NFL Debuted New Kickoff & People Are Split On It | Pat McAfee Reacts

[@natek9956]

We need to have a ref stand out there in the middle of the two lines wearing a crop top and booty shorts with 2 flags to signal when the boys can leave like a drag race

[@sirmightyduck]

😂LMAOOO

[@majorplothole2620]

but it has to be - by law - the surliest, largest, male referee available. Or like, I can't remember the dude's name, the ref who was a full time lawyer, but like was jacked as all hell - muscles for days. that dude - in basically what amounts to a skimpier 'ken from barbie' outfit and yeah. that'd be the best.

[@account2292]

Always in Chiefs colors no doubt.

[@Smitty_Werbenjagermanjenson]

@@majorplothole2620 Ed Hochuli?

[@ferociousfil5747]

Not sure you want to see some of those refs in crop tops and short shorts…

[@toolisgod6]

Good thing he brought in Pacman for this. The 4 words he was allowed to say were really insightful..........

[@ZinsWorld]

I know right

[@TheKrumster]

Not having an onside kick ruins a couple epic moments a year

[@MikeyScott5C]

Yeah, just think, what would Super Bowl 44, the Saints vs Colts, look like without the Onside kick to open the second half. It’s possible the Saints never would’ve won a Super Bowl if not for that epic call. Drew Brees and Sean Payton’s legacy would be diminished significantly. Sean Payton would most certainly not be the Head Coach of the Broncos currently. He likely wouldn’t be a head coach at all. He would’ve been fired after those 3 straight seasons of going 7-9. (2014, 2015, & 2016).

[@christianpilosi9563]

Sure, a couple super rare surprise onside kicks, but you also take away 14,000 kickoffs out of the end zone with no return at all. At least now there will be actual kick returns and real gameplay on kickoffs most of the time. I'll take that trade.

[@ChaoticMisfit]

@@christianpilosi9563 Nah, I think to start the year people will try to play with the new kick off... But based on what I saw elite returners will be taking it to the house which will lead to teams just going back to booting the ball out of the end zone.

[@ZVPieGuy]

The onside kick already died years ago. This new rule doesn't affect that.

[@robertrink7451]

Wait there's still onside kicks just notclike they used to be there's certain times like end of half maybe last 2 mins and at end. I'm not positive but I think I heard that

[@sergiogutierrez8834]

THIS WILL BE THE MOST FLAGGED PLAY IN THE NFL THIS YEAR MARK MY WORDS

[@gusswier3952]

Lets see a whistle to start the play, a gong when everybody can go and a whistle to end the play.😂😂

[@theghost4282]

Why even kick it at that point just start the returner with the ball at the 15 and on whistle start. Let’s bring it all the way to track an field.

[@z34567890123456]

Fog horn to signal the kickoff, gong when you can go, and then normal whistle when they get tackled.

[@impossivel2006]

whistle to start the play, fireworks when you ca go, and banjo solo to end the play

[@DavidEthridge-e1r]

Excellent. And then we just replace "Start Me Up" with "Bang a Gong." 😜

[@mack6357]

YES! WE NEED A GONG!

[@mikewhite2457]

To fix the start of the return, they need the back judge standing by the returner with his arm in the air. When it is touched he drops it and the cover team attacks. All they do is focus on that referee. This is a great addition. We needed to bring the kickoff back into the game like it was in the minor level games.

[@mdkleistify]

I bet Cribbs, or Hester could come out of retirement right now and score on one of those returns next week.

[@softjones3128]

Hester is one of my favorite players ever and I'm a LIons fan

[@michaelcarver7693]

I definitely enjoyed watching Hester except twice a year vs my pussycats (back then). Now the ROAR has been restored. SB LIX Detroit vs Anyone

[@bolbyballinger]

Honestly, if Derrick Henry is made the return man he's gonna win mvp for special teams. There is no way he gets THAT much of a running start and doesn't demolish some records.

[@mdkleistify]

@@softjones3128 I swear to you I called that Super Bowl kickoff TD as soon as the ball was kicked... As the cameras are flashing I go, "he's gonna house it". I wish I had that realization like 3 hours earlier to put some money on it, but the way that season was going I'm probably not the only one who had that same thought. Was that the year Prince killed it too?

