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

[my_friend_goo]

A comment I posted on the NFLUK website about this:

I personally don't like the idea. Done well, a kick return shows off the speed of the game and the importance of blocking. A return can shift the momentum of the game, give a poor offensive team the chance to get good field position after giving up a score, or if defended well back a team into a corner. Surprise onside kicks can be game changing, as can fumbles on the return team.

But, if the league really doesn't want liability for the injuries they supposedly cause, then they need to replace it with something that provides the opportunity to make a strategic difference. So how's this for an idea:

Replace kicking off from a tee with a post-safety style free kick/punt. This kick can be recovered by either team, but not advanced by either side. It can be positioned such that a belter of a kick will reach inside the 20 yard line, but a typical effort will put the ball between the 20 and 30. If the kick goes out of bounds, the 40 yard-line penalty still applies. Rules can easily be applied to put certain restrictions on formations, so a team might be able to get the ball back with a 10 yard onside kick, but with the downside of poor field position, or go for a longer kick with a greater hang time, but an increased risk of giving the opposition dangerous field position.

Of course, focusing on finding other, less reactionary and killjoy methods of improving player safety is a far superior idea.

[Leonard Washington]

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.

Let's rename the nfl the world series of dice

[E-Dog Night]

I will stop watching the NFL if they do this.

How about we set a body fat limit...no one with less than 30% body fat is allowed to play in the NFL.

Also, no running.

There! Now nobody will get hurt.

This got me thinking...what will we call the start of the game? "The Redskins and the Bills will kickoff at..ahem...I mean...commence random ball placement at 1PM EST."

[Poman]

I will stop watching the NFL if they do this.

How about we set a body fat limit...no one with less than 30% body fat is allowed to play in the NFL.

Also, no running.

There! Now nobody will get hurt.

This got me thinking...what will we call the start of the game? "The Redskins and the Bills will kickoff at..ahem...I mean...commence random ball placement at 1PM EST."

I was thinking they could do something similar to a "puck drop". But you have to recover using only your thigh pads......It'll be Mara's ball drop to start the game...Seriously though, what an idiotic idea to remove kickoffs....

[Renegade7]

Good call on the lack of pads lately compared to yester-years. Can the NFLPA block moves like this???

[pjfootballer]

Has there been a study that kickoffs in particular, cause more concussions then any other play? I think the risk of being paralyzed has been more on kickoffs and that's why they eliminated the wedge. I think punt returning is FAR more dangerous than kickoffs. While the kicking team does get a running start than on a punt, the trajectory of the ball leaves players more defenseless than a kickoff. At least a kick returner has some green grass ahead of him. And the big runup on kickoffs was eliminated and now they only get 5 yards. What more can you do aside from eliminating them?

[skins_fan1982]

At least a kick returner has some green grass ahead of him. And the big runup on kickoffs was eliminated and now they only get 5 yards. What more can you do aside from eliminating them?

They could always make kickoff plays two-hand touch. lol

[HailGreen28]

....It'll be Mara's ball drop to start the game...Seriously though, what an idiotic idea to remove kickoffs....

But Mara's have probably never dropped..... just look at that petty little man.....

[jflow78]

I think, instead of just throwing random crazy **** out there like he has so frequently in the past few months, Mara should actually do some research. He should be required to be involved in every kickoff during the Giants season for the rest of the year.

While it's true that this might speed up the loss of the "kickoff", it would be a hell of a lot more fun to have it go this way than just having a bunch of old men in a room vote on **** they apparently don't understand.

I would be all for watching Mara get the **** knocked out of him 6-7 times a game.

[renaissance]

Was a ridiculous rule change in the first place. All moving the kickoff did was reduce the number of opportunities for injuries, thus possibly reduce the net number of injuries. The rate of injuries (based on the number of kickoffs which are receivable/playable) and the potential severity of injuries don't benefit at all from the initial rule change.

[Santana_89]

John Mara is an ****ing

[The X-Factor]

I will stop watching the NFL if they do this.

No you won't, and others won't either. Even though I hate the fact that the league is trying to take away the rough nature of the sport, fans will continue to watch. Unfortunate football is so popular that simply removing kickoffs from the game will not prevent people from watching. The only way ratings will decline is if they remove tackling all together, which I doubt will ever happen, but at this rate it's a possibility.

[Epochalypse]

I envision me walking up to Mara and giving him a good swift kick to the ****.

Too bad it's just me envisioning it.

[E-Dog Night]

No you won't.

But the thing is I've already stopped watching other sports leagues (NBA) for similar reasons*. Granted, I liked the NFL way more than I ever dide the NBA, but removing the kickoffs would REALLY piss me off.

*With the exception of last years' Mavericks win over the heat in the final game, I haven't watched a single NBA game since the strike.

[skins2victory]

Is this guy not all there......... There is no way that will go through. What about onside kicks Mara?? That is a element that makes football fun, that would take so many oppertunities away for come backs. And stratagy for that matter, game opening, and halftime opening onside kicks, like when the Saints did it to the Colts in the Superbowl not too long ago...... Step down Mara, you are rediculas!!!