Podcast Summary: The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Episode: “Power Ranking NFL Rules We Want Changed, the One Second Christmas Song Challenge, and Fantasy Court”

Release Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Danny Heifetz (A), Danny Kelly (B - DK), Craig Horlbeck (C)

Episode Overview

In this lively holiday episode, Heifetz, DK, and Craig power rank the NFL rules they most want changed—from realistic adjustments to wild Savannah Bananas “banana ball” ideas—then inject their signature banter into segments like “Fantasy Court” and the uproarious “One Second Christmas Song Challenge.” Along the way, they dissect urgent NFL rules, creative ways to fix them, debate the Christmas spirit, and preview their fantasy football league championships in true Ringer fashion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Power Ranking NFL Rules We Want Changed (06:00–54:00)

Structure:

• Realistic rules the NFL could actually change
• Fun changes that would improve the game
• Wild “banana ball” rules inspired by the Savannah Bananas

A. Most Realistic and Needed Rule Changes

1. “Unjuice” the Kicking Balls / Adjust Field Position (05:33–14:30)

• Issue: NFL has allowed kickers to work on (“juice”) their kicking balls all season, greatly increasing field goal accuracy and distance.
• Effect: Record number of 50+ and 60+ yard field goals (10 years ago, 104 FGs of 50+ yards; this year: 195).
• Field position: Touchbacks and kickoff changes now put the ball at the 35-yard line, reducing yardage needed to get into field goal range.
• Quote: “The least actual spiritual part of football is now fucking field goals.” - DK (08:30)
• Consensus: Make kicking balls harder again (less prepping), possibly revert touchbacks to the 25.

2. Ban or Limit the “Tush Push” (14:49–17:10)

• Issue: Teams, led by the Eagles, push QBs/running backs forward on sneaks; hard to write a rule against it, but seeing it constantly makes the game clunky.
• Quote: “Honestly, it becomes like a second play where the lineman just launch... pick him up and carry him into the end zone.” - DK (16:06)
• Consensus: Find a broad rule to stop offensive players from pushing ball carriers, though tricky to define.

B. Fun Changes (17:19–54:00)

1. Unlimited Throwback Uniforms (17:19–21:05)

• Discussion: Remove limits on throwback uniforms—teams/fans could choose preferred era.
• Quotes:
  • “Every single throwback is better than the jerseys the teams are using now.” - DK (17:27)
  • “Fan vote. Fucking American Idol. I want to pick what my team looks like every year.” - Craig (20:47)

2. Make Holding a Less Severe Penalty (21:11–25:14)

• Proposal: Offensive holding becomes 5 yards (not 10), not an automatic first down; similar revisions for defensive penalties.
• Progressive penalties: First three holding calls = 5 yards, then 10 yards for subsequent ones.
• Consensus: Could boost scoring, but risk more frequent holding.

3. New Instant Replay Standards (25:18–32:00)

• Proposal: Limit number of video replays per angle (three times max). Only “clear and obvious” evidence should overturn on-field calls.
• Other Suggestions: Let TV rules experts (Gene Steratore, Terry McAulay) have real-time veto power on outrageous missed calls.
• Quote: “Let them make the call... he should get to hit the button and say, I'm stepping in.” - Craig (28:58)

4. Increase Value of a Safety (32:06–33:33)

• Idea: Safety should be four points (currently two), as it’s extremely rare and difficult.
• Joke: Could even make it “death cup”—game ends if you get a safety.
• Quote: “The safety should be walk-off no matter what time it is.” - Heifetz (32:43)

5. Emergency Quarterback System (33:33–37:23)

• Inspired by NHL’s “EBUG” rule—each game has a journeyman, non-team backup QB ready for both sides.
• Quote: “Jameis, Philip Rivers, Joe Flacco just gets to be the emergency backup for anybody... this is a real thing.” - Heifetz (36:34)

6. Loser’s Bracket for Draft Order (37:28–43:31)

• Proposal by Craig: Teams knocked out of playoffs enter a “toilet bowl” bracket to play for #1 pick; could involve FanDuel spreads for fairness.
• Quote: “All eight teams who suck could technically get the first rounder. You just do a losers’ bracket.” - Craig (43:18)

7. College Football Relegation (43:45–46:24)

• Concept: Worst FBS programs relegated; top lower-league teams promoted, like the English Premier League system.
• Quote: “How much cooler would it be if James Madison had won their way up and they get to stick around? College football is perfect for a relegation system.” - Heifetz (45:51)

C. “Banana Ball” - Wacky Savannah Bananas Rules (47:34–61:33)

1. Allow Taunting Again (47:34–48:54)

• Complaint: NFL flags/disciplines taunting, though it makes the game memorable and more fun.
• Quote: “Why is that a flag?... All the taunting clips are the best parts of the week.” - Heifetz (47:38, 48:56)

2. Power Plays for Personal Fouls (49:14–51:53)

• Idea: For certain high-level penalties, make offending team play shorthanded (10 players vs. 11), hockey/casual soccer style.
• Variants: Offense could opt for a “redo” with 10 defenders, or choose the penalty yardage.