[@clintonreisig]

Rich, too

[@aye_Deno]

The bad thing is it feels like returns now are gonna be between the 25-35 yard line, or a house call. No in between. No open field tackles once you get passed that big barrage of people. I fear it's gonna get stale REALLY fast

[@alexandergonzales4221]

RIP to the opening kick off of a big game with all the cameras flashing

[@LiquidMetalMover]

Super Bowl 41

[@alexandergonzales4221]

⁠​⁠@@softjones3128you’re thinking too hard fam

[@Beezle66]

Who tf needs flash nowadays? This hasn't been a thing for years😂

[@LiquidMetalMover]

@@Beezle66 Camera flashes in crowds at big events like SuperBowls and Wrestlemanias makes the event feel special…

[@alexandergonzales4221]

@@LiquidMetalMoverthey clearly don’t get it

[@Tuck7326]

The nfl doesn't need new rules, it needs a new commissioner.

[@joesmiley5726]

NFL is going to need soccer off side cameras. Absolutely leaving early has to be reviewed on every kickoff

[@belegur8108]

you mean "rest-of-the-world-football" ? 😅🤣

[@Nono-di6hg]

EZ no brainer solution, they'll know before the play ends

[@theteeman]

VAR in the NFL hmmm

[@db212006]

@@belegur8108 He meant "poverty football" the sport that all 3rd worlders play with a ball and a field of grass 🤣

[@russellnolan9212]

Ever since some "great" mind thought: we'll move the kicker UP to kick into the END ZONE, it's been a batchazz way to go! MODERN NFL.

[@jakejohnson4018]

Why don’t we just agree you get millions of dollars to risk your health and keep football how it was? If you don’t like it don’t play

[@stephenwatson8040]

Owners in the NFL are ruining the game of football. Where does an onside kickoff come in? I hate this, it's stupid, it gets worse every year.

[@steelershayabusa4550]

Hate all the new changes in college and nfl. Oh well I got memories of when the sport was the best.

[@jerryfinger8659]

They make it more softer every year.

[@jessicabecause3717]

And I got the rest of my life to enjoy the rest!

[@sixter4157]

I miss when the return team could make a wedge to bust through the coverage team.

[@JakeStz]

Problem with a whistle to start is that we all know the whistle will errantly be delayed a second while KC is returning and score a needed touchdown in the AFC Championship.

[@Its_Rihplz]

Legitimate

[@memeteam2016]

as it should be

[@brianstrutter1501]

Stop being ridiculous

[@denkeylee]

How do you do an onside kick??????

[@samuelramos4504]

they will repeat the following play 3 times for "clock issues" until KC is in scoring position

[@Infamousbnh]

Legislating football out of football is a wild concept

[@tjn2254]

The nfl is trash now

[@jimbalsbaugh7365]

I hate the new kickoff rules. All of them. Imagine if the Saints were by rule unable to open the second half of their Super Bowl without the onside kick. Total BS.

[@RipliWitani]

We are in late stage capitalism. Companies need to make more money because they have too much growth debt. More parity more money

[@Talesofaweedsmoker]

facts since now Onside kicks are no longer a surprise. the saints caught indy off guard by the onside kick with the new rule saints would have to declare so indy would know what was coming onside kicks are dead and nfl killed it.

[@mopillo88]

One moment vs 10k or more touchbacks... pfff

[@matthewwoodard9810]

I would have been much happier that day 😂😂😂😂

[@rukus9585]

That's definitely the worst part.

[@Foggen]

It wasn't the offsides guy who made the tackle, he got blocked. It was the guy next to him who was still in front of the runner...

[@trueempire8948]

Seeing the kickoff played one way for 30 plus years now seeing this to me this is a drastic change im not sure about it.

[@mattr791]

Its a lot more interesting than watching a ball bounce through the endzone

[@JonDGAF]

I feel the exact same way.

