The Escalating Crisis in Ukraine

The problems in Ukraine are getting worse. Our hosts discuss what led to the current ...

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The problems in Ukraine are getting worse. Our hosts discuss what led to the current situation and the role President Biden played in getting to this point. Then Sarah, David, Jonah, and Steve talk about two issues that are not getting enough attention as we head to the midterms: immigration and crime.

Show Notes:

–TMD: Germany Drags Feet On Ukraine

–Uphill: What Price Will Putin Pay for a Ukraine Invasion?

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  1. Avatar photo
    Matt Y.

    The correct solution for overtime rule isn't that complicated. Just add another possession for the second team, so the number of overtime possessions is even. That gives each team's offense a chance against the other team's defense. If the score is still tied after a couple possessions then each team gets another possession, until one team ends ahead.

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  2. James Bussey

    All of your opinions about NFL Overtime are wrong. The solution is staring us in the face, as it mirrors the solution that other popular sports utilize. This is the correct solution:

    Each team marches their kickers out to the 5 yard line. They each attempt a kick. Assuming they each make it, they are moved back to the 10 yard line. Assuming they both make those, they again move back another 5 yards. Eventually, one kicker will miss. The opposing kicker is now kicking to win the game. If he misses, they repeat from the same yardage. This process is continued until there is a winner. Apropos a hockey or soccer shootout.

    Points of ambivalence on my part: (1) is the entire field goal unit on the field, or just the long-snapper, holder, and kicker? (2) do the kickers trade sides of the field, or kick from the same side?

    Reasons this is superior to other Overtime rules: (1) players don't put their bodies through another quarter of play, and particularly in the playoffs, it keeps them fresh for the coming week, (2) it emphasizes an aspect of the game; to win an NFL game requires excellence everywhere, (3) it raises the value of kickers and their contracts, good for players, (4) if gets the games over quickly for the NFL, not leading to 5 hour games, and (5) the sheer entertainment value of dueling kickers, particularly in the playoffs. Can you imagine a place like Arrowhead going mute quiet for a Butker attempt and off the charts minutes later for a rival attempt? Unbeatable.

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  3. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Also, just got to say I love the juxtaposition of the “bull***t speech” with the “Tenderloin” neighborhood.

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    Ben Connelly

    Steve, every summer is the summer of the shark! Every week is shark week.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Ben Connelly

      Just kidding

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  5. Avatar photo
    Sam Elder

    A couple more NFL overtime solutions I was sad to see no one consider:
    1) Two 5-minute halves where each team starts with the ball and gets 1 timeout. Repeat if still tied. Perhaps best just for the playoffs.
    2) Just keep playing, next score wins! The end of the 4th quarter is treated the same as the end of the 3rd quarter if the score is tied. Whoever has possession gets to keep it with the same field position; if you kick a field goal to tie the game as time expires, you kick off to the other team like you would at any other point in the game.

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    Eric

    So Jonah basically just wants to see some brain injuries if the game goes to overtime

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  7. Craig Beall

    There is a much better way to do NFL overtime by making just one tweak. Overtime should continue to start with one team kicking off to the other, but instead of the first score wins, the overtime period should continue indefinitely until the team with the lead regains possession. If Team A scores first, Team B must either match or take the lead on their subsequent possession. If they fail, the game is over and Team A wins. Normal gameplay continues until the "lead plus possession" standard is met. Every overtime ends with either a turnover or a 4th down defensive stand. The opposing team always gets an opportunity to answer a score. The rule change forces at least one (and possibly multiple) "must score" offensive drives which essentially guarantees an exciting conclusion.

    This change would also put an end to the strategy in overtime (excluding the of the first possession because of the rule change) where a team, without pressure from the game clock ticking down, will play just to get into field goal range and attempt a field goal when it is not fourth down. That only ever happens in overtime. Watching a team disinterested in scoring a touchdown opt to kick a 36 yard field goal on 2nd down is not a great way to end a game. Touchdowns should always be the primary objective.

    A coin toss can still determine who gets first possession of overtime, but this rule change makes the outcome of that coin toss less consequential than it is under today's rules.

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    Rick Schwartz

    For NFL overtime, I'd just keep playing the game as if it's a 5th quarter but each team would get one full possession in OT. So if you scored with no time in regulation, you would kickoff in OT and that would start the process. If, however, the game is tied at end of regulation and your team is driving, you continue with that possession to score plus another possession guaranteed if the other team matches or beats your point total from your initial possession. Someone had this idea in some form (maybe not exactly this) and I like it for the change in strategy it presents plus no coin tosses.

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  9. Avatar photo
    Patrick

    Steve, you didn’t go far enough.

    Home team gets the ball, first score wins. Simple as that.

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  10. Brian C

    Steve, Bakhtiari (a great Iranian name and an even better left tackle) did not play in that game. Rodgers had a good enough game his passer rating was in the 90s.

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