NFL passes rule limiting kickoff returns

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 22, 2011 | Dan Pompei

[Impy]

NEW ORLEANS — Opposing players haven't had much luck slowing return ace Devin Hester, but opposing team owners did so Tuesday when they passed a rule that will make it more difficult to return kickoffs.

The Bears steadfastly opposed the proposal to move kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 and voted against it to no avail.

Kickers will find it much easier to reach the end zone and force the returner to settle for a touchback as opposed to risking a big return. It is anticipated the touchback rate could more than double to near 40 percent.

Coach Lovie Smith acknowledged the new rule would make it more difficult for the Bears.

"We'll still be able to get returns in," he said before the rule was passed Tuesday. "We'll find ways to deal with it."

The league implemented the rule because it found a higher incidence of collision injuries, specifically concussions, on kickoffs. But Smith said the Bears had incurred only one injury in two years, and that was an ankle sprain.

[trisham]

Rush commented on this on Tuesday. As per usual, I think he was right on. The under lying reason is to be able to add more commercials. More touchbacks, instant replays after each touchdown. It will increase revenue and downtime, in my opinion more boring.

************************************

That's interesting. It wouldn't surprise me, either.

[dfwgator]

The Islanders are a hockey team? Who knew?

[trisham]

Thanks. I’ll have to remember to check that out.

[Texas Eagle]

That stinks. They need to make kickoffs more exciting, not less.

The kicking team shouldn't be able to even start running downfield until the ball has been kicked and the ball should be placed at the 10 instead of the 20 if the receiver decides to down it in the end zone.

If the kicker kicks it throught the end zone, then it should be placed at the 20.

But then, when has The NFL ever tried to make the game more exciting.

[kevkrom]

Years ago, they kicked off from the 40 yard line. There were so many touchbacks that they moved the kickoff back to the 35, then the 30, to encourage kickoff returns. Now they are going in the opposite direction, to encourage more touchbacks. It's just like adjusting the height of the pitcher's mound in baseball, really. I think moving the kickoffs to the 30 was overkill, and that a move back to the 35 is reasonable. There should still be kicks returned, just not quite as many, and it will likely average out to about a 5 yard field position change (average start at the 20 instead of the 25), which is probably for the best as well.

[dfwgator]

Just placing the ball at the 20 would eliminate the onsides kick. That would be a loss. Comebacks would be kneecapped.

Years ago, The Hulu Bowl had a rule where in the second half, if the trailing team scored a touchdown, the other team would have to kick off to them.

I've always wondered what football would be like if they adopted the rule that a team scoring a touchdown would retain possession, until the opposing team stops them.

[dfwgator]

Limit timeouts in college and NBA basketball games to only THREE in the last three minutes of a game!

Or allow the team getting fouled to decline the free throws and just reset the shot clock. Why should a team be rewarded for fouling?

[wastedyears]

Oh, that’s mean.

[dfwgator]

Of course I should talk with the way my Stars have been playing of late.

[So Cal Rocket]

The NFL should implement the “Rouge”, 1-point for touchbacks.

I think the opposite. Instead of rewarding the kicking team for one of the most boring events in sports, the touchback, they should be punished... I propose that if the kicking team kicks the ball into the endzone on the fly then the ball should be brought out to the 35. If it bounces in, the ball goes to the 20. This will encourage the kicking team to keep the ball in play, and encourage the receiving team to not just let the ball roll into the endzone.

[wastedyears]

I think since Dec. 16th, the Islanders are second in the lead in points.

Their second line isn’t a second at all, more like a 1A as my dad has said. Okposo, Nielsen and Grabner are just that good together.

Montoya has been pretty solid for them as well; I think the problem comes with having to score goals.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Impy. This here is a stupid idea:

Kickers will find it much easier to reach the end zone and force the returner to settle for a touchback as opposed to risking a big return.

The NFL jackoffs can call this the "More Boring Game Rule". What assholes.

Instead of that, roughing the kicker should result in the offending player to have both his effin' legs broken on the 50 yard line. At least half the stadium would cheer loud enough to shake the paint off the taxpayer-supported stadium.