Should we increase the length of a football field to 120 yards?

[Rain Man]

The length of a football field hasn't changed since Jim Thorpe was bowling over George Halas, but the game has changed immensely.

Back when Thorpe and Halas were playing, 100 yards was an immense distance. You were gaining three yards and a cloud of dust, and there was no passing game to speak of. You had to brute force your way down the field like General Grant in the Wilderness Campaign.

And kickers and punters? Forget about it. Other than Sammy Baugh, a 35 yard punt was a good day.

Now look at what we've got. Kickers already have an effective 120 yard field given that the goal posts were moved to the back of the end zone, but they're still making field goals from beyond midfield. Kickoffs are a boring joke because kickers put the ball in the stands. And punters are so strong that distance isn't an issue any more. It's placement of the punt.

Now let's look at offenses. The game of football is all about passing now, and the rules are slanted to the passers' advantage. Half the time the only thing that can stop an offense is a mistake or mis-execution on their part. Scoring is way up and excitement is way down.

Now let's consider a world with a 120 yard field. What happens?

1. You have a larger stadium that can sell more tickets. Owners like it and fans like it.

2. The kickoff return makes a comeback.

3. It lowers scoring while keeping the passing game electric, because the offense is more likely to make a mistake.

4. Long passes and runs become more common. People get excited about those. At the same time, having a fast defender makes it more likely that you'll have an interesting chase where the defender can win.

5. Field goals are de-emphasized since the average field goal attempt will be notably longer.

6. The run game could have a resurgence because a strong running team can drain almost an entire quarter off the clock with a long drive.

I think the time has come to adjust the length of the field. This is the 21st century, and we're still using fields from the 1920s.

[Graystoke]

It’s not length that matters. It’s girth

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Graystoke

It’s not length that matters. It’s girth

Not the size of the ship, but the motion of the ocean . . .

[eDave]

I see no earthly reason to do this.

[Rasputin]

Who hijacked Rain Man computer to come up with this terrible idea? I know Rain Man wouldn't come up with this idiotic thinking.

[PHOG]

Absolutely not.

[Coach]

Technically speaking, it is 120 yards if you were to include the 10 yard end zones.

[EPodolak]

I say anything that makes the Raiders stadium outdated is a win.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by eDave

I see no earthly reason to do this.

I just listed half a dozen very compelling reasons.

Plus, the universe is expanding. As time goes by, football fields become a smaller surface area of the universe. We have to keep up with that growth at a minimum.

[Mahomes_Is_God]

Increase the length of this dick!

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

Who hijacked Rain Man computer to come up with this terrible idea? I know Rain Man wouldn't come up with this idiotic thinking.

That's what they said about Walter Camp when he invented the forward pass. Some of us are visionaries who see what the game could become if the ball is being passed on a 120 yard field.

[Hammock Parties]

The field should be an infinite length, because Tyreek Hill will never be caught.

[patteeu]

I was just thinking this very thing the other day, mainly because of FG kicking and punting. I’m in.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by EPodolak

I say anything that makes the Raiders stadium outdated is a win.

That would be funny.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

The field should be an infinite length, because Tyreek Hill will never be caught.

A giant Figure 8 field would be kind of interesting. Put the goal lines on the outside edges of each loop, and then the runner can keep going and score multiple touchdowns if he can complete more than one lap. But due to the Figure 8 configuration and the defenders' freedom to run in either direction he'll have to be fast and a good broken-field runner.

I really like that concept.