Moving The Kickoff From The 30 To The 35 Yard Line Helps The Packers

No.

Next question.

Seriously, I’m not even sure I agree with the premise of that question. I haven’t done statistical analysis of concussions and other injuries suffered by NFL players, but I bet Kickoff plays, by percentage, aren’t any more likely to result in a concussion or other serious injury than any other play.

But, even if I assume the premise of the question is correct, is that the standard we’re going to apply for making changes? Because if it is, they can take off the pads and helmets and put on flags any time now. That would make the game a lot safer too. Oh, and they should do away with the ridiculous bullshit that is the “going to the ground” rule on receptions, because right now DBs have an incentive to hit a WR falling down, or who’s already on the ground and not down by contact, as hard as they ever loving can in the hopes of knocking the ball loose and turning an obvious completion into a technical incompletion. That would make the game a lot safer too.

As far as I’m concerned, the entire competition committee needs to be fired from that job immediately. They’ve over-thought this stuff so much that their heads have officially disappeared up their own asses and it’s time to reapply some common sense to these decisions.

If I were the owners I wouldn’t change any rules to make the game safer until the players show they want more protection! Rodgers just switched helmets to one that helps prevent concussions, Why aren’t all players chosing this helmet? What about pads for the hips, thigh and knees? Whens the last time anyone other than a RB even used those pads? They NEVER do… How about shoulder pads? We have OL and DL playing w/ shoulder pads that are made for QB’s!!! When the players start taking their own safety seriously then I will too!! But for now, the players give it lip service while ignoring all the other safety possibilities… Why should the NFL care about player safety when the players themselves clearly don’t?!!

I also agree w/ the premise that changing the KO to the 35 and moving touchbacks to the 25 will lead to alot more pooch kicks to force returners to catch the ball and return it or fair catch it… Fair catches aren’t going to go up, so all its going to do is lead to more returns, IMO! And thats the exact opposite of what the NFL is trying to accomplish!!

but don’t change the damn spot of the touchback on kickoffs and make it different than that of punts. Thats annoying because its needlessly more confusing and complicated. I always look at these rule changes and think, “how would I rationally explain this to someone who is just learning football?” and usually I feel the simpler, the better. Hell I think they should allow you to kick the ball out of bounds on kickoffs and get it at the spot where it went out like punts! But that would result in less offense, not more, and the entire underlying theory behind rule changes is that “more offense is better, more points per game are better” to attract fans.

The Patriot OL who went to town on our kick coverage was Dan Connolly.