Fair catch inside the 25 = Touchback?

[grateflday]

Interesting discussion but do not get rid of the kickoff.  Figuring out ways to make it safer etc sure but do not get rid off it.  The decisions made on a kickoff by the kicking and receiving teams has an impact.  Ie your team goes down a score with a minute in the game.  Do you want the possible opportunity and choice for your returner to take the kickoff return to the 30, 40 or even better to give your team better field positions?  You also have the opportunity on defense if you just score and the other team decides to run it and you stop them at the 10, 15 yard line and they have a longer field.  

There are other scenarios.  I don’t like the concept of a teams just starting every drive on the 25 after a score.  

[Smithers]

College football has been doing this for years.  Seems to work well.  Besides, we haven’t had a good kick returner since Michael Bates so this is a rule that likely benefits us lol

[MrBubba]

[Sgt Schultz]

1 hour ago, grateflday said:

Interesting discussion but do not get rid of the kickoff.  Figuring out ways to make it safer etc sure but do not get rid off it.  The decisions made on a kickoff by the kicking and receiving teams has an impact.  Ie your team goes down a score with a minute in the game.  Do you want the possible opportunity and choice for your returner to take the kickoff return to the 30, 40 or even better to give your team better field positions?  You also have the opportunity on defense if you just score and the other team decides to run it and you stop them at the 10, 15 yard line and they have a longer field.  

There are other scenarios.  I don’t like the concept of a teams just starting every drive on the 25 after a score.  

The problem is what we want has nothing to do with it.  The league seems hell bent on engineering the kickoff out of the game without actually legislating it out of the game. 

You raise good points, but the competition committee has shown that they don't really care about what football fans think.  They want to tinker with the rules endlessly.  Most of the time I don't think they could answer the questions 1) what exactly are we trying to fix, and 2) how does this make the game better?

Then again, we have people making major decisions in government and industry every day that can't answer those questions, but forge ahead anyway.  People have to prove they are paying attention by effing with stuff.

[Peon Awesome]

I doubt I'd really miss the kickoff if they got rid of it. As far as the issue of onside kicks, they could adopt the XFL rule where the team can elect to try a 4th and 15 from their own 25 yard line. Way more interesting than an onside kick that's going to fail 98% of the time.

[SetfreexX]

19 hours ago, Ghostface Chilla said:

The kickoff rule in the XFL seemed to work well. The kick off and receiving team are just ten yards apart from each other, with the kicker alone from the usual spot. The receiver is waiting in the zone between the 20 and the end zone and besides the kicker and receiver, everyone else is stationary until the receiver touches/catches the ball. 
 

It’s made kickoffs and returns more interesting and a bit more strategic. 

This ^^^ but they too proud to add this.

[pantherclaw]

I really hate what the NFL has turned into. 

[Sgt Schultz]

1 hour ago, pantherclaw said:

I really hate what the NFL has turned into. 

Me too.  They spend a lot of time tilting at windmills.

There was a time when they at least appeared to do due diligence before changing rules.  Now, they seem to throw the dung against the wall to see what sticks.  Every sport does it anymore, trying to lure new fans.  The NFL is probably the worst at it now.

 

[run-run-pass-punt]

If they're going to essentially nix the whole kicking game (outside of scoring plays), they need to add some way to maintain nuance to the field position battle. It's such a huge part of the game - it *IS* the game in many ways. I'm all for player safety, but this will fundamentally and drastically alter the game in ways that I don't think are good for the overall package.

[pantherclaw]

Look, there are fundamental risks with every job. 

I drive truck, and there is risk for me every day. As much as I make, I don't make nearly as much as professional football players do. 

Football has ALWAYS been a gladiator sport. Truly.  While I'm for trying to make it safe, the players have to assume some risk for playing the sport. 

Nobody is holding a gun to their head, and forcing them to play. 

Either accept the risk that comes with it, or.find another.line of work. 

[parker]

If they change the rule, they might as well do away with the kickoff.  Just start each possession at the 25. 

It's already to the point where most kickoffs are touchbacks anyway.

[jayboogieman]

I'm sure the owners would be happy with doing away with the kicking game entirely. That would mean less players and coaches to pay, so more money for them.

[panthers320]

As mentioned before college already does it, they stil have the option to return it if they want. Also when was the last time you have seen a kickoff to the 18 and the returned not be able to pick up a few yards (without a fumble) so it not really that big of an advantage in my opinion. Now if they change the rules for punts that is completely different rule. 

[KatsAzz]

On 5/20/2023 at 3:41 PM, LinvilleGorge said:

They want to eliminate kickoff returns from the game but they don't want to give up that commercial break so we get dumb poo like this.

Yes, gotta have those commercial breaks.