There is a PROBLEM with the NFL's new Kickoff Rules

[@andrewgrove1691]

This is gonna be terrible

[@itsjustmeBen]

It makes the game look so lame, just a few steps away from flag football.

[@Kacee2]

The NFL is just ruining the game.

[@bobbyflay7217]

Its all about what GAMBLING is doing

[@JoeySmith101]

Finally an NFL position that I think I could play. Ball holder.

[@billquantrill4960]

Bro? Lol.

[@UWV67]

Thats what she said ...oh wait

[@mr.k1896]

That’s not in the NFL. That’s the videos you were looking up last night.

[@poloslim5330]

@@UWV67😂

[@billrehm3590]

The first female NFL player, ball holder.

[@awesometownmatt9349]

If you want less kickoffs going through the endzone maybe move the kickoff back to the 20 yard line.

[@Mike-hy8cs]

the problem is they wanted to stop the injuries that occur when you have huge guys running full speed at each other and crashing into each other basically. The new rules at least address that issue

[@genosim63]

Again. THANK YOU!!!! But we're talking about professional sports in the new millennium. Which equals idiocy! In any way possible!! Then, just wait until the first kicker gets injured attempting an "awkward tackle". That should be as interesting as this is stupid. We shouldn't even be having these conversations. As a fan previously said of the return team "blockers". Watch the other guys

[@Mike-hy8cs]

@@SethTooGood No it still prevents injuries because the blockers and defenders are not able to run full speed into each other because they are so close together from the point the ball reaches the ball carrier

[@Washington-Dreaming]

The problem is, if you’re truly worried about player safety, you’ll eventually go to flag. I think that is an Olympic sport starting in 2028. But even in flag there is risk of injury. You can get hurt walking off a curb. So if I were to throw out a slippery-slope fallacy, although it’s still theoretically possible: eventually sports will be entirely done away with as they’ll be deemed “inherently unsafe.” I just don’t like all these rules changes the NFL is making. And don’t get me started on overprotecting QBs and wide receivers which the NFL has already done.

[@mpup54]

The problem is that they are targeting kickoffs (and xtra point sfor no apparent reason at all), why would this play be worse than defenseless receivers or catching the ball between two tacklers over the middle? It isnt. They just followed the lead of the commissioner to ruin the kick games for all teams and the league. I had to stop watching or else I was going to be complicit in watching the dumbed down version of what was once football.

[@silverslickness90]

I feel like definsive players should just boycott the league at this point because it seems like every rule they make or change is to help teams score touchdowns even tho their fully aware they pay the other side to stop them this has to stop at some point

[@EddyBolta-jj9tx]

How can u have a surprise onside kick now

[@blakeandersonECW420]

You can't

[@okrajoe]

Narrator: You won't.

[@bbbabrock]

As a New Orleanian, imo, one of the best Superbowl plays ever was our surprise second half opening onside kick. So just losing the possibility of that absolutely sucks ass.

[@robertheinkel6225]

You can only do that in the 4th quarter and only after announcing you are doing it.

[@bbbabrock]

@@robertheinkel6225 Well, if it's announced, then it couldn't be a surprise, could it.

[@xnvaznx]

The issue that will cause injuries is how they have implemented it. I watched a local video discussing the awkward angles players were in while being blocked. Maybe this is just the result of how new it is and the slickness of the field contributed to it. Unlike the old rule where players can move when the ball is kicked, now they cannot move until it is received. This also increases the potential of penalties on the kickoff for early movement which cannot be challenged.

[@RandallDebuty-mj1fx]

Simply outlaw kicks into the end zone and line up the old way that gives you more kick returns. This is a sneaky underhanded way the NFL will justify getting rid of the kickoff. They are literally killing the game and no one seems to give a damn!

[@steelers4lifexd269]

This will absolutely increase the amount of kick returns. Kickers are getting penalized for kicker further and instead have to make it returnable. It’s just less energy. Watch mid season when teams start figure out how to manipulate this

[@BonurChamp]

But the goal is also to reduce injuries. That's what they say their goal is anyways. I think it will just lead to more points on the board which is good for their ratings.

