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.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Brock

What a great commissioner.

Anybody else noticing the NFL sucks now?

Slowly but surely it's getting worse.

I think the rules changes in 2004 were HORRIBLE in hindsight.

It gives the teams with really good QBs WAY too much of an advantage.

And it created slapdicks like Matt Cassel, who weaseled his way into $60 million.

15 years ago Matt Cassel would never have gotten paid.

[BigMeatballDave]

Eliminating FGs is as stupid as eliminating kickoffs.

****ING LEAVE SHIT ALONE!

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by cookster50

Does this mean less tv timeouts? If so, I'm all for it.

The amount of commercials are simply maddening.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I don't like seeing Shane Drone returning kicks either, but this is ridiculous.

Shaun Draughn:



Shane Drone:

[Rasputin]

"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."


So the team that just scored (ala tommbrady) gets the ball back at their own 30 for a chance to score again? Albiet 4th & 15 if you got Tomm ****ing Brady great. Just kick a field goal and keep kicking fiield goals untill you miss. Damn if you got a hell of a FG kicker your in pretty good shape. Good thing Janitkousky(sp) retired.

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

All the teams are the ****ing same in style.

Well, except for the Chargers and our slow, plodding early-'90s offense (which, by the way, only worked in the '90s because Norv had Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt, and a ridiculously stacked O-line).

[Bearcat]

His idea for a replacement is very gimmicky, especially considering the final couple of minutes where a team is more likely to be successful with the make it take it style than recovering onside kicks.

I've thought about Belichick's comments a few times, and even though I kind of agree, I don't know if it should change. Even if most kickoffs are returned within the 25 or 30, I don't think you can really take away the chance at an extra 20 or 30+ yards and just place it on the 20 or whatever.

My frustration with it though isn't exactly the kickoff itself or the chance (or lack of) that one will be returned beyond the ~25, but with all the stoppages. When I have a game recorded on my DVR, I generally FF from the time a team scores until the next 1st down, skipping the possible delay while reviewing the score, then the EP, commercials, kickoff/return, and commercials. It's basically 5 minutes of pointless football and commercials that usually results in one easy point and the ball at the ~20-25 yard line.

[|Zach|]

This kickoff rule would make it a bit easier to stage a massive comeback. I feel like you are more likely to convert 4th and 15 than grab an onside kick.

[Rasputin]

[QUOTE=KC Tattoo;9185293]"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."


So the team that just scored (ala tommbrady) gets the ball back at their own 30 for a chance to score again? Albiet 4th & 15 if you got Tomm ****ing Brady great.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

So the team that just scored (ala tommbrady) gets the ball back at their own 30 for a chance to score again? Albiet 4th & 15 if you got Tomm ****ing Brady great.

You think because a team has Tom Brady they are going to go for it all the time with 1 down in their own endzone? What?

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

"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."


So the team that just scored (ala tommbrady) gets the ball back at their own 30 for a chance to score again? Albiet 4th & 15 if you got Tomm ****ing Brady great. Just kick a field goal and keep kicking fiield goals untill you miss. Damn if you got a hell of a FG kicker your in pretty good shape. Good thing Janitkousky(sp) retired.

Their own 30... 70 yards away.

I'm sure there's a better chance at converting a 4th and 15 than getting an onside kick back... more exciting, but very gimmicky.

[tk13]

I wonder sometimes what the game will look like in 25 years. This sounds crazy but Goodell is trying to be forward thinking. I posted an article a week or so ago about new discoveries between football and brain damage. It didn't get any responses, and I didn't expect it to... but you wonder how much the game will change over the next couple decades as they figure out playing football causes head trauma and people start freaking out over it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[GoChargers]

Originally Posted by Brock

What a great commissioner.

Anybody else noticing the NFL sucks now?

I've certainly noticed.

Goodell has become mad with power and the officiating has become a joke. The league bends over for Kraft, Green Bay, and the Rooneys on a yearly basis.

For the first time in my life, I can honestly say that the NBA provides a better product than the NFL, especially since $tern is leaving at the end of the year.

[BigCatDaddy]

I'm considering doing away with Goodell.

[Hammock Parties]

Goodell is a ****ing moron...basically if you don't have an elite kick returner, kickoffs are a waste of time now.

I haven't been interested in a single Chiefs kickoff return this year. Every single one is bullshit.