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NFL May Be Contemplating Major Rule Change That Could Alter the Game Dramatically

Dec. 6, 2012 2:30pm Liz Klimas

Commissioner Roger Goodell Says the NFL Is Considering a Proposal to Eliminate the Kickoff in Time Magazine Interview

Denver Broncos kick off to the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game in Denver in 2011. (Photo: AP/Jack Dempsey, File)

Could American football games someday never have the crescendoing ”ooooooaaaahhhh” from the fans of the home team as the kicker of the rival runs toward the pigskin in a kickoff play? They might not if the idea mentioned by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to do away with the kickoff comes to fruition.

How you might ask would the ball be returned to the other team? Goodell explained in a Time magazine profile by Sean Gregory:

[...] after a touchdown or field goal, instead of kicking off, a team would get the ball on its own 30-yard line, where it’s fourth and 15. The options are either to go for it and try to retain possession, or punt. If you go for it and fall short, the opposing team would take over with good field position. In essence, punts would replace kickoffs, and punts are less susceptible to violent collisions than kickoffs.

“The fact is,” Goodell, told Gregory of the idea first posed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano, “it’s a much different end of the play…It’s an off-the-wall idea. It’s different and makes you think differently. It did me.”

New England Patriots kick off against the New York Giants in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., in 2011. (Photo: AP/Michael Dwyer, File)

ESPN explained that Schiano, who coached at Rutgers University in 2010, witnessed player Eric LeGrand receiving a paralyzing injury a during a kickoff return:

Schiano told ESPN The Magazine in September that he believed kickoffs would eventually be eliminated from pro football. “I believe that day will come. Unfortunately, it will probably take more players being seriously hurt. But I think there’s another way to do this.”

Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, right, and his mother Karen LeGrand pictured in 2011. (Photo: AP/Mel Evans, File)

The NFL has already instituted new kickoff rules to make that portion of the game safer. According to the NFL earlier this year, the new rules have already helped reduce the number of reported concussions in the league. Last season, the NFL moved kickoffs up to the 35-yard line (a five yard adjustment), which has increased the number of touchbacks.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon (85) is hit by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dan Skuta (51) on a kickoff during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in 2010. (Photo: AP/Darron Cummings)

Tennessee Titans kick returner Marc Mariani (83) gets set to receive the opening kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter of an NFL football preseason game this year. (Photo: AP/Joe Howell)

In addition to reducing the risk of “catastrophic injury,” according to NBC Sports, such a move would also give punters, long snappers and gunners, as well as punt return teams, more time and value on the field. At the same time, though “kickoff specialists would become extinct, and return specialists who are much better returning kicks than punts would be far less valuable to the broader roster,” NBC Sports pointed out.

Just as not all fans were happy with the league moving up the kickoff a few yards, Gregory speculates the idea to eliminate it completely would not be well received either, as it is often an exciting part of the game that can occasionally yield long returns. And if teams start taking advantage of the opportunity, it could alter the game dramatically.

Let us know what you think about this proposal by taking our poll:

Read more of Gregory’s in-depth profile of Goodell in Time magazine here.

Featured image via AP

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Comments (244)

jessieH
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:35am
If the owners & players want to go out of business, then go for it. Why watch a bunch of millionairs punt a football back & forth, back & forth. Like the song says, “Hell, I can do that!”

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dutikani
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:05am
If you think Bobby`s story is inconceivable…, four weeks ago my bro got a cheque for $4888 workin a 40 hours month an their house and they’re friend’s sister`s neighbour has been doing this for 8-months and brought in over $4888 in there spare time from there labtop. applie the guidelines at this site, http://www.Cloud65.com

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madjaam
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 4:02am
So no more onside kicks? Or maybe they should make all kick-offs onside kicks.

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Con_Sanity
Posted on December 8, 2012 at 2:33am
Naw, you can’t give the other team field goal range. That is insane. The ones a score would endlessly score. So a team scores a field goal. The opposing team tries their 4th and 15, and there is an incomplete pass. So the ones up 3-0 now get into field goal range. They score 7 or 3 points. The cycle continues.

Or if they decide to punt on 4th and 15, the ones up 3-0 get possession and good field position. You have made punting and field goal kicking the primary positions in football… for what? You will have too many lopsided possession matches, too. The idea of the kickoff is to give the other team a shot at a possession. Remember the fans, the ones watching? That don’t want to see the same team with the ball the entire game?

You are asking for 72-3 ball games where we used to have the odd 31-0.

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ardypenn
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:35pm
You want fewer touchdowns scored, Commish? Sure, the owners will agree to this… NOT.

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Deane
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:23pm
Hey, Goodell here’s the real solution…have a draft every week with normal citizens have them sit on comfy sofas in the middle of the stadium and let them play Madden Football on the big screen. The winner gets a million dollars, the loser gets a Lombardi trophy inscribed with his name and with ‘I lost’ Oh what no that won’t work what if one of the players gets carpel tunnel syndrome from the remote, he could sue the NFL for not warning him of the potential for numbness in his hands. Darn gosh darn oh darn god I thought I had it nailed.

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Runpainfultruth
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:47pm
It’s football ! If they get rid of the kickoff you can kiss the NFL goodbye. We watch football. Americans don’t watch soccer.

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red_white_blue2
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:44pm
Keep watering it down until it’s a shadow of it’s former self. That’s what the Left does with everything they can’t stand.

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xendude
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:22pm
Just another step in the pussafication of This nation.

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sundell1951
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:45pm
Put em all in bubble wrap looking like that kid in Christmas Story, or fat samurai suits. Then we wouldn’t even need athletes, or monday night football, or incredibly stupid ideas like this.
Just as dumb as making top fuel cars only go 1000 ft.
Anytime you push the envelope there is risk…welcome to life!

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Derfel Cadarn
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:17pm
Life and living it is a dangerous business. If the NFL wishes to to make the game safe it would be responsible to shut down completely, this way they would eliminate all chance of injury. Come on people lets start using our heads, if these guys that get paid big money to play a game are worried then let them get other employment.

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nomorpc4me
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:57pm
Let’s go to two-hand touch, except they need to rig it so each player is outfitted with 25,000 volt tazers in their gloves. No more collisions, but imagine the posibilities if there’s a fumble and you get a scrum pile.

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Seagal45
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:19pm
It’s turned into wussball, put them back in the leather helmets and pay them 10K a year, most problems solved.

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Rank
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:49pm
How about we not keep score, and give everyone a trophy. Then of course we should make everyone’s pay absolutely equal, and give them all Obamacare.

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gunndish
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:48pm
look .. football is not a game for sissies! They (the players) knew the job was hazardous when they took it! Those guys are getting paid huge amounts of cash to sacrifice their bodies. If you can’t handle the carnage while watching an NFL game … go watch soccer … where everyone is a winner. The pussification of America continues …. geez!

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TyrannyNoMore
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:30pm
Isn’t ironic, in that the same people who want to PUNISH risk takers, on the field of commerce and industry, now want to remove all risk from a game where minorities are paid 7 figure salaries for excepting risk. If you have not made this observation on your own yet, THE LUNATICS ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM !!!

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- TyrannyNoMore
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:38pm
  Hell….if there is anyone out there who wants to pay me 7 figures, I will let you put a football helmet on my head and swing a bat at my noggin for an hour, 17 Sundays per year.
  
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