Many years ago the NFL determined that kickoffs were the cause of too many injuries and and sort of ruled it out of the game. This last season alone there were 2,698 kickoffs and only 587 were returned with 1,970 touchbacks and 92 fair catches. So yes still a part of the game but as you see, a very small part. Now the NFL wants to put the fun in return as they look at rule changes this offseason that could change the NFL game forever.
One of the changes being looked at by the rules committee is the kickoff used in the old XFL. A model in which the kicking team lined up at the opponent’s 35 and the return team lined up at the 30 with only the kicker and return allowed to move until the ball is touched. It was very successful in the XFL and fans loved it as well.
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones — who is a member of the Competition Committee stated;
“I think everybody wants something different,” Jones said. “They don’t want a ceremonial play. They want it to be a real play and we just got to do it in a way that’s safe for the players so you don’t have the injury rate that we’ve had in the past; that it’s more in line with what a typical football play is. So I think that’s really important … I think it can be a positive play that the fans would really enjoy.”
“It’s got to be defined the right way but I think it can be,” Jones said. “I think it’s a play that, me personally, (it’s) certainly not something anyone condones. It’s a play that needs to come out. The question is how we do that. I think it’s going to be all of the above, in my opinion, but it’s got to be education to the players that this is not what we want.
“I think there are probably going to be fines involved in it, at all levels, and then I think at some point, it’s a little tougher, but a lot of people think it can be officiated. Not everybody but a lot of people do.”
As a fan, I would welcome the move as it would give a bit of flair to a great game. Now adopt the three-point conversion and the on-side kick rule where the kicking team would get a fourth and 15 to get the ball back if converted. This is a must if the kickoff is changed. Should be fun to see what they come up with.
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