Rule Changes

“NFL rule changes are BS.”  That is what one prominent NFL kick returner tweeted today after the league’s owners voted to move kickoffs from the 30 to 35 yard line.  Josh Cribbs was the returner that wasn’t in favor of the rule change.  He also said “You can’t eliminate any injuries from football.”  The owners also considered moving touchbacks from the 20 to the 25 yard line.  It was even said that in an effort to make the game safer getting rid of kickoffs all together was even talked about.  The two man wedge will also still be legal, which had been cut down from four previously.

All touchdowns will be reviewed by a booth official.  That change is understandable.  So many times a coach will have used his two or three challenges or there is less than two minutes left in a half and there is no way to initiate a challenge.  Again the NFL decided not to change the positioning of touchbacks, but on the kickoff teams the players can only line up five yards behind the ball.  This gives players less of a running start, which theoretically would cause less of a collision on thosed plays. 

There were 23 kickoffs returned for touchdown last year and the league has been kicking off from the 30 since 1994.  At one point it was the 40 yardline and they have tried the 35 before.  In other words, I don’t think the five yard change of kickoff will have a big effect.  Cribbs maintains that changes like this limit the oppurtunity for future kick returners.  Many believe that touchbacs will increase, leading to less kickoff returns.  That would be a good reason tomove touchbacks to the 25.  The owners also discussed several rule changes that would effect safety like plays being ended earlier (less continuatuin after contact).  But, they said they would discuss that more for vote next year.