[@steelers4lifexd269]

@@BonurChamp In the past kickoffs was a time for the bathroom or to throw food in the oven. That changes for sure now and makes someone who loves football even more excited

[@luddite4change449]

@@steelers4lifexd269 That was sort of spun. There were less injuries on the kick off, but the injuries per ko that resulted in a return didn't change. I like the landing zone idea. If the return team downs it in the endzone it goes to the 20. If the ball goes through the uprights its a point. If you miss the upright you lose point.

[@julia-6195]

This new rule is lame AF. Football has gotten lame AF. Game peaked in the 1990s.

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

Peak was 90's it started to transition down ward around the Patriot Era. After 2003 when the Colts complained to the NFL over New England's corner's jamming WR's, I believe since then the NFL began to regress as far as dramatic rules changes (essentially beginning of Tom Brady era)

[@okrajoe]

Should've just left well enough alone.

[@RavenStorm332]

The problem is that when the XFL did this kickoff they had the referees blow a whistle to let the blockers know that the ball has been fielded and can move but the NFL isn't doing the whistle thing so players have to be more disciplined to know not to move until the ball is fielded. Just look up games from the XFL in 2020 and 2023 to see the kickoff in action

[@purpleeinstein]

At least they didn’t have the receiving team captain spin the wheel to see what yard line they get the ball on (one slot would be “returned for td”). Oh wait, Goodell says that’s coming next year….

[@DAS-Videos]

Two plays that the new rule eliminates are getting turnovers on kick offs, and long returns since blocking schemes are obsolete. Plus there is no more surprise onside kicks to try and catch a team with the wrong people on the field.

[@XxGlobalGamerxX]

Old kickoff looks more exciting, but the new rules have more potential for exciting plays if that makes sense

[@A_Name_]

Do you have evidence for this? Not trying to be a nay sayer here as it was the first time its been used in the league so I didnt expect fireworks. That said after the full court press from every coach and media outlet how thia was going to be so cool and interesting it played out like I thought it would in the pros and that is nothing happens. That said, I think you will see a ton of boom or bust with this. Either short and boring or td. Not many 40 yard returns.

[@YodaXIII]

@@A_Name_ the xfl

[@Mxl100]

90% of the returns are gonna consist of the returner just running into a defender after crossing the 25, and the other 10% get to start a touchback at the damn 30 to make things even easier for the offense. Oh yeah So so exciting 😮‍💨💩

[@Opieboi]

I mean even if they do score more often I’m not sure it’s as impressive or exciting

[@bwilson8058]

I think so too, I think because of the formation, it gives the return side a chance to scheme and design more plays than the old formations. We'll see...

[@awesometownmatt9349]

Too many touchbacks on kickoffs so lets move all the guys that don't kick the ball up 25 yards and still kick off from the 35 yard line. Great idea

[@okee63]

NFL still has kick offs so the networks can have a commercial after the kick. Which is after a commercial break after the previous team’s possession.

[@huntGRN]

Wait.. what happens with onside kicks?

[@robertheinkel6225]

Good question. I suspect there will no longer be onside kicks, since they have to kick it within the last 20 yards.

[@petegregory517]

​@@robertheinkel6225They have to declare it. Now, ain't stupid?

[@america1st721]

Hey I have a great idea, do a kick off like they did 20 years ago...who cares about safety? Nobody is forcing you to play in the nfl.

[@richscott2483]

New Kick-Off rule really makes for a Suck ass boring game. All it does is shorten the Field of Play where momentum/speed supposedly is less when the player is tackled or having a bad collision. It pretty much lessens the chance of a Kick-Off return for a Touch Down. Running the EXTRA MAN onto the Field is Huh! What? How Stupid! So at times your team is allowed 12 Players on field.

[@Bastikovski99]

It seems like we’ve also eliminated any laterals or trick returns

[@O4C209]

They should do a 70 yard field goal that gets returned. Add the chance of blocking the kick or making a field goal. If they knock it through the upright, they get an extra 3 points and the opposing team starts at the 25.

[@UncleGene]

Since there were so many touchbacks just moved the kickoff 5 more yards back to the 30

[@shmevan_]

Kickoffs have been a non entity for over a decade now. If the new kickoff is boring then it is no different than the old kickoff that went out of the endzone 75% of the time. The only thing the NFL could have done better was getting rid of the kickoff completely

[@Justin_Watson23]

or just added the landing zone, or moved the kickoff back to the 30, bc this blows worse than non entities.

