Opposition increases to new fair catch rule

[ROD-BOT]

Opposition increases to new fair catch rule - ProFootballTalk

The next evolution in the kickoff rule was supposed to be the adoption of the NCAA-style rule that results in a fair catch inside the 25 being placed at the 25. That apparently won’t be happening.As recently explained by Albert Breer of SI.com, special-teams players and coaches have accelerated...

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Opposition increases to new fair catch rule​

The next evolution in the kickoff rule was supposed to be the adoption of the NCAA-style rule that results in a fair catch inside the 25 being placed at the 25. That apparently won’t be happening.

As recently explained by Albert Breer of SI.com, special-teams players and coaches have accelerated the opposition to the rule.

The proposal was passed unanimously by the Competition Committee in March. The issue was tabled from March to May, an acknowledgement that the vote would have failed if it had happened at the annual meeting in Arizona.

Based on Breer’s report, it sounds as if it’s even more likely to fail now.

The issue, according to Breer, was discussed last week during a regularly-scheduled call among the league’s special-teams coordinators. They decided to recruit special-teams players to participate in active opposition against the rule.

One concern with the rule is that it will spark more squib kicks inside the 25, which couldn’t be fair caught and would have to be returned. That could create more, not less, chaos on special teams.

The proposed change comes from an overriding desire to make the most dangerous play in the game, as the league has called it, more safe. It’s been a focal point for the past decade or so, with gradual changes aimed at making the play safer.

It started with efforts to spark fewer returns. Several years ago, a more comprehensive change to the rules was devised to reduce the full-speed nature of the impacts during kick returns.

One question that emerged in the aftermath of the March meetings was whether playing surface has a role in the question of injuries during kickoff returns.

If switching to grass could make the play safer, it’s another reason to switch to grass. But the NFL has no desire to do it, because it would be expensive to do so.

So in lieu of spending a little extra money to make the game safer in all phases, the NFL would rather make dramatic changes to one of the most important aspects of special teams.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

How many rules does this league need? Year after year we have to put up with new sets of rules that over complicate and rarely if ever improve the game.
And the worst time of every year is when the "Competition Committee" meets. It's like they have to justify their existence so they invent more insipid rules that piggy back on the other sets of stupid rules and we end up with an over officiated game that is becoming all but bewildering at best and unwatchable at the least.
P.S. Note to Competition Committee members: if you want to have a job creating worthless laws and rules, then run for public office. Y'all will fit right in....
*end of rant*

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Merlin]

That's such a stupid fuckin rule. It's like idiots are colluding to ruin the game one dumb decision at a time or something.

 

[AZRams]

How many rules does this league need? Year after year we have to put up with new sets of rules that over complicate and rarely if ever improve the game.
And the worst time of every year is when the "Competition Committee" meets. It's like they have to justify their existence so they invent more insipid rules that piggy back on the other sets of stupid rules and we end up with an over officiated game that is becoming all but bewildering at best and unwatchable at the least.
P.S. Note to Competition Committee members: if you want to have a job creating worthless laws and rules, then run for public office. Y'all will fit right in....
*end of rant*

~ArkyRamsFan~

Much like Congress, we're all better off the less time said committee spends 'working' on anything.

 

[Corbin]

Much like Congress, we're all better off the less time said committee spends 'working' on anything.

100% fucking tired of these fucks modifying the best game there is

 

[Merlin]

I detest this rule change. Fucking offense favoritism.

 

[Jacobarch]

This is why we can't have nice things. For some reason we as humans only listen to those who cry the loudest. Look no further than corporate America.

 

[snackdaddy]

I get player safety. But football is a violent sport. Players know what they sign up for. The league already gets carried away with quarterback protections. Or should I say certain quarterbacks? Refs won't know how to call it now that Brady is gone. If our society was so concerned about the safety of athletes, boxing and other fighter sports would be banned.

 

[Merlin]

If our society was so concerned about the safety of athletes, boxing and other fighter sports would be banned.

Well if we continue this direction and level of pussification that day is coming. And dare I say it'll be a future full of cowards to whom no risk is worth taking.

Of course societies that go that route don't last long. Someone will put us out of our misery.

 

[dieterbrock]

Why not just eliminate the punt altogether then? Like the intentional walk in baseball, just hold up 4 fingers and <poof> opponent gets the ball on the 25

 

[Merlin]

Getting pinned back deep is one of the most pressured moments in a football game. I cannot believe that is gone now. Just baffled by this shit.

