Commissioner Roger Goodell recently discussed a proposal to eliminate kickoffs with Rich McKay, the head of the league's competition committee, Time magazine reported.
Goodell and McKay discussed an idea brought up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano in which a team, instead of kicking off, would get the ball at its own 30-yard line in a fourth-and-15 situation. The team then would punt the ball away or, to replace an onside kick, could go for it and, if they failed to get a first down, the opposing squad would start with great field position.
"The fact is, it's a much different end of the play," Goodell said during the meeting, according to Time.
Wow, would that be idiotic. That's the thing about eliminating kickoffs and just giving the other team the ball at the 20 or whatever... you eliminate the onside kick. So they have to come up with something like this nonsense.
I just don't see this happening. It's a fundamental part of the game. Moving where the kickoff is from (like moving the 3-point line in basketball) is one thing, but eliminating it all together? No, I don't see much support or precedent for that.
Valhalla wrote:This was a story as well as 6-9 months ago.
I don't know if as a rule, one sees more injuries on kickoff returns but all of this lawsuit stuff is what is spurring this talk on, not that the head honchos are trying to ruin the game. I've even heard people with legal opinions talk about this. It's the liability issues.
Liability, as in the NFL is liable to fans to give us the best product available. I'm sorry but goodell is wrong. This is like outlawing Twinkies because they make you fat. Mmmm....Twinkies. R.I.P