[@talcat8031]

I mean they could have moved the kicker back. Or they could have moved the kicker back and moved the touchback back so to make it harder to boot it out of the end zone and to deincentivize fair catches. There were a lot of other things the could have done to make it still a kick off and be interesting.

[@talcat8031]

@cameronl1859 I see no problem with that football is dangerous. These guys make piles of money to be out there. I was talking about making it a legit play again not making it safe. The only way to make it safe is to remove it which they did, this isn’t a kickoff anymore.

[@talcat8031]

@cameronl1859 yes.

[@MichaelScarborough423]

Add in the "illegal block in the back" flag that's thrown on 90% of returned kickoffs and I'm not sad they changed things.

[@shawn4990]

What I would like is fewer players on the field for kick returns - say 8 per team (vs 11). This would add a lot more excitement.

[@Revolutionarythought]

So the kickoff was boring, due in large part because of the changes the NFL had made moving up the position from which the ball was kicked. They did this for safety reasons, and the result was at least partially what they wanted... more touchbacks, less injuries. Of course, the side effect was that the kickoff was often a boring play, and the kickoff still resulted in more injuries than any other 'play' in the game. My solution seems very "un-football" to many I am sure. What I would do in the NFL's position is get rid of the kickoff altogether. Instead of a kickoff give the kicking the team the ball on the 30 yard line. Give them a single down with at 25 yards to convert. Essentially, a scoring team, for example, would get the ball back on their 30 yard line looking at a 4th and 25. This would give the kicking team two choices: 1. Punt; 2. Run a play and try to convert their "4th and 25." Done like this you get: 1. An active kicking play with returns most of the time; 2. You preserve the function of the "onside kick," and you do not have to limit it to the 4th quarter where the other team needs to be "warned" first; 3. Less injuries. Ta-da. Edit. There is a bit more to my conception here than I am laying out. For example, you would need to change the punting rules for this play as well by: 1. Do not allow blocking the punt; 2. When lined up in a punting formation (showing punt) the ball can only be snapped to the punter, which would nearly eliminate fakes; 3. No fair catch of the "kickoff" punt.

[@econhelp583]

The new kickoff rules suck. Not overblown, the new rules take away from the fun of watching the game.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

If anyone watched the Jacksonville/Cleveland pre season game, Jacksonville came up with a way to beat the system. On a couple of kickoffs, they did a different alignment. They blocked players towards the outside (towards the sidelines). The returner knew this was going to happen and ran up the middle. Then when the Browns moved towards the middle, the returner jumped to the outside and made it to midfield and a little bit further. I have a feeling the teams are going to show a lot of looks during the regular season and it may get interesting when that happens.

[@aroprime7650]

So the old play had players of kicking team running full speed to hit reciever but now the reciever runs full speed into defender. What is the difference? Players dont need 40 yds to reach full speed. No thought for player safety was taken, only illusion. After 3 weeks of more player injuries than last few years or multiple recievers returning 3 TDs per game, this will get old.

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

Two players hitting each other at full speed is twice as much energy as one player at full speed.

[@robertstan2349]

the problem is the NFL is turning into flag football. crank the rules back to 70's and let them play.

[@jasoncollins3956]

Sounds good!!! But only if you’ll pick up the tab for the lawsuits that are coming

[@robertstan2349]

@@jasoncollins3956 you want the millions? sign a disclaimer and play, or don't and forgo the big money and get a regular job. these are adults, i don't see why they can't choose to accept the risks.

[@TheFlutecart]

It could get interesting as the score gets desperate. You might see a trick kick to regain the ball or to stuff the other team. We've already seen a curvy soccer style kick designed to create fumbles employed in Pre-season. It failed to produce, but it was an interesting curved kick.

[@perfectq7206]

Goodell: "Let see, what's the easiest way to justify my massive salary in a sport that doesn't need much changing?" "Kickoff rule change, baby!"

[@candaceh16]

I believe the special teams coaches came up with this. They're trying to save the play from what I understand

[@perfectq7206]

@@candaceh16 But Goodell does give approval. Meanwhile, he won't invest in natural grass research.

[@markkeller9378]

Go back to last year and move the kicker to his own 20 yard line. Still doesnt solve the onside kick issue though.

