NFL.com: New York Giants owner John Mara envisions end to kickoffs

[HeluCopter29]

So, John Mara's still Dicktator Goodell's lackey I see?

Sounds about right.

[FanboyOf91]

Geez. How did this fool ever get on an NFL commitee?

Textbook example of the negative effects of nepotism.

[roanoker]

He wants to do away with kicks so the game can be called Night-Mara Ball. Damn,someone needs to find something for this guy to do. He has too much time on his hands.

[skins2victory]

This guy needs to be put in a mental institution. He should not be in any place of power in the NFL anymore, he is going to ruin this game we all love......

[ddub52]

He talks as if concussions dont happen during other plays. Might as well play the game without defense

[FSUSkins24]

This guy is on a ************* roll this offseason. I was pissed with all the touchbacks last season, but learned to live with it... no kickoffs though?

[BKSkinsFan]

Who does he think he is? I can see having player safety a number one priority, but ruining the traditions of the game is going too far. He just comes off as one of those business minded morons that makes decisions based on the bottom line without thinking of all the other negative consequences.

On a positive note, the more we hear from John Mara, the better Snyder looks.

[Mr. Nostril]

I think we should get rid of plays all together, and move the ball up and down the field based on a series of 100 sided dice rolls. Player safety is really all that matters.

[elkabong82]

Nothing they can do huh?

How about investing more money in equipment safety development instead of just waiting for players to find it on their own and bring it in, like w/ some of the newer helmets? How about making neck rolls a requirement? How about being proactive for a change instead of merely reactive?

Until they find a way for the onside kick to be used despite no kickoff, then there will always be a kickoff. Once upon a time the NFL had these same injury concerns while their players wore thin pads and leather caps. It wasn't until a couple years of fatalities from high school to pro level that equipment was improved, and even then it was college football that took the lead on new equipment and the NFL acting afterward. Some things never change. NFL still values money over player safety, their actions speak louder than their words. There is much safer equipment that the players could wear, but that costs money, whereas a rule change of 5 yards does not.

I guess Mara, who is quickly becoming the new NFL asshat, forgets that kickoffs are a rugby element that help maintain a semblance of football's origins. But hey, let's get rid of that and the exciting element of kickoffs because it's cheaper than investing money into better equipment. In fact, all these rules, including the subjective ones with "defenseless" WRs and QBs, wouldn't be necessary with state of the art equipment. But instead the NFL prefers to change the pace and tone of the game and come up with cheap solutions which only reduce the injury numbers, rather than, again, investing serious money into equipment and its development, and maintaining the game while working towards actually eliminating the problem.

[pjfootballer]

elkabong82, great post. Mike Golic was talking about that this morning. He hates the defenseless receiver and quarterback. He was essentially saying the same thing, Also, anyone besides me notice that alot of players these days don't wear enough pads? I don't see hip pads (like Franco Harris used to wear), thigh pads and knee pads. I know some players at some positions don't wear them for speed purposes, but the NFL should step in and "make" them wear all the pads. There should also be minimum requirements for the pad size and thickness. I mean, if the NFL wants to "truly" protect their players, MAKE them wear all available pads. Eric Dickerson wore every pad known to man and was able to play and have a HOF career while maintaining his speed. These players could wear all the pads. I like your neck-roll idea also to help with the whiplash effect. They could wear a small one. They don't need an "ironing board" like Brian Cox.

[sideshow24]

If you can't throw a spiral you shouldn't be on any NFL committee. I hope he enjoys being in the division next year when Dallas and Washington recoup that cap space and go nuts.

[wysknz1]

I can see it happening. The game will be totally different within the next 10 years do to lawsuits permanent damage etc. See where the game was even 10 years ago. The new rules that are made to protect the players are also taking away from why everyone watches the game. Also it's played for the paycheck anymore not the game. Too many rules and too many danged commercials.

[Hiro]

I would love to see a Giants fan to come in and attempt to defend this. Just like they have been defending the argument of "threatening the competitive spirit" of the game for reasons to take away our salary cap room.

**** this fool.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

If they want to make the game safer, go back to leather helmets, with maybe a very small plastic visor to protect eyes/mouth.

[wrecker]

The NFL uniform of the future....