[@litrick1491]

Doesn’t 10 people that far ahead of the ball break a fundamental rule of football? Lineup behind the ball…. One of the simplest first rules….

[@brubie7584]

Problem is kickoff has been dying lately. People just boot it through the back of the end zone. It was this or remove kickoffs basically

[@danielbronson2072]

​@brubie7584 but that's because they moved the kickers up 10 yards like 2 season ago they should have just left it the way it was

[@theelevatorSRT8]

I like it, but there is a flaw. I would kick it into the end zone every time. Take the spot at the 30 because every return is going to make it out to the 25 minimum. Why chance a longer return?

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

Put lights in the end zone/sideline. When it turns green, you go.

[@MikeyScott5C]

It would be better on top of the Goal Post

[@OscarMike-ns5ub]

@@MikeyScott5Cand have them on the sideline in between them with a red light green light with a sensor that will go off if you leave early

[@aTofuJunkie]

@@OscarMike-ns5ub What if they are Red/Green Colorblind?

[@Dizzifying1]

@@aTofuJunkie You are acting like we don't use a red/green light system for traffic currently...

[@trg618911]

Put up a retractable wall that drops into the ground when the ball is caught.

[@gunnarkay8060]

Here's an idea, Kick the ball off from the 25 yard line, if its a touchback the receiving team gets the ball at their own 20. 😮 Line the defenders up at both 40 yard lines. Kick returners will be more incentivized to return the kick to gain more than just 20 yards. Its dumb that they ever changed the traditional FOOTBALL KICK OFF from the game to begin with. BUT putting all defenders at the 40s would shorten the distance between the runners and the impacts wouldnt be as bad, and it could have some semblance of the original game! 🙄

[@mcgauley10]

dudes are already getting lit up

[@jhank0cean]

I thought the neutral zone area was going to be closer lol They still got like 20-30 yards to get up to full speed... the 40 times for Special Team defenders go brrrrrr

[@LegitYapper]

Even though it isn’t the starters, it’s guys fighting to make the final roster.

[@GriffinThomasMFCEO]

Good

[@Jasper118]

You should go watch the old kickoffs and refresh your memory

[@Jasper118]

@@ProfileRacing89 dudes gotta way more messed up in the old kick offs this is nothing

[@WesleyImboden]

How about a new rule, kicking team isn’t allowed to move until the ball carrier reaches the end zone. That way nobody gets tackled and no one gets hurt??

[@broken927]

It's time they implement two-hand touch.

[@appathegoat]

That’ll be when they lose 98% of their fans

[@jacobbaker4941]

It’s getting there they already banned the hip drop tackle eventually it will just be flag football where you’re not ever allowed to tackle anyone R.I.P kickoff

[@burtknighten4438]

I always wanted a simple punt like from a safety kick

[@UpYourArsenal]

But will they wear bras and tinfoil hats?

[@econhelp583]

Should have left the old rules and pushed the kicker back so the kicker couldn’t just pop it out the back of the end zone.

[@johnconner6846]

Missed the whole point of the change

[@ish0tyou993]

They pushed the kick up 10 yards to prevent kick returns from happening too often due to occurring injuries. Moving it back to its original spot would undo the purpose of moving it up. So this experimental change is to hopefully limit injuries and make kick returns become part of the game again.

[@k9under]

@@johnconner6846 injuries

[@HondaRiderX17]

​@@johnconner6846 exactly. The point if the change is stupid.

[@RipliWitani]

NFL is liable for injuries because of how employment works. Even contractors have rights. The NFL get sued every year because they are responsible for the health of the contractors

[@Joe__________]

Im 40 used to be a huge fan, becoming less of a fan every year, I only watch my home team games now and even dont go out of my way to do that anymore, NFL isnt what it used to be

[@jimiverson6171]

gives the NFL more opportunity to rig games, and change game at the last second... Great for all the legalized betting now, don't ya think?

[@scottrichmond3548]

They should put a big sign saying "GO" on the scoreboard like in Forrest Gump

[@murraylighty5636]

There is no split on how people feel that s*** sucks

[@edwardbrock3807]

Right!

