NFL moves kickoffs to 35-yard line; touchbacks unchanged

[bcoop]

Ridiculous.

[mstng86]

Ridiculous.

Pretty much. I think if they are doing this, they should allow them to make a 3 or 4 man wall like they used to. At least give the returner some incentive to try.

[Nash B.]

Give them safety gear and maximize their chances - but you can't make the hits, tackles and viciousness of the sport stop.

The players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago, and there's only so much the equipment can do to protect them. On the one hand, I like seeing hard hits, but on the other, it's going to (it already is, actually) shorten careers and have these guys in bad, bad shape 10 or 20 years down the road. They'll still be getting paid, but what good is money when you can barely walk or remember what you had for breakfast?

[bcoop]

The players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago, and there's only so much the equipment can do to protect them. On the one hand, I like seeing hard hits, but on the other, it's going to (it already is, actually) shorten careers and have these guys in bad, bad shape 10 or 20 years down the road. They'll still be getting paid, but what good is money when you can barely walk or remember what you had for breakfast?

They don't HAVE to play. They want all the money and glory, but don't want to take the bad with the good. Pick another sport or career.

A large percentage of fans are fans, because of the violence. Crowds are blood thirsty. They are alienating their fan base. Which is fine. Someone else will come along, and capitalize on the opportunity. Some of these safety rules I agree with, but most are absolutely ridiculous.

[jdgregory84]

The players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago, and there's only so much the equipment can do to protect them. On the one hand, I like seeing hard hits, but on the other, it's going to (it already is, actually) shorten careers and have these guys in bad, bad shape 10 or 20 years down the road. They'll still be getting paid, but what good is money when you can barely walk or remember what you had for breakfast?

If you ask the players, they're not for the rule change. Many players have spoken out against it. They know that playing any sport comes with certain risks. The only reason owners are doing it is to protect their "investments." When it comes down to it, owners don't give a shit whether or not the person gets hurt. They just want to know that their millions of dollars is not gonna be wasted.

[Chili]

The players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago, and there's only so much the equipment can do to protect them. On the one hand, I like seeing hard hits, but on the other, it's going to (it already is, actually) shorten careers and have these guys in bad, bad shape 10 or 20 years down the road. They'll still be getting paid, but what good is money when you can barely walk or remember what you had for breakfast?

Personally I have a hard time showing much compassion for the guys that have been beat to hell. They are getting paid more than most will make in a lifetime and many, if not most, would have only been able to earn a fraction of that themselves.. All for playing a sport. That is the risk they have to take to make the big money.

[bcoop]

Personally I have a hard time showing much compassion for the guys that have been beat to hell. They are getting paid more than most will make in a lifetime and many, if not most, would have only been able to earn a fraction of that themselves.. All for playing a sport. That is the risk they have to take to make the big money.

I feel bad for the guys that played in the 70s, and prior. Because they weren't making jack shit. Now, I don't have an ounce of sympathy. Sure it sucks, but they knew the risk, and are making absurd amounts of money to play a sport. It's not anyone's fault but their own that they can't manage their finances. The NFLPA even puts on courses to help them with it. Dumbasses still don't learn.

[Chili]

I feel bad for the guys that played in the 70s, and prior. Because they weren't making jack shit. Now, I don't have an ounce of sympathy. Sure it sucks, but they knew the risk, and are making absurd amounts of money to play a sport. It's not anyone's fault but their own that they can't manage their finances. The NFLPA even puts on courses to help them with it. Dumbasses still don't learn.

Yeah, I agree.

[SouthernSVT]

The one thing that might save this is the fact that kick-off coverage players only get a 5 yard running headstart rather than 10 yards. So the coverage guys won't be getting thier speed up as fast as they used to. Hopefully this will give enough time to still get some returns out. Still won't be as many, but i'm hoping this gives just enough time that it isn't as big of a change as it sounds.

[YALE]

So what does this accomplish that the fair-catch rule doesn't?

[Sean88gt]

Lame. Is Goodell pushing for all this nonsense?

[bcoop]

Lame. Is Goodell pushing for all this nonsense?

Somewhat. He's trying to make a violent game safe. Round peg, square hole. But for the most part, it's the Owners. They're the ones that voted on, and passed it. Like someone else mentioned. They're just trying to protect their investment. They will eventually completely alienate their fan base.

[Trip McNeely]

They didn't give the Gladiators padded suits and nerf swords in the coliseums? What the fuck man?? This is a brutal sport, its part of it. Fuck that shit.

[unkoricky]

pretty soon QBs will have red jerseys on and you are only allowed to pull there flags.

maybe goodell will hire this guy to save his league.