League approves new kickoff rule: FC inside 25 puts ball at 25

[FredFromDartmouth]

This is disappointing after the Patriots drafted heavily for special teams. Do I smell a rat?

 

[RodThePat]

anybody that thinks this is a good thing for NFL football is BLIND to the trend set by Goodell the last decade to mutate our once great game, a game played by PHYSICAL MEN, men with tremendous skills on both sides of the ball. You people just don't see it coming...within a few seasons there will be a LBGTQ+ all woman/trans referee crew that will work an NFL game ...and stop it at haltime because they find the "heirarchy!!!" abhorrent to their fragile social justice warrior sensibilities...and Goodell will respond by declaring the league co-ed.

************, talk about being a snowflake. This change has been implemented in the college ranks since 2018 and nobody cares, it hasn't impacted the product a lick. Oh no, how can the very concept of masculinity itself deal with an average 0.5 return less per game (that's how much this rule has decreased returns in college). Let's get a grip.

 

[Wax Frog]

This is disappointing after the Patriots drafted heavily for special teams. Do I smell a rat?

Rat stench is the default state of the league these days.

 

[Hyped]

What's going to stop teams from squib kicking on every kickoff to force teams to field it? Dumb.

Dunno...a squib kick is likely to bounce around the 10-15 yard line before being picked up...still risky. IMO, teams will still do what the Pats have done for the last couple of years...kick it high up...to the 1-5 yard line....just to make the returner *think* about it while fielding the ball...

 

[Hyped]

And why did the Pats oppose it? Do we think we have an advantage with our returners?

 

[Joker]

************, talk about being a snowflake. This change has been implemented in the college ranks since 2018 and nobody cares, it hasn't impacted the product a lick. Oh no, how can the very concept of masculinity itself deal with an average 0.5 return less per game (that's how much this rule has decreased returns in college). Let's get a grip.

snowflake? you actuality AGREE with all these changes made the past decade that have NEUTERED half the rosters (defense) in the league? SNOWFLAKE????Only a REAL SNOWFLAKE goes along blindly with every incision into the structure of this league like a loyal little lap dog. You must have daughters or granddaughters and your dream is to see them play in the NFL when it finally goes all flag. Snowflake...what the fck kind of goddamned statementr is that?

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Bingo. It's not much more than an equalizer. So yes, if you have guys that can catch the ball... pretty low bar... you get the 25 for free. If you put on your big boy pants and get an actual returner, ta da, you play some odds in terms of fair catching, but if he sees a lane you still trust his vision.

But it takes out an element of strategy of trying to kick it to the 5 or 10 and seeing if you can pin them deep. If your returner is weak, you'd get penalized instead of bailed out with fair catches.

 

[Nikolai]

I feel like this will probably increase the injury rate. Touchbacks will definitely go up, reps on special teams will go down. Less reps means less precision, and less precision on a play like this means more injuries.

At least those are my CTE-addled thoughts...

 

[PatsFanInVa]

But it takes out an element of strategy of trying to kick it to the 5 or 10 and seeing if you can pin them deep. If your returner is weak, you'd get penalized instead of bailed out with fair catches.

Yeah. And nobody likes it. But the end of the world it ain't.

Here's my theory. They're out to get us. The MOMENT we invest draft capital in a kicker...

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Yeah. And nobody likes it. But the end of the world it ain't.

Here's my theory. They're out to get us. The MOMENT we invest draft capital in a kicker...

haha, exactly. It's a conspiracy!

 

[TheRainMaker]

So they can fair catch inside the 5 yard line and get rewarded 20+ more yards?

 

[mgteich]

And why did the Pats oppose it? Do we think we have an advantage with our returners?

You have it backwards. We have the advantage in our coverage units, and the willingness to coach the various placement and height of kickoffs.

The new rule gives an advantage to poor returners. A team can put someone back there and tell him to fair catch the ball, not worrying about starting on the 5 yard line.

 

[Pape]

This is all a ploy to devalue Special Teams, so they don't have to give a valid explanation why they won't enshrine Matthew Slater in the HoF after he retires

 

[FCB02062]

and yet Bill the GM still emphasizing kick and punt coverage and lusting after gunners

 

[archstanton543]

and yet Bill the GM still emphasizing kick and punt coverage and lusting after gunners

How's that hindsight? Still 20/20?

 

[captain stone]

This is all a ploy to devalue Special Teams, so they don't have to give a valid explanation why they won't enshrine Matthew Slater in the HoF after he retires

I have the valid explanation already: He doesn’t deserve it.

 

[captain stone]

and yet Bill the GM still emphasizing kick and punt coverage and lusting after gunners

Yep; that’s all he knows how to draft or prefers to draft… And he Still doesn’t get all of those right either.

25-26

 

[captain stone]

You have it backwards. We have the advantage in our coverage units…

We do?

 

[Pape]

I have the valid explanation already: He doesn’t deserve it.

Huh... Siding with Herr Goodell... Never thought I'd see the day...

 

[captain stone]

Huh... Siding with Herr Goodell... Never thought I'd see the day...

Nah, just siding with Reality.