[@IrishDocmakes]

Put a drag strip starter tree in each end zone 😂😂

[@bernardmayles6564]

I don't think people are split on it, I think everybody hates it

[@GoodJobBuddy]

The guy (26) who got off the line first in that first kickoff didn't actuality make the play. It was (80) that made that tackle

[@cliffvoelker9276]

The holder waving after the kickoff 😂🤣🏃‍♂️

[@theteeman]

Yeah FR 😆

[@Olliethesnowman]

Should of interviewed Devin Hester about this

[@ezescapes2196]

They need multiple stoppages where HQ can change to outcome of the game. Leaving more of these question marks allows for the league to interpret and determine the outcome of these games, especially for the “big” games. Fixed outcomes are reached on small step at a time.

[@jeffsmith2706]

Just put the flags on their hips . The nfl went from a sport of toughness to a sport of cowards. Absolutely pathetic.

[@joesmith-vz1vx]

I realize the game is called "FOOTball" but I seriously think they should eliminate kicking in any capacity altogether. You have to go for 2 points after a touchdown, and you have to go for it on 4th downs, even if you're own 5 yard line. It will eventually even out, but would create a ton of excitement...

[@TalkingThrones]

It looks ridiculous. I don't expect this new rule to last long.

[@mopillo88]

Its gonna lmao, its better

[@utmastuh]

It's universally disliked by personnel and fans. They'll go back next year

[@andreareynolds6143]

@@utmastuhI’ll take that bet

[@nomercy4186]

@@utmastuhno, no they won’t actually 😂

[@KemTitan]

It's looks dumb and boring..They just do away with it and just start on the 20 if they are so afraid of injuries.

[@bbkingme8831]

The kickoff didnt even injure ppl compared to regular plays. They drumped it because they want commercial time. Its always a kickoff then commercials.

[@gothard5]

Thank you for saying the people of Ohio are wonderful, Pat. We are indeed quite wonderful.

[@joeyboy676]

Inside 2 minutes a team should be allowed to announce an on side kick and line up the same way. You can’t eliminate onside kicks from the game. That’s the worst thing.

[@AtticusScape]

They should put a light bar or something on the bottom of the upright. Have it default to yellow during regular play but on kickoffs it is red. Then change the light to green when they can leave the line.

[@Jadani-vp1lj]

Great idea

[@edwardbrock3807]

Genius!

[@AbsoluteHero42]

Though not used often, that moment. Everyone standing one their toes, the what if we get the on side, the hype, the hope, the pressure.... no mas

[@Onesteve3333]

Why even keep the kicking part of the kickoff? Just give the returner the ball in the end zone, let everyone line up according to these new rules and when the ref blows his whistle, everyone can move, including the guy with the ball already in his hands. You get one extra cover guy, there's no confusion on when players can move, and the kickers are less likely to get injured and teams don't have to rely on backup kickers as much.

[@entheogenocide]

It's funny that it's called football and we are discussing removing using the foot completely from the game 😂

[@GoodNews-px2im]

They never should have changed the kickoff rules in the first place. Just go back to when they weren't consistently kicking through the end zone, and the touchback was the 20, and let the kickoff do its thing.

[@abrahamgrigsby9300]

Rule probably needs to be that the kicking team can't move until it lands, but the receiving team can't move until the kicking team moves, since they are turned away from the ball. As far as calling false starts and policing jumpoffs, I'm not sure it's any different than sprinters and swimmers having to train themselves not to false start... I feel like nfl players can do the same.

[@miked2721]

That’s the rule - the receiving team has to be turned around? I was wondering why the receiving team was watching the returners and retreating back instead of moving forward to block as soon as a kicking team player moved.

[@controlZchannel]

But if you've ever played kickoff it's hard to tell when the ball has landed. You can't see everything.

[@Dukes3677]

​@@controlZchannelespecially 60 yards away lmao

[@Dukes3677]

​@miked2721 no he means they're turned towards the kicking team, not their returner

[@somethingsomething8511]

Or linesmen not going offsides in football. I don't get this concern

[@wildcat8598]

I understand there are a lot of hard hits and injuries on kickoffs but I wish we can just go back to the “normal” way of football.

