POV: Change IS Good

Six Things I Would Change in the National Football League:

1. Allow blockers to hold more in the pocket - This one is purely on the refs, considering the fact that they could easily call holding on just about any play on any given Sunday, thus continuously altering the flow and momentum of games. If NFL officials are so worried about protecting players from serious injury, particularly concussions, then why not allow the in-game protectors and regulators to get away with a little more. I would much rather see a left tackle get away with a quick hold than to see any starting QB get hauled off on a stretcher. 99% of people watching would probably never know the difference anyway.
2. Allow kickoff returners the option of waving off dangerous returns - This is a complex one but with all the talk of even eliminating kickoffs completely from the game it seems logical to at least give teams the option of opting out on a return. Similar to waving for a "fair catch", the return man can signal for a "no return" and the team automatically gets it at the 20 no matter if it reaches the end zone or not. It may cut down on a lot of dangerous returns and silly mistakes that get people hurt on kickoffs but still allow teams the opportunity for returns if they can and want to. If we're going to start coaching the game differently and teaching how we play it differently then maybe it's time to start looking at how the game sets people up for injury as well. If we can reduce the number of dangerous plays then we will therefore reduce the number of on-field injuries. 
3. Cut down on commercial breaks - If you want to know what I'm talking about just watch an NFL game with anybody from Europe or Australia. No doubt they will complain about the constant barrage of commercials and the game stoppage that comes with it. From a pure spectators standpoint as a person that truly loves the game I have to agree with them. The commercials suck. It disrupts the flow of games and often leaves opportunities for half-interested viewers to get up and do something else. If the league could some how lessen the amount of actual game stoppage and commercial distractions it would make it much easier for us at home to enjoy the product. However, in order to do this there obviously must be a way for the networks and the league to continue selling ad space. I'd prefer to see a continuous stream of sponsors on display at the bottom of the screen than pausing every couple of minutes to get force-fed a dose of Bud Light, Tide, or Prescription Drug promos. I'm not going to buy any of that crap anyway so just stop. There are plenty of realistic ad-placement options out there and I seriously doubt anybody will change the current format anytime soon. But if the industry wants to continue improving it should seriously consider how people view the game. If you didn't know already, I don't watch the Super Bowl for the ads and loathe the very notion that people do.
4. Increase the roster sizes - It's really simple folks. The more players you have the more guys you can rotate in and play regularly. With more guys playing there will be less players being tired at the end of games. This should help lessen the risk of injury considering many of them happen when athletes are fatigued. 
5. Give two bye weeks per season - This would extend the season one more week, which should make everybody involved happier (minus the wives). The networks will get an extra week of NFL markets collectively tuning in and the athletes will be able to rest their bodies and heal from injuries.
6. Widen the field - There has definitely been talk about this already and I for one think it's a great idea. With a wider field there will be more room for offenses to operate. This would allow for more separation between receivers and would-be pass defenders, which should result in less big hits on what the league calls "defenseless" players. Of course, the overall offensive production of the entire league would also increase, thus attracting more people that like to watch big plays. Yes, I would miss the big hits too, as I am more of a fan of the defensive side of the ball. However, I'd be just fine giving up more points for less injuries.