I have been watching the forums and I have not yet seen the "annual" rule change thread except for the specific one on the CIS returns of kicks that go into touch, therefore I will start it up again.
I do not think that there need to be rule changes just for the sake of rules changes. If you have a rule change that you believe will improve the game, please submit it for debate among the group. If you can provide some rationale to defend it, so much the better.
I have only two suggestions:
1.) Replace the coin toss at the beginning of games EXCEPT for the Grey Cup and during overtime. The new rule would be that the home team would have the the same options as now exist for winning the coin toss. They could have the option of exercising the first choice or defer to the second half.
Reasoning: This would make it more fair to all teams and would make homefield advantage a true advantage. Each team would be guaranteed to "win" the coin toss the same number of times during the regular season. During the playoffs, a home playoff game would be even more valuable. This is not an unusual concept for other sports. The home baseball team always bats last. The home hockey team always defends the same end during the first and third period. The Grey Cup is different as it is a "neutral" site and neither team is truly the home team. The Grey Cup is not always played alternately in the east and then west so awarding the home team to the hosting division would not be fair. Overtime would also have a coin toss as it is an "extra" game.
2.) Extend the penalty for punting out of bounds (ball in the air) to the entire length of the field.
Reasoning: I like the idea of forcing the punt to land in bounds and therefore at least creating the possibility of a return on each punt. If the punter is skilled enough to land it in-bounds and bounce it out of bounds, great. I do not understand the reasoning that allowa a team to "pin" the other deep in their own end without giving them even a chance to return it but having a team in their own end being forced to allow the other team a chance to return the punt. If you can kick it out-of-bounds sometimes why not all of the time. If we were carry the logic of the present rule to other situations, the QB should be able to throw the football without making it to the line of scrimmage without an intentional grounding penalty at certain locations on the field. This would never be allowed so why is it with punting?