[@donaldinnewmexico]

I don't like the ball being placed on the 40 if the kick goes out of bounds.

[@mpup54]

i think the same thing about anything moved past the 20 actually. These rules are negating too much field. Why not just remove the first 30 yards from each side if they are so unimportant? All the rules under Goodell have been horrific, he needs to be replaced or the game will be even more unrecognizable each and every year. I dont waste my time watching it anymore as a result. Worse yet this kickoff idea was stolen from a different league altogether, meaning they didnt even come up with an original idea.

[@victorfranca85]

They should keep the old kick off rule and just put a weight limit of special teams players. The problem is the power the bigger players can generate. Smaller guys are less explosive in tackles and transfer less energy. Tackles would be milder for the most part, if safety is the issue. But you would still get the action

[@jimmieburnett8543]

ruining the game. Stop the stupidity!

[@boogaturk8363]

Next rule change: on regular play, no one except quarterback will be able to move after the hike until quarterback gets rid of the ball or runs past line of scrimmage. Then punt play will be changed so no one can move until the punted ball lands. Cheerleaders won't be able to move until a team scores. At half-time, people will play freeze tag.

[@rawdawgg_]

Don't give them any ideas!

[@itsjustmeBen]

If it goes to overtime the team captains go to midfield and play rock paper scissors to determine a winner

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

I could do a short piece on how New England essentially ruined the NFL in terms of rules changes. Most of the NFL rule changes since 2001 have been vaguely centered around NE. First it was the jamming by their CB's which forced the league to readjust after 2003. Then it was certain rules changes to hits on QB's, after Brady went down in 2008, which dramatically changed the game. From there, the flood gates opened in terms of the NFL changing rules to make the game " safer ". It's all geared around them preserving certain stars that will keep the veiwership ratings up. The new rules suck.

[@mk8530]

Its a money thing. You pay a QB 5 Trillion Dollars, you don't want to lose him.

[@bbbabrock]

3:16 Well hell. That guy ought to have just kneeled and and gotten the 25 yard touch back anyway.

[@negan2714]

We get another step closer to Randy Marsh's Sarcastiball every season.

[@kenamaro3942]

The problem with this kick off garbage is that the receiving team seems to get between the 30 -40 yard line for their first down on almost every kick. How is a good kicker supposed to pin down the receiving team within the 10 yard line or less?? In a close or tied game, with only a couple of minutes left the receiving team after the kick is already almost at mid field?? It's horrible!

[@ravivaithinathan1222]

One of the things I heard as a possible issue is soccer style kickers like Butker kick it in a way to curve the arc to force touchbacks.

[@marckrause5379]

How about the concept of defending your half of the field. Players on kicking team lineup on 50 yard line. Kicker, kicks from the goal line. (These guys can kick the ball 80-90 yards) Defense lines up on 45 and return man gets the ball @ 20 yard line. Guarantees returns, no touch backs. Big opportunity for receiving team.

[@ijimkoz]

I like the idea of starting with a Punt. It simplifies the game and requires so much less explaining. You punt to start the game, you punt on 4 and long...

[@burnout_2017]

That sport has more than just a kickoff problem. Especially the college game

[@ottopilot7205]

Change this rule so the officials blow the play live once caught. that way the receiving teams blockers don’t have to have their heads on swivel back and forth watching the ball, and the opposing team. No one moves until the whistle is blown.

[@danno3497]

How will onside kicks work?

[@dragon-ed1hz]

80% of kickoffs were touchbacks last year. This seems to be a vast improvement.

[@Mike-hy8cs]

the touchbacks thing is them forcing kickers to keep the ball in play so the returner can make a play on it if they so choose

[@bridgelion4968]

They should run it like an actual play. Three return guys involved with a pitch back or two and pull blocks to the other side to make a wall.

[@furiogiunta7886]

Had this been implemented 20 years ago, Devon Hester would have been cut in the preseason of his rookie year.

[@filippofittipaldi8050]

We really won't know how effective this rule change will be until the regular season. In the preseason, we don't see the starters or the real strategies special teams will employ. No team wants to risk injuring their starters or giving their opponents a free of charge look at their plans.

[@andhisband]

Initially, the new kickoff rules looked workable. Then they had to go and ruin everything with insane onside kick rules.