[@christianlefler8134]

About to be seeing returners learning how to "deek" someone out. 🤣

[@thehollics7067]

For the linemen, put lights on the goal post and give the button to the ref. When the ball is caught or bounces, the light turns green and the defense can move. Also have lights on the sidelines that are tied to the goal lights that the line ref can use to see if the defensive line is offsides.

[@LeviBulger]

Yeah remote lights seem like the most logical way to do it.

[@waltsoph3]

I wasn't a fan of this when it was introduced in XFL 2.0 and I'm never going to approve of it. I prefer the traditional kickoff. There's more risk and reward. Plus you have the onside kick. The UFL stuck to the USFL's traditional kick off rule. ( Do me a favor UFL PLEASE keep the current kick off rule. You'll get more viewers now next year! ) Thanks for reading. ( P.S. On a side note to help answer anyone's question on the current NFL's Onside at the time of this post: The Onside kick can only be allowed in the 4th quarter and you have to declare it. So much for being able to do what the New Orleans Saint's 2nd half opener surprise onside kick that helped them win a Super Bowl. 🙄 )

[@lostalone9320]

Problem with "risk vs reward" is that the risk was almost entirely of returners getting injured. There are more kicks where players get injured than there are big returns, there are radically more kicks where players get injured than successful onside kicks.

[@ajdaking507]

Thats because football is a violent game. Injuries and a lot of them them is just a part of it. If you can't take the fat, don't eat the Twinkie

[@userac-xpg]

you also have to be losing to do the onside kick.

[@skilz8098]

I would like to see a copy of the original rule book on football from its original inception from the 1800s. Have them play by those rules, otherwise it's not Football anymore.

[@Z64sports]

​@@skilz8098 That would be fun for a secondary league

[@Chronic0420]

Remember just five years ago when we had normal kick offs and didn’t have to deal with all this we could just enjoy the game yeah I sure do

[@michaelhaslam3496]

Not a Good Idea ! The Best Game of Football is Canadian Football. No Touch Backs , No Fair Catches.

[@davidbuswa9425]

Don't forget the 3 Minute Warning. No Lead Is Safe

[@Drewpost19]

Guarantee this ends with every team kicking it out of the endzone

[@mdkleistify]

Teams that have a good one cut wide zone back, and are willing to use them on returns, are going to dominate this. Could you imagine a dude like Chubb, or McCaffrey getting to hit that hole? That's a TD every time.

[@juannapoles5486]

Deebo would be a menace

[@bolbyballinger]

I have a better idea. Derrick. Henry. These guys are getting a massive running start which eliminates Henry's acceleration weakness.

[@RipliWitani]

Dameon Pierce already took one to the house. He will have 3 return tds in 2024

[@MyTardisGoWhoosh]

Watch my Cowboys run a few back this year.. sleeping on my boy Turpin

[@preston1382]

There is a failure in understanding even if there are more touchdowns they won’t be as exciting as they used to be. If you break through the first line here you’re gone, you used to have to beat multiple guys at different levels.

[@benmecha01]

once there’s a week where there’s like 5+ TD returns on the kickoff we’ll see more changes unfortunately

[@tonyb7615]

Yeah, it's almost as if for years now, rules are being changed to accommodate a guarantee of records constantly needing to be broken.

[@xslonk]

I love when people fix things that aren't broken.

[@mattholden2517]

Why couldn't they just move the kicker back and move touchbacks up? Also you have to announce onside kicks now? It's getting to be really ridiculous.

[@pebble312]

that doesn’t solve the safety issue at all which is indirectly why touchbacks have been at a 90%+ rate the last few years So that “solution” isn’t really a solution at all lmao, but I will say that the onside part of this rule is my least favorite part so I can agree there. I think the kickoff itself is fine actually but the implication that you can’t surprise onside is really really bad imo so agreed 😅

[@kennethburchfield9239]

@@pebble312the player have pads for a reason. You are soft.

