The NFL owners approved placing the ball on the 25 yard line for kickoffs fair caught before the 25 yard line.
So you get the ball where you get stopped if you run it back. If the ball is short of the end zone and you fair catch the ball starts on the 25. Takes some strategy out of the game. And certainly minimizes the need for a kick return specialist

NFL approved new touchback rule. Fair catches on kickoffs to the 25-yard line. pic.twitter.com/e9WdTT1Eud

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 23, 2023

To be honest, I'd probably be fine removing the kickoff at this point. After scores, just reset the ball at the 25 with a special provision for onside kicks late in the game or something. I don't have any data on how often returns get beyond the 25 so that could sway my opinion. I just think that the optimal strategy would be to fair catch it every time and always start at the 25.

Just get rid of the kickoff it's been watered down enough.

(05-23-2023, 12:57 PM)QueenCity Wrote: Just get rid of the kickoff it's been watered down enough.

idk the Kickoff return while increasingly rare...   is one of the most exciting things to watch

(05-23-2023, 01:00 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: idk the Kickoff return while increasingly rare...   is one of the most exciting things to watch

Agreed. 

But I do think having a roster spot for a kickoff return guy makes no sense any more. It has to be a guy who merits a spot absent KR abilities. 

(05-23-2023, 01:00 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: idk the Kickoff return while increasingly rare...   is one of the most exciting things to watch

That's what I'm thinking.............

I love it because you just get a feeling like no other when you see a guy potentially have room and then break free. 

I think it's more exciting that breaking a long run or completing a long catch just because it seems more explosive.

It can also be such a game-changer.

But Chris Evans can still stick out his arms like an airplane during every kickoff right?

Garbage decision, just get rid of it at this point.

If you really wanna make the game more exciting, remove KRs and PRs altogether.

As others have said, just start at the 25 yard line after a team has scored rather than do a KR.

As for PRs, imagine how exciting it would be to see teams go for it on 4th down every time, knowing what could happen if they don't convert. It could result in more scoring due to shorter fields for the team gaining possession, which I think most fans prefer anyway.

(05-23-2023, 01:00 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: idk the Kickoff return while increasingly rare...   is one of the most exciting things to watch

For sure. I like what the USFL does, they actually have big returns and it is a lot more fun to watch than this crap.

All in the name of safety, it destroys the game.

If you want to just get rid of returns, get rid of the game. Sure is leaning this way and I hate it myself.

Why go all in just taking exciting parts of the game out of it? 

I don't understand this at all and is a big reason I cannot stand Goodell.

I know this sounds extreme, but these types of things get on my nerves if you love football and I thought all of us did.

I know Returns are dangerous, but that is what makes them exciting. Players get hurt on plays that should be safe all the time too.

Watch, we will see a guy call for a fair catch this year at the 5 and get hurt...

(05-23-2023, 01:59 PM)Garrus Wrote: Garbage decision, just get rid of it at this point.

It is a garbage decision, agree with that.

(05-23-2023, 02:01 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If you really wanna make the game more exciting, remove KRs and PRs altogether.

As others have said, just start at the 25 yard line after a team has scored rather than do a KR.

As for PRs, imagine how exciting it would be to see teams go for it on 4th down every time, knowing what could happen if they don't convert. It could result in more scoring due to shorter fields for the team gaining possession, which I think most fans prefer anyway.

I guess I could live with this.

Get rid of kickoffs but add another game to the schedule and make teams play twice on Thursday nights during the year.

Thank God the NFL is always looking out for player safety.

(05-23-2023, 02:10 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Get rid of kickoffs but add another game to the schedule and make teams play twice on Thursday nights during the year.

Thank God the NFL is always looking out for player safety.

Yeah, bit counter productive and hypocritical to say the least lmao

(05-23-2023, 02:12 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, bit counter productive and hypocritical to say the least lmao

They want it both ways that's for damn sure. 

"How can we make as much money as possible while giving off the perception that we give a shit about player safety?" 

(05-23-2023, 02:14 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: They want it both ways that's for damn sure. 

"How can we make as much money as possible while giving off the perception that we give a shit about player safety?" 

So true, both moves are strange. You give the players an extra game while you take away KR's for the most part....

Is this Jungle Noise or Around the NFL??

(05-23-2023, 02:40 PM)BengalYankee Wrote: Is this Jungle Noise or Around the NFL??  

As someone who pretty much only pays attention to Jungle Noise and Draft Central, I appreciate these posts going into JN 

Well grandson, back in my day they did this crazy thing called a kickoff…..

NFL continues to shrink the roles of the depth players. Won't be long before special teams is a thing of the past besides kicking.

(05-23-2023, 02:02 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: For sure. I like what the USFL does, they actually have big returns and it is a lot more fun to watch than this crap.

All in the name of safety, it destroys the game.

If you want to just get rid of returns, get rid of the game. Sure is leaning this way and I hate it myself.

Why go all in just taking exciting parts of the game out of it? 

I don't understand this at all and is a big reason I cannot stand Goodell.

I know this sounds extreme, but these types of things get on my nerves if you love football and I thought all of us did.

I know Returns are dangerous, but that is what makes them exciting. Players get hurt on plays that should be safe all the time too.

Watch, we will see a guy call for a fair catch this year at the 5 and get hurt...

Well it looks like they are extending Goodell until 2027