[@PerpetualAbidance]

They could have just eliminated the touchback and make the receiver run it out of the endzone and if he doesn’t field it and it goes out of the end zone then it’s a 10 yard penalty on the kicker and do it again. This way there is always a return.

[@PerpetualAbidance]

Also it’s dumb to have all the return team line up on any line. Let them stand where they want. What’s the point of having them stand in a line?

[@PerpetualAbidance]

Also if the ball goes out of bounds it should be a turnover. None of this running out of bounds and keeping the ball nonsense.

[@PerpetualAbidance]

Also there should be multiple forward passes allowed. Why should there be only one allowed.

[@PerpetualAbidance]

Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest a goalie. 😊

[@leehurst172]

In football, it is only possible to score points while you possess the football. Therefore, any means of preventing a team from possessing the football is *LITERALLY* the best defensive strategy. This rule change will very quickly devolve back into "Just take the touchback," and unless the touchback penalty ever gets moved to the 50 yard line we will always have this problem. Make the play a 4th & 15.

[@niners9485]

Blockers have a big disadvantage. They have to look backwards.

[@darrylwolff1406]

it is a stupid rule, why don't they use the Australian Rugby League Rules

[@tuttleputter]

Doesn’t this rule completely eliminate an onside kick?

[@furiogiunta7886]

NFL is slowly but surely turning into a two-hand touch league.

[@JohnnyZeroBoo]

There will be lots more interesting plays once the regular season starts... Flea flickers and actual "plays" can be possible once the players understand it more.

[@darrenalmeida1382]

i think fair catches and kicking the ball through the end zone is way more boring than your observations. It seems like the outcomes of the kick off will be nearly the same as the old style. 30 yard line starting averages and similar averages of possible touchdown runs, I do like your punt idea, kind of school yard, now that would bring some fun back to the game. I do like the safety aspect of the new kick off procedure regardless if it seems boring to some. Overtime the game will adapt to this procedure and interesting plays will develop, just give it some time. I canʻt wait for the regular season to start!

[@stevestarr3160]

I think we need to just give it time for the "kickoff" to develop, as there will be new plays or ways to get the runner through the line! Give it time then we can criticize what we see!

[@SP.007]

Another thing you can try, is to have the kickoff from the goal line. It's more likely the ball stays in-play.

[@Joaquin-227]

I think a strategy that might work is having a fullback returner. With a wing back running behind, if the fullback can bust the initial tackle. He could then lateral the ball to the wing for a breakout run. It would be risky, but if your team is down. It might be worth the risk. NFL teams will find a way to bust some for touchdowns.

[@marchemsworth213]

Why not just cut to the chase and do away with kick offs? Just start the ball on the 25 yard line, which is where most run backs end up more or less, and run a regular play from scrimmage. Instead of wasting time by kicking the ball into the end zone or a modified run back just have another play from scrimmage. This would eliminate one basically wasted play and have one more actual football player from scrimmage.

[@Easelgames]

The issue with this play is that it requires strategy now and nobody in preseason is gonna show anything

[@eliasramirez7247]

just move the damn kickoff back! same old format kicking from the 20 lol thats where great plays happen

[@Cloudwatcher45]

What about onside kicks

[@Sneakycat1971]

Under the new rule, onside kicks will only be allowed in the fourth quarter, and only if a team is trailing. Also, the team that wants to attempt the onside kick will have to "declare" that it's trying it. This will eliminate the surprise onside kick. I think instead of onside kicks they should give the offense one chance to get 10 yd to keep possession of the football.

[@ibe310]

I DONT THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT KIND OF INJURIES A PLAYER CAN GET WHILE PLAYING FOOTBALL. IT IS NOT JUST CTE THATS THE PROBLEM. EITHER WAY THATS WHAT THE PLAYERS SIGNED UP FOR. LET THEM!

[@mk8530]

Thanks for the ALL CAPS

[@brewhog]

I have a bad feeling that the NFL is going to move the ball to the 35 if you kick it out of the endzone. I think teams are going to opt to avoid kick returns if an average of 26-29 yard returns show up (Which is how it is starting in the pre-season).

[@toplarry]

When you get the ball on the 30-yard line 1 first down and you kick a field goal to win the game. That's just wrong. Why don't we just give it to them on the 50-yard line.

