NFL To Give Kickoffs The Boot?
A reasonable safety measure, or excessive caution that would hurt the game?
- December 9, 2012
Talking heads on Sunday NFL pregame shows could soon be talking about how many minutes are left until the opening punt return.
As Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano last spring suggested a scenario in which a team that had just scored would not kick, but instead take possession of the ball at their own 30-yard line in a 4th-and-15 situation.
Thousands of former players banded together last summer to sue the league, claiming it hid information that linked football-related head trauma to permanent brain injuries.
The league has already tried to make kickoffs less dangerous by moving them to the 35-yard line.
Watch the video to learn more.
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Toni L. Downey
8:12 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Ridiculous. Some safeguards to protect players is one thing. But tying to protect yourself from lawsuits at the expense of the game is just plain wrong. And even the players are agreeing that trying to hold back or only hit in certain ways is resulting in MORE injuries, not less
Mike Shortall
8:25 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Dumbest thing I've heard of since the Designated Hitter.
Kyle Allebach
10:02 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
No. This is stupid. The NFL has already banned many formations, strategies, and blocks that were common in kickoffs from the 1980's. Moving the ball to the 35-yard line has resulted in more touchbacks, and it has been a key in making kickoff safer.
Kickoffs are fun, keep them in.
alex
11:56 am on Monday, December 10, 2012
They get paid a lot of money to do a job. They know what the job intails and it's risks. No one is making them play. Leave the game alone.