NFL changes kickoff rule

Teams will now kick off from the 35 instead of the 30, assuring more touchbacks, more safety but less action.

Good work, NFL owners. It's been a great month for you. And what is Devin Hester gonna do?

 

Josh Cribbs hopes the lockout lasts a long time.

 

It also increases the opportunity for more commercials without time running off the clock.

PAT-commercial-kickoff/touchback-commercial.

 

Law of unintended consequences: This will result in more teams instructing their kickers to go for high, booming, long-hang-time, punt-type kickoffs which drop down inside the 10 with the returner getting absolutely bulldozed by the coverage team, resulting in a) disastrous field position, b) higher chances of fumbles, and of course, c) higher chance of injury.

 

This made me laugh for some reason. I could see Bellichik plotting right now, "We are going to screw 'em all!!"

 

See, I don't buy this. And the reason I don't buy this is because every time you see a team kick off from, say, the 45 after a personal foul, the kicker tries to blast the ball through the uprights.

And every time I see it, it drives me a little nuts, because your argument is right. Teams should skyrocket the ball and make the opposition field it in play... because it's a live freaking ball. But they don't, and I'm guessing they won't.

 

I completely agreed with Starman, but you are right. Less risky for the touchback.

 

Doesn't this make those kickoff specialists obsolete, as well? I know the Ravens had a guy who would do the kickoffs because Matt Stover, while accurate, couldn't get the ball inside the five yard line. Now almost every kicker in the league can get the ball to the goalline.

Hell, might as well go to peewee league rules and simply give the opposing team the ball at the 20 without going through the motions of a kickoff.

 

Return specialists cost more money than back-up linebackers or whoever replaces the return guy.

Big cost savings for the teams.

 

In other words, kickoffs are exactly like they were before 1994. This isn't some revolutionary rule change.

 

Even from the 35 it's much further downfield than they ever have to get on a punt, no matter what they hang time. Every single coach will go for the touchback.

 

gimme a break. how many 'premier' return specialist are there who are paid big bucks? are there a half-dozen? there sure isn't anything close to one per team.

this wasn't a cost-saving move; it was a p.r. move and a show to the nflpa, as in, 'see how much we care about player safety? now, about that 18-game schedule...'