[@SP.007]

Incorporate the CFL's Rouge rule for only Kickoffs and Punts. Meaning the ball has to touch the endzone or a returner in the endzone, before going down or the ball bouncing out. 1 point awarded to the kicking team, and the other team gets the ball on the 20 yard line. IF the sails out off bounds, the returning team gets the ball on the 25 yard line, and the kicking team doesn't get a point.

[@PoppySeed84]

Old kick off is just iconic to football. All the old historic highlights, the miracle kick off returns, even just announcing "and we're underway" doesnt make sense anymore. No ones moving yet. Theyve done some good rule changes in the past, like overtime was a decent one, but dam, this one just seems way off the mark. Football has a lotta history to it at this point. Taking something as iconic as the kickoff and jumbling it up into some XFL style thing is just not a good move.

[@meric2363]

I don't think we'll have any sort of real look at a kickoff until the regular season because teams don't want to spill the beans til they have to. So it'll just be boring vanilla plays. Plus as much practice as they're probably getting, it'll still take time for the kickers to get used to kicking exactly to the 1-5yd, especially teams that may or may not try and put a non-kicker out there.

[@WarrenF19]

I think we're gonna see a lot of big plays once teams figure this out; it kinda reminds me of when the NBA moved the three-point line closer.

[@starpartyguy5605]

Soon as teams figure out how to block and make a hole in the defense, everyone will kick the ball out of the end zone. Then !touchbacks will come out to the 50

[@dmv-sportslife2021]

I don't get it - the reasoning for this change. If there are a lot of kick-offs in a game, then that means there is a lot of scoring, which would mean an exciting game. If there is a lot of scoring then, who needs the excitement of a kickoff play? The new rule is certainly not more safe for the returner, who are usually backs and receivers, who already likely make up most of the injuries, or whose injuries, most drastically reduces their skill level after recovery. My initial thought is that with so many players bunched up, the likelihood of players getting rolled up-on, may increase, but haven't noticed any close calls in this video, which is my first time seeing the play. Watching this, it seems the kicker will often be the last hope of preventing a score, which might increase their chance of injury. The old excitement of a player coming from across the field in pursuit, with a chance at catching the returner, seems will be less also. I doubt this new rule will last beyond this season.

[@86puffpuff86]

for years i was getting bored with the kickoff. at least now there is incentive to get the ball to the other team with potential for a big play. this was the 1st game and 2 mid teams, lets let it play out for a season its not a big deal tbh.

[@mag68us]

I think that better strategies will be implemented as they do it more. It seem like there is a way to go on the learning curve.

[@pzdf8v]

It's just a matter of time before someone figures how to take advantage of it. If the average kickoff return goes past the 30 yard line, then teams will start blasting kickoffs again and we'll be back to last year. The team with a lead late in the game will most likely do the safe play and give up the touchback.

[@richardcomfort1032]

As a former college punt and kick-off return man, I cannot believe they are changing this rule. Boring.

[@scottcampo9053]

I've thought for years now that the solution should be to make the kickoff look more like rugby union. Have a dropkick (or a punt) from somewhere near midfield. If the ball is kicked deep towards the end zone, the play would look fairly similar to a normal kickoff. But this would also allow for a chip shot up-and-under kick, where defenders could use the hang time to get under the kick themselves and try to catch it. In rugby, these kicks are made safer by disallowing contact while the receiving player is in the air, meaning the receiver will often either jump or be lifted by their teammate to catch the ball. But football wouldn't need this because a receiver would be incentivized to make a fair catch on a short kick. You'd just have to have a rule allowing for the the kicking team to still attempt a catch of their own on a fair catch kickoff as long as there is no contact with the receiving team's player. In practice this might end up looking like a jump ball, and whoever catches it goes to the ground and the play ends. But this would also make the traditional onside kick unnecessary and replace it with a much more interesting play.

[@LamborghiniX101]

all they had to do is move the kicker back 5 yds like he used to be so lame yah and the catcher is still running full speed .

[@DonnaKeffer]

There was a season back 10 years ago or so, they moved the kicker closer so the ball would intentionally go into the end zone to keep run backs from happening. Seems the NFL can't decide what to do with returners. What about an onside kick. The kicker will be kicking to himself.

[@nimbus3218]

Seems like every kickoff should just be an onside kick since the kicking team is now between the return team and the 10 yard necessary yards from the kick.

