Report: No Kickoffs Discussed

[r8rh8rmike]

Report: No kickoffs discussed

Updated: December 6, 2012, 1:26 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

Commissioner Roger Goodell recently discussed a proposal to eliminate kickoffs with Rich McKay, the head of the league's competition committee, Time magazine reported.

Goodell and McKay discussed an idea brought up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano in which a team, instead of kicking off, would get the ball at its own 30-yard line in a fourth-and-15 situation. The team then would punt the ball away or, to replace an onside kick, could go for it and, if they failed to get a first down, the opposing squad would start with great field position.

"The fact is, it's a much different end of the play," Goodell said during the meeting, according to Time magazine.

Schiano discussed his idea earlier in the season in an ESPN The Magazine story. Schiano, who was the coach at Rutgers in 2010 when Eric LeGrand was paralyzed on a kickoff, has seen first-hand how the play can adversely affect the safety of players.

LeGrand broke two vertebrae and suffered a serious spinal cord injury in October 2010 during a kickoff return against Army. He became an inspiration to his college teammates, eventually being able to stand upright with the help of a metal frame.

Schiano told ESPN The Magazine in September that he believed kickoffs would eventually be eliminated from pro football. "I believe that day will come. Unfortunately, it will probably take more players being seriously hurt. But I think there's another way to do this."

The NFL already has been working to make kickoffs safer.

Last season, the NFL moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 and required the coverage unit to start within 5 yards of the ball, closing the distance between the teams. Both rules had their desired effects. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 16.4 percent of kickoffs led to touchbacks in 2010; last year it was 43.5 percent. The NFL found that players suffered 40 percent fewer concussions on kickoffs in 2011, McKay told ESPN The Magazine.

Schiano's plan, however, would eliminate kickoffs altogether. Goodell admitted to Time magazine that the proposal is "an off-the-wall idea."

"It's different and makes you think differently. It did me."

[BrokenWing]

I kinda like the 4th down idea, but I'd prefer kick offs.

[jmk321]

Are there actually stats that prove that significantly more injuries happen on kickoffs rather than anecdotal evidence? If so, then this rule change makes sense but I wouldn't want them to completely change footall just because of one freak tragedy when injuries can happen on every play.

[clive]

Has Bernie Ecclestone joined the NFL? This idea is as silly as the short cuts on race tracks plan that he came up with for Formula one.

[BrokenWing]

I saw a thing where they asked Jeff Fisher about this and he indicated that the kick off is the highest rated injury per play event in the game even after the rules change that moved it to the 35 yard line.

[r8rh8rmike]

In conjuction with this article, several players were asked if kickoffs should be eliminated, and every one of them said no.

[lostsoul]

I don't like the idea of taking away kickoffs, But if it will drastically reduce injuries i'm all for it.