Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate
NFL owners have approved a proposal to spot the ball at the 25-yard line on a fair catch of a kickoff made inside the 25. It's a 1-year trial for now.
Special teams coordinators and players around the league were against this. It's happening, anyway.
If it’s at or beyond the 25, the DT waves his arm.
If it’s the 26 forward, the DT is a hulking bulk of blocker with a head of steam running interference.
A unique sight indeed!
If it’s at or beyond the 25, the DT waves his arm.
If it’s the 26 forward, the DT is a hulking bulk of blocker with a head of steam running interference.
A unique sight indeed!
Once he waves his arms that massive DT would have to field the kick.
So they continually have to "make a good faith effort" to show they are working to reduce possible injuries
Once the NCAA adopts a practice, it becomes the industry gold standard and the NFL has to follow suit
So blame the litigation culture that we have created. It's not the NFL and it's not Roger G. Goodell is actually doing the smart thing.
As far as players and coaches opposing it, that is meaningless. The players who someday will file suit will claim they were forced and coerced to engage in this violent practice if they wanted to keep their jobs.
It will be interesting to see what coaches will do. The Giants return game generally sucks
You still have plenty of kickers who can kick the ball out of the end zone
I don’t think it’s a huge deal, most kicks are touchbacks these days anyway.
It will be interesting to see what coaches will do. The Giants return game generally sucks
You still have plenty of kickers who can kick the ball out of the end zone
Exactly. The overreaction seems partially performative.
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I don’t recall seeing this as being a mandatory fair catch scenario. Players are still going to run back kicks. There are still very good kick returners and nothing will change with them
It will be interesting to see what coaches will do. The Giants return game generally sucks
You still have plenty of kickers who can kick the ball out of the end zone
Exactly. The overreaction seems partially performative.
While I'd prefer a return to good old fashioned kickoffs, this doesn't seem like a big deal. It realistically matters only on an occasional kick.
The numbers I saw were 36% of KOs returned last year estimated to drop to 31%.
It's a piece of their pie being taken away. Rendering what they do a notch lower on the overall relevance scale in the game.
Probably because it reduces potential impact plays. Maybe also because it waters down the sport -- that's why I oppose it.
Given only ~1/3 of all kickoffs returned, of which a large % could have been touchbacks anyway, I can't envision much impact.
Don't get me wrong - I'm with you. I wish they'd stop F'ing with the game.
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then why did all of the special teams coaches in the NFL oppose it?
It's a piece of their pie being taken away. Rendering what they do a notch lower on the overall relevance scale in the game.
+1
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In comment 16122319 Eric from BBI said:
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then why did all of the special teams coaches in the NFL oppose it?
It's a piece of their pie being taken away. Rendering what they do a notch lower on the overall relevance scale in the game.
+1
+2
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If the returner signals fair catch and lets the ball hit the ground at the five yard line, is it a live ball? Does the return team need to field it to end the play? What if it rolls into the endzone?
Yes it's a live ball but as long as no return team member touches it, the only thing the kicking team can do is down it, they can't pick it up and try to score unless someone touches it.
Actually, what you described is the rule for punts.
On kickoffs it's always a live ball, it just needs to travel 10+ yards, and you don't need the returning team to touch it before you can recover it or score.
I agree. Who I think this rule change prejudices most is teams with good specials who go down in a game and could come back by good kickoffs and kickoff coverage - but this rule takes that opportunity away.
Rich Eisen: NFL’s New Fair Catch Rule Has Essentially Destroyed the Kickoff | The Rich Eisen Show - ( New Window )
I saw Rich Eisen's take on this. He is also correct.
Ruining the game slowly with all of the changes. Individually, not single change will push fans away. It is something that will happen over time.
At some point, fans will not want to go to games. The best parts of the game will be removed including hard hits. Yes, that is already happening. Roughness calls on extremely hard hits are already being called. Now, removing kickoffs and the excitement that comes with that play.