NFL changes kickoff rule

Apparently, on NFL Live it was said that the rules committee really discussed eliminating kickoffs altogether. Are they trying to kill the game? It's FOOTBALL.

 

Your team's best player is Davon Bess.

 

I think they should eliminate "kick"offs and just go old-school sandlot, with the team's QB heaving the ball as far as he can downfield to start a possession. In fact, that might make Cutler a legend.

 

IF they really want to save money, they'll have 'all-time' quarterbacks.

 

The NFL could throw the receiving team a bone by bringing the ball out to the 25 or 30 instead of the 20 on touchbacks.

 

The 25 was part of the original proposal before it was modified to change only the kickoff placement.

 

That would extend Jason Hanson's career even further. He has the most incredible arm you've ever seen. The greatest random sporting event would be a long-drive competition between Hanson, Brandon Inge and half the Red Wings.

 

They should put the ball at midfield, then have the player from each team who is the best combination of speed and toughness start on their own goal lines, and each sprint to the ball.

That would be cool and cutting edge.

 

He Hate Me

 

Remember when they came in with the shot clock and 3-point shot in college basketball in the mid-to-late 80s?

Everybody assumed scoring was going to rocket to the moon. After a brief bump in the late 80s/early 90s (mainly fueled by UNLV and Loyola Marymount and a few teams trying to copy them), scores sunk, a process which has continued most of the past 20 years.

With the kickoff rule change, somebody will try to fuck around the edges of "conventional wisdom." At first most teams will boot it deep, but after a few teams win big games after hammering kick returners into fumbling on their own 5, things will swing the other way.

Remember, the payoff for this is way, way better than an onside kick. Instead of recovering the ball on your own 45, you're recovering it on the opponent's 5.

If it doesn't work, maybe 1 time in 20 the stud returner runs it back down your throat. Of the remaining 19, probably 5 go in the end zone anyway, and probably 10 the KR either calls for a fair catch or goes straight to the ground.

 

I don't think so. NFL coaches are control freaks by nature. If they can control where the receiving team gets the ball every time - they will. Tell the kicker to hammer it between the hashes for a touchback.

 

I think it can't work; they can't get down the field fast enough.