The NFL owners voted 28 to 4 to change the overtime rule so that sudden death would not mean that the toss of a coin had more power than it deserves in the playoffs. The rule states that special teams, and more specifically place kickers, may not be used to split the uprights to win a game during the first drive in post-season games tied at the end of regulation. Coin toss, meet your foe.

Among those 4 owners who voted nay, Minnesota Vikings Chairman Zygi Wilf claims that it is inconsistent with the game’s rules for the first 16 games of the seasonand withdrew his support joining the minority. Yes, the same Wilf who’s team suffered a loss in this year’s NFC Championship Game as a result of future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s interception at the end of regulation and the subsequent successful 53-yard field goal attempt by New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley.

It’s a powerful statement made by the Wilf Family on an interesting rule which will provide a dose of fodder to the upcoming uncapped season of professional football. It’s too bad this family and team haven’t shown more gumption when it comes to taking care of the fans in Minnesota. The family has threatened to boltfor LA or any other city willing to accommodate their tax-funding needs for a refurbished or brand new stadium.

If the NFL is so concerned about the game being fair in this nuance of overtime competition on the field, why do the fans get used and abused when it comes to off the field issues such as public funding for stadiums, teams threatening to leave town, blackouts, and ticket, parking, and concession prices?

Sports fans need to join together to speak up and speak out about these abuses where the costs of being an active fan keep rising. Whether it’s the in-stadium game experience one wants to treat his or her family to, buying an official jersey, or trying and failing to watch a Jacksonville Jaguars home game on TV within the city limits only to be blacked out. The costs keep rising while the fan experience suffers.

Amidst all the issues discussed at the owners meetings in Florida this week, one would hope that the focus would sway from the trivial coin toss to one that actually affects the fans who’ve supported their teams through thick and thin. The NFL continues to bully fans grabbing tax-dollars with one hand while the other remains outstretched demanding more of our cash.