[@stevestevenson289]

Oh it aint gonna hurt to try it out for a season and see how it goes.

[@selahdavis8378]

I have no idea why they try so hard to make a sport thats meant to be violent safe🙄

[@Justin_Watson23]

Right? Without KO I'da never gotten a chance to prove myself & get on the field in college. When this is a complete failure & embarrassment it'll be changed back.

[@selahdavis8378]

@@Justin_Watson23 Yeah there are SOME things you could do to make it safer, but it gets to a point where they forget its a CONTACT sport at the end of the day.

[@filippofittipaldi8050]

As an organized football player in the 1970's, I get the sentiment. But I do get why the NFL wants to reduce injuries. Many parents don't want their kids to play football. (CTE would have scared the crap out of me if it were known to be an issue when I played.) Rule changes for safety are not new. Teddy Roosevelt threatened to ban college football if the deaths and injuries continued. As a result, the forward pass was legalized, and clipping became illegal. Also, the cost of treating CTE and other injuries is expensive. So, the NFL trying to reduce injuries makes business sense.

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

White people are weird bro 😂

[@swdierks]

By thanksgiving, there will be no returns. The returner will almost always get to the 25-30 vs 35 for kicking through the endzone. Why risk a TD for 10 yards?

[@thecasualreviewer2148]

The new kickoff is LAME AF!!!!

[@thecasualreviewer2148]

They went about the SAME distance. And that DOES NOT look safer. It's FOOTBALL! It's NOT safe. Lame as hell man.

[@Justin_Watson23]

@@thecasualreviewer2148 Preach! plus, nobody is gonna tell me that picking up a second level blitz is a less dangerous play than KO/KOR, or iso blocks, wham blocks, getting cut blocked, catching in breaking routes, & etc. If it's about safety, those would have been modified before freaking kickoffs. smh

[@coolhand96]

Hey Man, The Coach Haven’t Figured Out How Use It To There Advantage Yet!!! WaitTill The Coach Start To Stranger The Blocking Player Between The 30& 35 and Then You Take That 2nd Returner To Be A Blocking Fullback They Say We Go Right or Left Or Up The Middle And The Receiver Follows Him Thur The Hole in The Line !!!! And The Fullback Blasts The Guy In The Hole

[@steveb540i]

This is a terrible new rule. They should have just kept the original kickoff formation but added the green zone for ball landing as all the touchbacks are boring. That way surprise onside kicks are still in the game.

[@nopadoltinsulananda1254]

I do'nt know why they changing the rule inspite of the old pne is practicle

[@StevenMatto]

There will be zero kick return touchdowns this year. Teams cant set up a good return with the defenders 30 yards away spread across the entire field.😊

[@thataboytrevor8486]

You should do a reaction to CFL oneside play the video is called CFL onside punt compilation this is what got me hooked on CFL

[@robertlawrence4719]

Man i miss the big hits . Dudes getting lit up. Just have the players wear pink and give them flags . The nfl and even college long forgot the old saying , if it aint broke, dont fix it.

[@Justin_Watson23]

Add the landing zone to the old kickoff, eliminate linked double teams, problem solved. I covered kicks in college, & it was NOWHERE near the most dangerous role I played between offense & special teams, & I was the contain guy who had to beat linked double teams. Try picking up a blitz as a RB, Iso a hard filling backer, catch an in breaking route, a wham block from a wing position, or cutting off a backside DE in split zone. This makes NOTHING safer. The kickoff game sucked in the spring leagues, this sucks, & it will always suck. Lot of "company men" in the comments in this one, or people who hear an announcer say something then think they're fking geniuses when they repeat it.

[@ProfessorDBehrman]

If you make it more easy to score, y'ow, that would be more good for the game.

[@AW33406]

The old kickoff was also boring, they should’ve just completely gotten rid of the kickoff

[@tfp0052]

Well, if we're so worried about safety, and that is a legitimate concern, why not just place the ball on thirty and completely abandon the kickoff. Of course, you also completely abandon the possibility of catching lightning in a bottle. Returning the kick for a touchdown, perhaps the most exciting play in the game. Oh well, there's always European 'football!'

[@wesryan930]

Nfl has changed the kickoff like 10 times since ive been watching