decide whether a team makes it to the playoffs.

Having the rule change just for the playoffs is stupid when you consider that the most important over-time wins have come in the regular season.

It's possible that it could be implemented into all games via a similar vote next year. It just seems half-assed having it done for certain - and not all - games in the meantime.