[@pebble312]

@@kennethburchfield9239 idk what to tell you man, im just telling this guy the reason that the nfl was changing the kickoff rules in the first place. players got significantly more injuries on kickoff than any other play in football and it wasn’t close. So they wanted to make it safer, which is why they started playing with the kickoff rules a few years back. I’m just the messenger here i didn’t make that decision lmfao, tf are you getting mad at me for 🤣

[@chuckHart70]

​@@pebble312bro who cares about safety this is ridiculous but I bet you watch the ufc! Just cancel football it's becoming a clown show

[@QuezJ81]

@@chuckHart70 And you're prob some outta shape dude. You go out there and hit. You're soft.

[@MrShanester117]

Man it’s really snowing in that studio 😂

[@justaguy328]

The NFL has pretty much destroyed the kickoff with these stupid rule changes, and now they destroy it even further by eliminating the surprise onside kick for the trash concept they came up with. The kickoff was perfectly fine the way it was played for literal decades. There was zero need to change it. Go back to what it was. Move the ball back and have the players line up and get the running start with kicker like God intended it to be.

[@bobthebadguy6876]

Mark me down as a hater. It's completely ridiculous.

[@rubengutierrez5102]

They messed up professional football! Straight turned the NFL into a powder puff United Football League! They removed a third of the kicking game, and now, the way defensive players can tackle has been changed as well, they've ruined the National Football League!

[@jessehernandez8439]

Penalize to the 10 yard line for touch backs… force them to play.

[@MLPIceberg]

That won't happen. I wish it would.

[@somethingsomething8511]

I say move the landing zone up 30 yards and make em re kick it

[@skilz8098]

Nah, the original rule was always the 20 - yard line, they had to go 80 yards from there, 4/5 of the field. I wouldn't make a touch back at the 10 nor the 30. The 25 was sort of okay but for me, it made the field look short on plays when there was a touch back. I prefer the 20 as it always has been except until recently.

[@kathyviglione4226]

Why do they keep changing the greatest game on earth.. Like it won't stop changing until people foot down and refuse to watch some games

[@seth_capaldi]

I really thought we'd never see a Devin Hester type again, I'm just glad the refs wont be placing the ball at the 25 and blowing the whistle anymore.

[@FHL-Devils]

Yeah, it got to the point where the kickoff was a waste of a play. People need to remember that this is sports ENTERTAINMENT, and there's no question that this improves that.

[@RickAcklin]

Ohhh i see , Nfl = WWE now? 🤔 🎉

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Im sitting here wondering what the hell was wrong with the old kickoffs/returns?

[@scotthallinan4609]

The new onside kick rule is absolutely stupid.

[@yaknow5252]

Apparently you don't watch spring football. If you did. You would know it's was successful and very entertaining

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

It looks so weird

[@t-boneskillet1496]

Touch back all day long...too risky for a TD return. On top of that, every return under this format was returned to 30yard line b4 1st contact.

[@tatechasers2393]

there's gonna be a lot of returns, 2 good blocks and the returner won't be caught, could be 5% of the time could be 10%, I would bet there is a guy who gets 7 returns this year

[@ajp7914]

man i hope so. how could you not love a nice return td

[@bolbyballinger]

And on certain teams it could be WAY higher. Like, this looks like Derrick Henry's wet dream. If the Ravens are smart he's gonna be returning kicks and it wouldn't shock me if he got a td every single game that way.

[@TILIS214]

Turpin on the Cowboys or Deuce Vaughn watch

[@Saint_Noel]

The NFL wants more return. It’s exciting and will bring more eyes and money.

[@ChaoticMisfit]

I think the first couple weeks there will be then people will just go back to kicking the ball into the end zone and giving the ball on the 30.

[@robertpate6241]

Why kick it at all? One player from each team on the their 40, rest of the team is at their 30. Ball dropped from a drone at the fifty. You can advance once the ball hits the ground. Let the bounce and the wind decide who gets first possession. This would update the military symbolism in football and be fresh. People are interested in fresh even if they don't like it. People would tune in just to watch the "Dropoff".

