Report: Roger Goodell considering replacing kickoffs
It's no secret that the NFL is attempting to limit high-speed collisions, especially as they pertain to kickoffs.
Sean Gregory of TIME Magazine indicates in this week's cover story that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is floating the idea that instead of kickoffs, the kicking team would be given the ball at its own 30-yard line with a 4th-and-15 situation.
Essentially, this is an effort to give the "kicking" team a way to retain possession as the onside kick currently does.
I'm not sure whether to call this blasphemy or innovation. The onside kick, ironically, is one of the few things keeping kickoffs in the game. By giving the "kicking" team the ball with a 4th-and-15 situation, the onside kick would become obsolete.
Unlike most ideas to eliminate the kickoff, I'm willing to play the wait-and-see game with this proposal. The one major criticism that I have is that it should be more like 4th-and-20, making it more difficult to go for the first down. The innovation would also make end-of-the-game scenarios far more interesting than the onside kick ever did.
Don't look for the kickoff to vanish in the next year, but this could be a viable replacement to the kickoff, and I'm willing to consider it seriously.
 |
Like TGS on Facebook |  |
Follow TGS on Twitter |
Am I the only one who likes this idea a lot? Kickoffs are honestly the worst play in the game unless you have a devin hester; punts are far more exciting plays I feel. But are they really less dangerous than kickoffs?
Look at the bright side we now no longer have to wait for the opening kickoff e can just loll around until 1/2 time.
you know how football fans are . if it happens they will embrace it. at first they miss the kickoffs but there will be a whole another thing with the 4th and 20 innovation.
Great idea. Variations of this have been floating around for several years, so maybe the time is finally coming. You have to innovate and change with the times.
Latest blog post: Fantasy Baseball: Finding Sleeper Pitchers
Absolutely the dumbest idea i have ever heard. It is football and not for the faint of heart or panzy asses. Next it will be wieight and height limits for the players and a flag in the back pocket
@JamesWalker1 Now James...,
First, it is not just "football." It's NFL Football. The NFL has defined football since the sport was invented. It's not as if the Little Sisters of the Poor tsk'd tsk'e and said we have to do this. It's the godfathers of the game saying we may have to change the sport to save it.
Second, Like any business, football is not beyond the law. Courts take a dim view of employers who know the risks in a line of work and don't protect employees from those risks. They seem to think employers should be liable or something. So it owners try to be responsible employers, you say they should not because you will enjoy football less? It's not your money at risk. It's theirs, so they get to say what risks they are willing to accept.
Some of these injuries are a matter of science. Bgger, faster players who collide at high speed results in more traumatic brain injuries (the medical term is concussion). Physics is all about Mass and velocity. Weight limits may be part of a solution. Players who can grow to over 300 pounds can shed that weight too without anyone leaving the sport. The game would be faster and "funner," and you might cut down steroid use.
Football is evolving. That's all.
I love my skins by the way, it takes a real fan to stay loyal for over 40 years through the ups and downs of this franchise. I was actually trying to be somewhat of a wiseguy in my post. I realize as the players have evolved it is a more dangerous sport; however, i do not see how changing kickoffs will help . The most dangerous play remains the pass reception and players trying to catch, hold on to the ball, stay inbounds while landing unprotected and also taking the defensive hit. I believe that if you change the fundamental elements of the game, fans are going away in droves. Auto racing has made great strides in safety and head injuries by a more technological approach to safety gear and restraints. In my opinion the biggest thing the NFL could do to enhance player safety is to simply enforce the rules for illegal hits . The enforcement and fines are a joke. How the bounty issue was handled was a joke and the same dirty players do it week in and week out. I just believe there are ways to make the game safer without changing the game. A bad kick can change the outcome of a game. A kick return for a touchdown remains the most exciting play in football. If I want to watch flag football I will just go watch the kids on Saturday.
@JamesWalker1 Thanks and HAIL, James.
I read somewhere, once, because the league keeps this stuff secret, that the most dangerous play in football was the flying wedge on KO returns. Voila, rule changes on kick offs.
I speculate the NFL has more data that suggests something more must be done about kick-offs. I do not think Goodell is being nice and politically correct, but trying to fix a problem for the owners.
Rules like this don't come from Goodell. They come from the Competition Committee of owners and voted on by owners. I'm willing to listen.
I actually think this is a fantastic idea; much more exciting than an onside kick and safer, without sacrificing consequence. Should be 4th and 20, though.
