The NFL’s owners’ meetings kicked off in New Orleans today and the first order of business was to create a new set of rules that will impact two specific areas of the game.
According to ESPN, the owners, and head coaches, voted and the results are in: there has been an alteration to kickoffs and instant replay, while the groundwork has been established on a rule involving penalties on defenseless players.
Kickoffs, which have traditionally started from the 30-yard-line, will now be spotted at the 35-yard-line; 26 voters were in favor of this new rule, with just six objections.
Although the league’s competition committee wanted two-man wedges eliminated on kick returns altogether, the coaches objected and the wedges will still be allowed. Touchbacks will also continue to be spotted at the 20-yard-line, as per usual.
The NFL has cited player safety as the primary reason for altering kickoffs, though some of the more established kick returners are none too pleased. Take, for example, the Cleveland Browns’ Josh Cribbs, who took to Twitter to express his displeasure.
“NFL rule changes are BS… U not making the game safer u messing a great sport, trynna hide behind safety just to add 2 games…smh,” he wrote.
“… This means it will be touchbacks all over the place…,” he continued. “Essentially taking returners out of the game…injuries will still take place, then what move it up again, or eliminate it all together..”
Arguably the league’s best kick returner, Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears, also disagrees with the changes, and touched on the subject during a radio interview with ESPN 1000.
“They’re going too far. They’re changing the whole fun of the game,” Hester said Tuesday on “The Waddle & Silvy Show.” “Fans come out — especially in Chicago — to see returns. That’s one of the key assets to the team. Fans [like] our big returns. You take that out of the game, not only do they kick it out of bounds when it’s time to punt the ball, now you get the disadvantage on kickoffs. We felt we were guaranteed [a chance] on kickoff returns and now you’re taking that away, it’s like you’re taking the whole return game out of the picture.”
While we can understand the frustration of those two players — after all, they make their living as return men — New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton thinks it’s the right thing to do if safety is the primary objective.
“The bottom line is it’s … the highest risk of injury play,” he said.
Another major rule change was to the instant replay system. Under the new guidelines, the booth replay official will need to confirm plays that result in scores before a coach can use a challenge. The number of challenges will remain the same; if a coach is successful with the two he’s given per game, he’ll be awarded a third.
The instant replay proposal passed with a tally of 30-2, and one of the approving votes, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, thinks it will help bring some clarity to the field.
“It’s kind of like the college rule, kind of cleans it up a little bit,” Belichick said. “I think any time the pro rules and the college rules are the same that’s better for the fans. It’s easier to follow, you know, one foot, two foot, all the things like that. To make it more consistent, that’s better.”
Finally, the NFL agreed to language changes in a rule involving hits and penalties on defenseless players — a storyline of sorts during the 2010 season. Several players were fined left and right for questionable hits last year; the new rules, expected to “eventually” pass, will clearly define what is and what is not allowed.
In total, out of the five proposals that were announced during the meetings, four have been approved. The changes will take effect in time for the 2011 season.
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I vote for no rule changes on the kick off. The proposed rule change that takes returns out of the game is terrible! Pretty soon, we’ll be watching a game with nothing of the sport, but nice hand shakes all around during plays, while say “excuse me while I walk by.” What the dickens is happening year by year to the sport we all love so much.
Could they make NFL games any more boring? I’m sorry but they might as well put the ball on the 20 yard line and review every play. I’ve been watching NFL football for 25 years and have accepted all the rule changes until now. I think I’ll go play some video games…
They have moved it around from the 40 to the 35 to the 30 and now back to the 35. Move it back to the 40 and we would have just gone around in a circle, proving nothing.
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