Since basically all kickers can now at least kick the ball into the endzone, we'll be subjected to touchbacks from here on out any time Devin Hester, Josh Cribbs or Leon Washington are back to return a kick...
How stupid is this rule change? Has to be a function of the many teams without great returners punishing the few teams with that going for them.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6247029&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlinesNEW ORLEANS -- NFL owners voted to alter rules for kickoffs and instant replay next season but tabled a proposal that would have expanded language changes in the rule involving penalties against defenseless players.
With changes suggested by 32 head coaches attending the NFL owners meetings, kickoffs will move from the 30 to the 35-yard line but adjustments were made in the proposal by the NFL competition committee.
Although the vote wasn't immediately revealed, the NFL owners voted for the kickoff change. With the input of coaches, though, the committee decided to allow return teams to have a two-man wedge. The committee proposal suggested the elimination of the two-man wedge, but coaches argued that would make it harder to have quality returns.
The other tradeoff by the committee to get the vote passed was not changing the spotting of a touchback. Touchbacks will still be spotted at the 20-yard line. The committee had suggested moving touchbacks to the 25.
How stupid is this rule change? Has to be a function of the many teams without great returners punishing the few teams with that going for them.