3. Let Players Punch One Fan Per Year (51:55–53:55)

• Joke, but...: Every team gets to choose a “problem” fan to be met on the field, lending “fear” to unruly fan behavior.
• Quote: “At least once a season—just to give fans a little bit of fear... The world would honestly be better if people were always afraid they might get punched.” - DK/Craig (52:14–52:27)

4. NFL Kickers Enter Stadium Like Baseball Closers (54:04–54:53)

• Visual: For field goals, introduce kickers with music, lights dimmed—an “Edwin Diaz” moment.
• Quote: “How sick would that be? Cairo Santos in Chicago... lights are down, everyone’s hushed, that’s incredible.” - Craig (54:06)

5. Scoring Player Must Kick the XP (55:11–56:45)

• Proposal: Whoever scores the touchdown must attempt the extra point, akin to a basketball player shooting their own FT.

6. Split Goalposts / Dartboard Field Goals (57:08–58:45)

• Lessons from Hurling: Add vertical/horizontal segments for field goals — more points for hitting certain targets.
• Goaltending/Blocking: Allow players to jump and swat away field goals over a certain distance.

7. Designated Skeet Shooter for Field Goals (59:40–60:01)

• Utter Chaos: Each team gets a live “skeet shooter” who can try to shoot the football out of the air during field goals.

2. Fantasy Court: Enforcing League Punishments (64:12–71:13)

• Case: In a college fantasy league, last year’s loser hasn’t delivered promised trophies and now might win the championship.
• Best solutions:
  • Deduct points next season for each week the punishment goes unfinished.
  • New rule: If someone else completes your punishment, they get your 1st round pick.
  • New punishment: Eat only unseasoned ground beef for a week (“Beef Week”).
• Notable moment:
  • “Go to Goodwill and buy some trophies. It takes 10 minutes.” - DK (68:16)

3. One Second Christmas Song Challenge (75:12–92:33):

Format:

• Hosts play 1 second of a Christmas song, buzz-in to guess song and artist (or sing the song if artist is unknown for ‘partial credit’).
• Highlights:
  • Craig dominates in Christmas music knowledge.
  • DK reveals his “bah humbug” minimal holiday spirit.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “I'm kind of Mr. Christmas.” - Craig (90:40)
  • “DK's Christmas Music Knowledge matches his current color palette today, which is Millennial Gray.” - Heifetz (93:20)

4. Fantasy League Update (61:55–64:06):

• Chris Ryan, who barely managed his team, now in the championship by virtue of health and luck.
• Quote: “He did not spend $1 of his waiver money... made 3 moves all year and he's in the finals.” - DK/Heifetz (62:08)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Juiced Kicking Balls: “They fucked with the ecosystem. They're changing football for the worse.” – DK (08:30)
• On Throwbacks: “Every single throwback is better than the jerseys the teams are using now.” – DK (17:27)
• On Redesigning Football: “The theme of this episode is we should just take all the cool stuff from hockey.” – Heifetz (51:39)
• On Power Plays: “It's just pure chaos. It would be really funny. Maybe this is an overtime rule.” – DK (51:22)
• On Fantasy League Irony: “We spend hundreds of hours talking about fantasy football every week, and Chris Ryan... is in the finals.” – Heifetz (62:08)
• On Enforcing Rules: “These rules aren’t designed to be convenient.” – DK (70:41)
• On Christmas Song Knowledge: “You didn’t even play my favorite Christmas song!” – Craig (92:37)
• On Holiday Spirit: “DK’s Christmas music knowledge matches his current color palette—millennial gray.” – Heifetz (93:20)

Important Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Show intro, holiday banter | 00:00–04:23 | | Kicking/field position rule change | 05:33–14:30 | | Tush push ban debate | 14:49–17:10 | | Throwback uniforms | 17:19–21:05 | | Holding penalty reform | 21:11–25:14 | | Replay standards & TV ref power | 25:18–32:00 | | Safety should be 4 points | 32:06–33:33 | | Emergency QB rule (NHL EBUG style) | 33:33–37:23 | | Loser’s bracket for draft pick | 37:28–43:31 | | College football relegation discussion | 43:45–46:24 | | Banana Ball ideas (taunting, power plays, etc.) | 47:34–61:33 | | Fantasy Court: enforcing punishments | 64:12–71:13 | | One Second Christmas Song Challenge | 75:12–92:33 | | Ringer Fantasy league update | 61:55–64:06 | | Picks/Week 17 Preview | 93:18–98:14 | | Closing/Miscellaneous/Thank Yous | 98:14–end |

Flow & Tone

The episode is trademark Ringer: fast, funny, irreverent, with sharp insights underpinned by deep football and cultural knowledge. Banter is infused throughout; the tone is light during holiday segments, but analytical and animated when dissecting NFL rules.

For Listeners Who Missed It...

This episode gives a thorough, highly entertaining tour of both urgent and hopeful NFL rule changes, laced with the hosts’ wit and some holiday goofiness. You’ll come away with a better understanding of why NFL field goals are too easy now, why “tush push” is the scourge of innovation (or just boring), how draft order could get dramatically more fun, what a football “power play” might look like, and which Christmas songs the crew actually knows. For anyone who cares about football’s future (or just loves a passionate argument about secondary rules, fantasy punishment, or why taunting is essential), this is a can’t-miss episode.

“Let them taunt, add a penalty box, and for the love of God, let the fans choose throwback uniforms. The world—and the NFL—would be better for it.”