Skip to content

3-Wide: Which rule change makes the most sense?

Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / Getty

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

Which player's absence from OTAs is most concerning?

Arun Srinivasan: Aaron Donald is the foundation of the Rams' defense and alienating their best player is a risky move for a team with no real capital to improve immediately. The Rams acknowledged Donald's decision to skip OTAs, while trying to finalize a long-term extension with the two-time All-Pro. If a new deal can't be reached immediately, the Rams enter the season with the prospect of Donald fuming over his contract status, a notion that doesn't bode well for the franchise.

Jack Browne: Unlike some of the other players staying away from OTAs, Fletcher Cox just received his big-money deal. The Eagles handed him $100 million last offseason, and that money comes with strings attached. Philly needs Cox to develop as a leader, and that means setting an example, even if missing a few OTA sessions isn't really a big deal.

Dan Wilkins: In reality, there really shouldn't be any OTA holdouts that are concerning. As much as coaching staffs would love for players to show up for every possible workout, these are, after all, voluntary. That said, Odell Beckham Jr. is an interesting case. Is the star wideout's absence his way of angling for a new contract at the earliest possible time? The Giants likely wouldn't be receptive to doing a deal two years before free agency, so that at least makes this one something to monitor.

Which team will be 1st to do a choreographed group celebration?

Wilkins: Antonio Brown and Co. are going to waste no time taking advantage of the new rules that, among other things, permit group celebrations after touchdowns. The Steelers' star wideout, who was fined for excessive celebrations on numerous occasions last season, already admitted he plans to get his offensive linemen involved in the festivities this year. It just so happens that Pittsburgh opens the season against the Browns in the early afternoon slate of Week 1. Think there may be a few opportunities for parties in the end zone?

Srinivasan: During the 2015 season, Cam Newton's celebrations transcended ordinary football conventions, leading to many think pieces on the NFL's culture war. Newton infuriated opponents and critics alike with his celebrations and organized a series of team photos during games, as the Panthers cruised to a 15-1 record. With group celebrations no longer outlawed, look for Newton to round up a sizable crew.

Browne: The Legion of Boom is the NFL's most tight-knit group. You can bet they've already spent countless hours brainstorming the signature "LOB" celebration. Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas also still make up arguably the most dominant secondary in the league, and all are otherworldly playmakers in their own way, so it won't take long for one of them to produce a play worthy of a group celebration.

Which rule change makes the most sense?

Browne: Forcing teams to decide which healthy player could come back during the season was illogical, especially when they designation had to be made when they were placed on injured reserve (a 2016 rule change allowed teams to designate a player when it was 100 percent certain they could return). With teams now able to bring two players back, IR is a precise weapon that teams can use to completely alter their season, rather than a shot in the dark.

Wilkins: It's about time the NFL changed the way preseason cuts are scheduled. After doing away with the one-week stretch between cutdowns to 75 and then to the final 53, teams will now put together their roster in one fell swoop. It makes for a busier weekend, to be sure, but allowing clubs to remain at 90 for the entire exhibition slate is a no-brainer. Borderline roster talents get the most live action in the fourth preseason game anyway. Give those players the opportunity to show what they can do while the locks to make the team rest up for Week 1.

Srinivasan: It never made sense for the NFL to outlaw group celebrations, a rule that only contributed to the derisive "No Fun League" moniker. Every major North American team sport has group celebrations to some degree, and the NFL's best will be able to showcase their personalities in another avenue to the masses. To those who have an issue with outlandish detailed celebrations: they can't celebrate if you stop them from scoring.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox