NFL's Competition Committee Proposes Moving Kickoffs Back To 35-Yard Line

The NFL's Competition Committee has proposed moving kickoffs back to the 35-yard line as opposed to the 30-yard line. A touchback would give the receiving team the ball at the 25-yard line instead of the 20. Chairman Rich McKay cited injury concerns and the wedge block for the proposed change that would result in far more touchbacks. If the rule goes into effect, it would directly reverse the 1990s decision to move the kickoff line back and create fewer touchbacks. One other rule change being proposed is to modify the replay system to automatically include all scoring plays.

Source: Pro Football Talk

 

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NFL Pondering Significant Modifications To Kickoffs

Atlanta Falcons president and new NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay said Wednesday that the league would recommend changes to the current kickoff rules in order to curb injuries on the plays. "The injury rate on kickoffs remains a real concern for us and the players and the coaches' subcommittee," he said. "This is a pretty major change." The committee is proposing that kickoffs -- which often produce some of the most exciting, tide-turning plays in the course of a game -- be moved up from the 30-yard line to the 35. Kickoffs used to occur at the 35, but the league moved them farther back to encourage more kick returns. Upon further review, that could be reversed. However if kickoffs revert to the 35, a touchback would place the ball on the receiving team's 25-yard line instead of the 20 (all other touchback plays would still result in the ball starting at the 20). The proposal could be implemented at next week's owners meetings in New Orleans.

Source: USAToday

 

Heard this on the radio about an hour ago. I swear I thought they we talking about high school football.....

 

Another pointless "improvement.". Change for the hell of it. When will they learn?

 

btw - the kickers in the NFL are good enough to place the ball inside the 5 yard line no matter where they kick from...so this is all pretty much pointless.

 

We can do all this cat crap but can't make Calvin's catch count as so? This crap is freaking goobered, and this one will just make for touchback city.

 

i doubt it return men have egos and think they can take every kick back if your return man is good he will take it out

 

Basically penalizing teams with strong legged kickers, i dont like.

 

Are guys like Deven Hester going to be taking the ball out of the endzone all the time now, even if they are only getting it to about the 10 or 15 yard line most of the time?

Guess the next step is doing away with kick-offs all together.