 

[VegasRam]

Ain't gone yet.

But agree, the mindset proposing this shit is baffling.

 

[Classic Rams]

Rule change have been happening every year since the 60's. Some we like, some we don't, some we got used to and compromised. There were always complaints. But it seems like some of the more recent rules the last decade are the most asinine.

 

[RamFan503]

One concern with the rule is that it will spark more squib kicks inside the 25, which couldn’t be fair caught and would have to be returned. That could create more, not less, chaos on special teams.

I must not fully understand the rule. If this statement is correct then does that mean that if the ball hits the ground it cannot be fair caught? What i mean by this is that if a squib kick is taken by the receuving team, can the returner not then down the ball and have it come out to the 25? What am i missing here?

And if they impose the rule, is there really any reason to have a real returner back there? Couldn't you just put someone back there that simply has good hands?

Wouldn't the smart move be to always just down the ball and take it at the 25 except in extremely rare situations?

Seems stupid.

 

[Merlin]

And if they impose the rule, is there really any reason to have a real returner back there? Couldn't you just put someone back there that simply has good hands?

Yes you could just do that. But it also simplifies the logic train for a returner.

As things stand previously a returner has to make decisions based on his estimate of will the ball make it into the endzone with its trajectory vs the coverage team positioning. Or can he get a seam if he catches it and goes for it. Or should he accept the position which is often quite bad.

Now all he's gotta do is decide if he wants to go for it. Failing that he can fair catch without concern and get good field position.

That's my understanding of it at least. And projecting this forward it will end up saving the owners on players at some point as they phase special teams out of the game. At some point they'll just make a punt rule where you get 45 yards ball advance and possession switches to the other team. That way nobody can get hurt right. But of course hey now we get to save some cash and reduce roster sizes because we're not risking players any more on evil special teams plays.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I was encouraged to read the intent by the rules committee is to keep returns in the game.

I grabbed this snip from article at The Athletic and they believe squib kicks will be minimal.

NFL adjusts fair-catch rule for kickoffs and safeties

The Competition Committee submitted this rule with the goal of improving player safety.

theathletic.com

Rich McKay, who heads the league’s competition committee, was asked Tuesday during a news conference about the possibility of squib kicks forcing a kick return. McKay refuted that notion.

“It doesn’t mean they (kickers) won’t do it, but we went back and looked at college and what the reaction was in college when they made this change and actually the number of squib kicks went down. … So we’ve looked at all that data. Could they do it? They could, but then they run the risk that if someone at the 20 (yard line) catches a squib and begins to run, they’re automatically at the 30-, 35-yard line. So it does affect field position.

“The only thing I would say, too, to special teams coaches is in the kicks that they were hanging to the 5-yard line or inside and getting this advantage, the average start line for those kicks being returned was the 24.3. …

“We did this rule for one year only because we really do want to get more to a long-term solution, and maybe the long-term solution includes having more returns in the game and just trying to make the play safer. … Special teams is a critically critical part of our game. And yet because of health and safety, we had to modify many times over the years. We now need to find a way to try to revolutionize the rule, if we can, in a way to get the kick return back in the game.”

 

[NCRamGuy]

Why has the NFL became a bunch of pussies? I get player safety and the kickoff is high in injury, etc, etc.


But dude hockey players hit way harder and get paid way less. MMA fighters get paid less and take bigger hits.

As players they should just play the game, yes it comes with risk
and cte and that shit but that's what you sign up for when you play PHYSICAL sports.

Idk, kickoff not a big deal really but their just making this sarcastaball now

 

[Merlin]

I don't think the NFL is the top sport in the US if they become a flag football league. If and when that happens they will probably give way to soccer since their product has no commercials during the game.

If I were an owner I would do everything I could to slow the pussification of the league. I see that as their biggest threat.

 

[Ellard80]

I'm suprised so many in here are upset by this rule.

I honestly don't care at all.

If they changed it or it stays the same I have no feeling about it.

 

[Rynie]

Why not just eliminate the punt altogether then? Like the intentional walk in baseball, just hold up 4 fingers and <poof> opponent gets the ball on the 25

I bet it gets eliminated eventually, which will suck. But "defense wins championships; offense sells tickets."