[@JHobartMusic72]

How about they position themselves like NBA tipoff but with each team’s entire roster placed in staggered positions leaving the center of the field an open circle. Drop the ball from a 100 feet from a drone… Players are free to move to catch the ball as soon as it’s dropped. Don’t think anyone will ever complain about being boring ever again 😂😂😂😂

[@robertpate6241]

@@JHobartMusic72 I think running at each other like a medieval Hollywood movie is better. Plus the first guy would most like lateral pass back as to not get clobbered.

[@JHobartMusic72]

@@robertpate6241 I do think it makes it a better play but they need to discourage touchbacks like make the field position bad enough to force the kicker to really try to hit the zone. I think this is better than an opening kick off where they kick it up into the opposing side end zone stands 🤣 I think anything that reduces injuries is good because as a long time fan and Michigan alum, I have always wanted each team to be able to play with their best players no injuries so we never have to hear “yeah well we didn’t have our (insert star player here) and I think this change at least helps alleviate that full blown charge down the field.

[@zacklarson2918]

I think the answer is to call it like offsides in hockey. Just make it sort of a "eye" rule. Instruct the refs to not be too strict on it.

[@MLPIceberg]

But the NFL doesn't care about consistency since the Refs love to throw flags damn near every play.

[@somethingsomething8511]

Or you know, offsides in football 😂

[@larky368]

So what happens when the kicking team needs to regain possession? That's gone now. Why don't they just flip a coin to decide who wins and don't even bother playing?

[@Superhunan]

My question is what do we do about the record books when they start breaking them.

[@christianrapper5]

Nothing. Rules constantly change and no league has altered anything about the record books.

[@draconicdust3435]

Before 24/25 season and after 24/25 season. It's not that crazy.

[@jacobsims8307]

Just no self respecting sports fan put them in the same category?

[@cmbells7736]

You know how when they talk passing or running stats they mention era's, it will kind of be like that.

[@jessemontgomery8987]

Might as well just get rid of the kick off at this point. Not much difference between 25 yard line and 30. Coaches were completely fine with letting teams have the 25

[@deondaniely973]

Why don't they just leave it alone and let it be football? It's like manhood is being destroyed. This is terrible.

[@happygolucky1184]

Each year the NFL comes up with new ways to convince me to stop watching altogether.

[@Legacy4K]

This punishes kickers who can kick farthest. Not happy.

[@vinnybobby3450]

It doesn't hurt to go one season and try it this way. Theres always a time when we can revert back to traditional kick offs or to another experimental kick off

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Yes it does, especially if it kills viewership, and people will stop watching over this.

[@madman1659]

The thing that bugs me about college ball is that every time they kick it out of the endzone they don't give the other team a chance to return. I know that is a strategy but it is boring to watch. At lease with this they are forcing action.

[@foozlepop]

I feel like coaches are just going to say “screw it” and take a touchback to the 30 😒

[@Sammytwo4]

If it's not broke, don't fix it!!!!!

[@knyfe-wrench2015]

And it was broke. Getting the whole team on the field to kick the ball out the back of the endzone is incredibly boring.

[@TechBound26]

It was 1000% broke! Just seeing the ball go out of the end zone…..oh man that’s ‘So ExCiTiNG’….zzzzzzzz

[@BruceRichwineJr]

Well, kicker salaries are about to get massively reduced.

[@NickTemperistic]

Not having the commentator saying "And we are underway" while the kicking team runs down the field in epic form is in insult to the game. Anyone who like the new rule was never a fan of the sport.

[@joshuaschlies7751]

Why not just a long snap to a returner? It takes the kicker out of it, but resolves the issue with early starts off the line

[@sbthighlights7291]

Definitely need to watch more, but I can bet there’s gonna be a toooon more return TDs though

[@redsand-fi5oe]

you mean touchbacks. No kicking unit will be kicking the ball to returners after the first week.

[@bolbyballinger]

@@redsand-fi5oe Yeah, and if they do yo might as well hand MVP to Derrick Henry because this is EXACTLY what he was designed for.

