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.

[mcaj22]

what the hell does a running play have to do with a kickoff lol

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by Brock

"Here is a refutation of what you said:"

*Shows a video that doesn't refute what I said* /jaz

What would I be refuting exactly? You asked me why I watched football. I pointed out that the kickoff is hardly the reason to watch football.

Originally Posted by mcaj22

what the hell does a running play have to do with a kickoff lol

Umm... It was a Dante Hall like running play for a TD?

Breaking a KO return, breaking a punt return, breaking a long TD run and breaking a long TD pass are all about the same thing.

What makes them exciting is less about the nature of the play, but the competitiveness of the game and the situation it is played in.

I'm certain that they could adjust the rules and find a set of conditions that maintained an equally exciting experience for fans, if they needed to pull out the kick off because it was found to be significantly high risk.

If they took away the kickoff, people would continue to love football. The game would be fine.

I know I'd not be concerned.

[dirk digler]

If they are going to continue with the neutering of the kickoff as it stands now then I am intrigued by the idea.

But really they should move the kickoff back to the 20-25 and make the kickoff fun again.

[Bump]

kickoffs are ****ing gay now. So players suffer head trauma at a much higher rate on kickoffs compared to everything else? is there a statistic for that?

If it was that huge of a problem and shortens players lives, then fine, get rid of the kickoff because they aren't gladiators, they are people, very well paid people but it still doesn't give us the right that they should take 20 years off of their lives for our entertainment. But I would like to see some statistics on that as far as head trauma's and neck injuries, or other injuries that ultimately shortens lives or leads to a less quality of life.

[OskaloosaChief]

Why the hell even give them the 4th and 15? Just give them 4th and 40 (where only a Hail Mary keeps the ball) or no option at all - just make them punt instead of kickoff. Makes NO sense whatsoever to give a team that JUST scored the ball again, even if the chance of making a 1st is remote.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by OskaloosaChief

Why the hell even give them the 4th and 15? Just give them 4th and 40 (where only a Hail Mary keeps the ball) or no option at all - just make them punt instead of kickoff. Makes NO sense whatsoever to give a team that JUST scored the ball again, even if the chance of making a 1st is remote.

I think it should be at least 4th and 20. Also they need to amend the rules for this special down that no 5yd illegal contact\holding gets an automatic first down just PI.

[Bump]

"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."


that is the worst idea I have ever seen in my entire life.

[GloryDayz]

OK, QBs can't be touched, WR can't be touched, nobody on offense is accountable for their own safety (or their own team member's safety if you're a QB (crossing patterns) - it's all on the defense), scratching the opposing team's helmet will cost you some games on and perhaps $25K (unless you're on offense, then you can use your head all you want and deliver blows to the head [stiff-arm] and even grab the face mask if you want), now we won't do kickoffs.

OK....

[Rain Man]

While I strongly prefer my oval field idea, another possibility would be as follows:

The whistle doesn't blow until the ball carrier is tackled or until he place the ball onto a small shelf on the crossbar. If he is able to place the ball on the shelf, the ball is subsequently placed on the 15 yard line. If the ball carrier is tackled before placing the ball on the shelf, the ball is subsequently place on the 30 yard line.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

While I strongly prefer my oval field idea, another possibility would be as follows:

The whistle doesn't blow until the ball carrier is tackled or until he place the ball onto a small shelf on the crossbar. If he is able to place the ball on the shelf, the ball is subsequently placed on the 15 yard line. If the ball carrier is tackled before placing the ball on the shelf, the ball is subsequently place on the 30 yard line.

I like this. Except on monday night. On monday night games, the game starts by putting the player on the free throw line. If the player makes one or both shots, the ball is spotted on either the 40yl or the opponent's 40yl.

Of course this starts over when an opponent scores.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by jAZ

What would I be refuting exactly? You asked me why I watched football. I pointed out that the kickoff is hardly the reason to watch football.


Umm... It was a Dante Hall like running play for a TD?

Breaking a KO return, breaking a punt return, breaking a long TD run and breaking a long TD pass are all about the same thing.

What makes them exciting is less about the nature of the play, but the competitiveness of the game and the situation it is played in.

I'm certain that they could adjust the rules and find a set of conditions that maintained an equally exciting experience for fans, if they needed to pull out the kick off because it was found to be significantly high risk.

If they took away the kickoff, people would continue to love football. The game would be fine.

I know I'd not be concerned.

Let's get rid of passing over the middle, receivers get hurt, PLUS there is still the running game to make it exciting!!!!!

[Brock]

Seriously, what kind of female-brained knob do you have to be to think virtually eliminating special teams play from the game makes it better, or even the wishy-washy thinking that it would be no worse? Get ****ed, and stop screwing this game up.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Brock

Let's get rid of passing over the middle, receivers get hurt, PLUS there is still the running game to make it exciting!!!!!

I think we should just put them in bumper cars. Safer that way.

[1ChiefsDan]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk
Rams coach Jeff Fisher is "sure" Competition Committee will address possible elimination of kickoff in February http://wp.me/p14QSB-6BqT
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[hometeam]

Make it take it? Is this ****ing half court basketball 8th grade? **** that shit.