Goodell considering doing away with kickoffs

[unothadeal]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...ating-kickoffs

When the NFL changed the line of scrimmage for kickoffs to increase touchbacks, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick derisively said that it was only a matter of time before the NFL eliminated kickoffs entirely. He believed that's what the NFL wanted to do.

Belichick might wind up being proven right.

Roger Goodell through the years
Take a look at photos of Roger Goodell through the years.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he's taken it under consideration to remove the kickoff entirely.

"It's an off-the-wall idea. It's different and makes you think differently. It did me," Goodell told TIME in a cover story for the Dec. 17 issue.

Even more intriguing is an alternative concept promoted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano. Goodell met with the NFL competition committee chairman about the concept.

"After a touchdown or field goal, instead of kicking off, a team would get the ball on its own 30-yard line, where it's fourth and 15," TIME's Sean Gregory writes. "The options are either to go for it and try to retain possession or punt. If you go for it and fall short, of course, the opposing team would take over with good field position. In essence, a punt replaces the kickoffs."

It's an interesting idea. We haven't seen the numbers that punts are that much safer than kickoffs, but the NFL must have the data to support the notion if they were considering it.

The implications for strategy are even more intriguing. If a team is trailing by more than one score very late in the fourth quarter, they likely would to try to go for it on fourth-and-15 instead of punting. That's not an easy situation to convert, but the concept would still make it easier to make a comeback without ever giving the ball back to an opponent.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by listopencil

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. Three points each time you have possession through the entire end zone. Passes out of bounds would be tricky. A QB could clip the interior oval on a pass, getting the ball to a receiver from outside of the field of play.

Could you throw it across the infield to the other side? Or would it be like hockey icing where you can't throw it further than one end zone?

[jAZ]

Other than "it's always been this way" why does anyone care about kickoffs?

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by suds79

Heard a guy on the radio make a great point.

You know why they'll never get rid of kickoffs? Because of commercials.

As it stands now...

TD!, extra point... Commercial

Kickoff.... Commercial.

Finally back to play.

That's silly. 4 minutes of commercials instead of 2.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Other than "it's always been this way" why does anyone care about kickoffs?

There isn't any reason to care about it since they made every kick a touchback. Maybe they should fix that by fixing what's wrong with it.

[okcchief]

**** Goodell

[Dave]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Other than "it's always been this way" why does anyone care about kickoffs?

Probably because the KO return for TD is one of the most exciting plays.

[Dave]

There is simply no good reason to get rid of it.

[Clyde Frog]

Sarcastaball!

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Other than "it's always been this way" why does anyone care about kickoffs?

It is another possession. Onside Kick, Fumbling the catch and so on.

[Brock]

Other than "it's always been this way", why does anybody care about tackling?

jaz

[vailpass]

This is so ****ing stupid. It's like Jerome Bettis said on the DP show this morning: "they might as well just flip a coin to see who wins the game."

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Other than "it's always been this way" why does anyone care about kickoffs?

OMFG

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

geez the arena league conversion continues.

Goodell needs to be removed from his position.

1000x agree. I HATE arena football and don't want to see every game 44-39

[ElGringo]

Originally Posted by vailpass

This is so ****ing stupid. It's like Jerome Bettis said on the DP show this morning: "they might as well just flip a coin to see who wins the game."

I got it, still have the draft, still have workouts, not practice someone could get hurt, then each week have something the equivalent of a rookie combine. Based on the results of this combine they basically make odds as to which team should win the game. Now based on that percentage, they do something the equivalent of flipping a coin, but have it weighted based on the results of the combine for that week. We no longer waste 3 hours of everyone's time watching the game, and no one should get seriously injured; however, you keep the players skills, the gm, the coaches, and all of that still involved in the outcome of the game.

(And if your sarcasm meter is broken **** off and move on)

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ElGringo

I got it, still have the draft, still have workouts, not practice someone could get hurt, then each week have something the equivalent of a rookie combine. Based on the results of this combine they basically make odds as to which team should win the game. Now based on that percentage, they do something the equivalent of flipping a coin, but have it weighted based on the results of the combine for that week. We no longer waste 3 hours of everyone's time watching the game, and no one should get seriously injured; however, you keep the players skills, the gm, the coaches, and all of that still involved in the outcome of the game.

(And if your sarcasm meter is broken **** off and move on)

It would solve the concussion problem completely. And League MVP Vernon Gholston would be thrilled.