[@pebble312]

@@redsand-fi5oehow can there possibly be more touchbacks than what we already have? the problem with the kickoff rn is that its already like a 90%+ touchback rate, that’s literally what this rule is designed to prevent 😂

[@davidrobinson3154]

​​@@pebble312 that's what *moving the touch back to the 30* was designed to prevent. The counterpoint is that once return teams figure out who to put out and what to do with the new *Formation* , it's gonna be so hard to stop big plays and return TDs that teams are just gonna take the 30yd touch back anyways

[@ChaoticMisfit]

@@pebble312 The rule was designed to prevent the kick off injuries. Thich is why both teams line up 10 yards apart and on the receiving side of the field. To prevent the high speed impact.

[@wazgs2625]

Put a light under each goalpost that is controlled by the back judge and it activates it on the catch. This allows both teams equal reaction by watching for the light and can be looking forward to the opposing goalpost. Also a light is placed on the sidelines at the 37 yard line for the line judges to react to.

[@supernerd9284]

Kickoff is iconic and shouldn't change

[@bigmrclean]

All pro sports can't leave nothing alone. The more they change it the more they screw it up.

[@alevensalor]

A dumb kickoff explained by cocaine in human form. Not on my 2024 bingo card.

[@templumofaten]

This makes the NFL look bad… horrible kickoff change, just horrible…

[@JVig77]

To me it looks like there will be a lot knee and ankle injuries.

[@somethingsomething8511]

I believe that's called football

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Oh no the millionaires are getting hurt playing the kids game, spare me.

[@richardcanez6647]

When a simple kick off became a 10-20 step program within itself smh. Im looking st my tattoo and asking myself, when did America become whimps with all these rules and regulations.

[@theaverageDon]

The new kickoff just means another part of the game the viewing audience will now tune out, like it's a commercial before the REAL ACTION begins 🙄😮‍💨

[@robbhays8077]

No onsides kick is un-American. I hate it.

[@danielspader4272]

How do you onside kick under the new rule?

[@houseofchinn6112]

It's literally been explained many times over a long period of time. Just look it up or watch any piece of media that has covered it. If you don't know by now, go back to your rock

[@squidwarddeep5064]

@@houseofchinn6112why wouldn’t you just explain it to him instead of typing all that😭

[@squidwarddeep5064]

You have to warn the refs/other team first

[@houseofchinn6112]

@@squidwarddeep5064 now kickers are less valuable. No more dribbles, poock kicks, squib, high bounce kicks. Diminished their skill set. I think besides college, it'll be less of a skill from youth and HS players

[@LV_daWEED]

@@houseofchinn6112you on your period or something ?

[@crankitorspankit]

As a non football native, but big football fan, I have a question about the tactics around the return. Pat mentioned the goal being to put the ball between the 5-10 yard lines. Is there value in having the ball land on the 20 so that returners have less time for lanes to develop and get defenders quicker?

[@Rasdawg915]

Fans are split. 99% hate it. 1% aren't actually fans.

[@MiKen877]

I don't hate it entirely, need to have a better way of pulling off an onside kick without having to declare it. One of the best ways of pulling one off is when you do it by surprise.

[@jmommy881]

It's the dumbest thing that the NFL did, next to giving Witch Goodell a life time contract.

[@mr.mediabomber2358]

If the NFL want to limit hitting take away the facemasks, the shoulder pads, and turn it into to rugby. If you go swimming you're going to get wet. If you play American football you're going to get hit. You don't want to get hit don't play.

[@JacobSerns]

Those complaining about this seem to forget that the kickoff has been completely ruined for awhile now with basically every kick being a touchback. It's about time we see some returns!!

[@JHobartMusic72]

100% this makes the kickoff actually a potentially critical play instead of just a throwaway. I’ve been watching the NFL and the changes since the late 70s and I fuckin love this change. Who the hell wants a touch back

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

Why not move the kicker back?

[@MajorFeez]

Just move the kickoff spot back 10 yards. Simple.

[@JacobSerns]

@@MajorFeez I think they moved it up to prevent injuries, but yeah, if the owners would ever even consider that, then I'd be fine with it. Just don't see it happening in today's day and age.