3 CFL rules NFL should adopt that could help SF 49ers

No. 3: The SF 49ers rely too heavily on the fair catch. The ‘no yards’ rule would help bring some excitement to the special teams.

It was the final game of the SF 49ers season, and returner Trent Taylor opted to “fair catch” a punt with nobody within 20-yards. Though the game meant nothing in the standings for the team, it was a chance for players like Taylor to prove themselves, especially on special teams.

Returner River Cracraft also did something similar in a previous game, too.

TeamRankings.com listed Taylor with 14 fair catches during the 2020 season. He’s tied for 11th on the list with Braxton Berrios of the NY Jets having the most with 24 fair catches.

Both versions of the rule are in place for the returners’ safety. Just one requires the returner to actually make a play, while the other doesn’t.

The Canadian Football League Database explains the “no yards” rule as such:

"if the player does not allow five (5) yards to an opponent attempting to gain possession of the kicked ball. The 5-yard zone is determined by a circle with a 5-yard radius; with the centre point being the ball at the instant it is first touched. If the kicked ball is first touched by the receiving team in the air prior to having touched the ground: PENALTY – in field of play – L15 from PBT – in goal area – L15, penalty applied at 10-yard line"

The rule also implies the ball hitting the ground first, but it’s only a 5-yard penalty.

If the SF 49ers had this rule this past season, we might’ve been able to see just how good former receiver Dante Pettis could’ve been. Heck, we could’ve seen how good Taylor or any other returner could be.

Here are the top 10 special teams plays from the 2019 CFL season. Plays eight, five, four, and one (with a flag actually thrown for the penalty) showing how the rule impacts the play:

This is one of the rare occasions where the CFL has the upper hand on the NFL and would turn those SF 49ers punt returns into fun returns.