The NFL has been trying to implement new rules and tweak others heading into the new season, with one of the most radical being how kickoffs are handled.
According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, owners still have to vote to implement changes for 2018-2019, with the main objective to eliminate injuries and concussions on kickoffs. As well all know, players come full speed at each other during that time and it often leads to injuries.
Takeaways from the player safety meeting on kickoffs: changes coming, likely eliminating the 2-man wedge, no running start for the kicking team, only 3 players allowed deep.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 2, 2018
Research from the league’s medical department has showed that concussions happen at five times more frequency on kickoffs and the NFL wants to protect players as much as they can moving forward. Especially with CTE being such a huge topic.
If these rules are implemented, it’ll mean that kickoff returns will probably happen at a lower rate and most importantly, more injuries could be avoided.
Do you agree with the changes the No Fun League has made over the past few seasons or do you miss the ways of the old NFL?