NFL owners pass rule to place ball at 25 following fair catches on kickoffs

[RustyBourneHorse]

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners...ners voted on Tuesday,team's own 25-yard line.

Just thought I'd share what just came through.

 

[maryquality]

Interesting. So, they added "fair catches" to kickoffs. So, if the team kicks it to the opponents 5 yard line, the player just needs to fair catch it and it goes on the 25? Well, alrighty then....

 

[diamonddelts]

N.F.L. catch rules complexity > Einstein theory of relativity.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Personally, I dislike the rule. Firstly, special team is a key part of several people's jobs. For a lot of a roster, they depend on special teams to stay on the squad. This hampers that. Secondly, I'm someone who, as a former kicker, likes the kicking game. But, the return game is fun and it's because it just takes a few missed tackles for a TD to happen. This robs that from happening to an extent. Finally, I think this is, to an extent, an overblowing of player safety. Yes, player safety is important, but this is a bit of an overcorrection imo. Especially when you watch how kickoffs in rugby and Aussie Rules are done. In rugby, there is no fair catch.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Clearly the player safety issue is driving this.

Wish this much effort was put into getting training for refs so they will be better.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

According to the league ........it's all about safety and that's a good thing.

 

[DallasEast]

Wonder how kick return specialists feel about the new rule? There will be those with contract incentives to return kicks for x amount of yards and/or points. Obeying the rule explicitly will cut into those incentives.

 

[Havic]

Just remove kick offs at this point. This league is garbage

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Maybe the NFL should start playing Sarcastaball.

 

[Pantone282C]

I don't mind a ball placement rule, but the 25 yard line penalizes the kicker and the team.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I don't mind a ball placement rule, but the 25 yard line penalizes the kicker and the team.

Fair enough, I mean, if they are going to do something like that, then have the ball at the 15 for a fair catch.

 

[jazzcat22]

It is for 2023 only….for now….

 

[conner01]

Wonder how kick return specialists feel about the new rule? There will be those with contract incentives to return kicks for x amount of yards and/or points. Obeying the rule explicitly will cut into those incentives.

They better work on their punt returns

 

[Pantone282C]

Fair enough, I mean, if they are going to do something like that, then have the ball at the 15 for a fair catch.

My preference is to not try to catch it if you're fielding it close to the goal line.
That said, how about 5 yds further than where you fair catch it - with a maximum of the 20 yard line for ball placement.

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't mind a ball placement rule, but the 25 yard line penalizes the kicker and the team.

It applies to KO”s. Not punts. If that is what you are saying.
As to the fair catch.

if a punt and lands in the end zone as a Touch back…then it goes to the 25 and not the 20. I guess.

 

[conner01]

It is for 2023 only….for now….

I’m betting it stays. If concussions do drop even close to the modeling it’s here to stay and though it changes the game, player safety is worth it. It’s not like many kick returns are big returns even now. It also makes some kickers like a couple of older guys, more valuable since they couldn’t kick off well

 

[JayFord]

the XFL has perfected the kickoff just copy it

 

[Pantone282C]

It applies to KO”s. Not punts. If that is what you are saying.

Yes, on KOs.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Interesting. So, they added "fair catches" to kickoffs. So, if the team kicks it to the opponents 5 yard line, the player just needs to fair catch it and it goes on the 25? Well, alrighty then....

This is seriously messed up. It's no longer tackle football. Might as well turn it into flag football.

 

[Pantone282C]

This is seriously messed up. It's no longer football. Might as well turn it into flag football.

It's getting there.