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

[RustyBourneHorse]

Honestly, I like what the CFL does where any kick that goes into the endzone and isn't returned is a single or a rouge. If they're going to do this, then they should award a point to the kicking team for forcing a fair catch. That might make teams think twice before calling fair catch on a kickoff.

This includes on missed field goals as the goal posts are at the front of the end zone. So yes, in Canada, any kick (excluding a converted field goal or XP) that goes into the endzone and is not returned counts as 1 point to the kicking team. I think for kickoffs, if the lanes are done correctly, there should be enough room to at least carry the ball to the 25 yardline. Plus, people's livelihoods depend on kickoffs. So, if you're just going to take the ball at the 25 by way of a fair catch, then the kicking team should get 1 point.

 

[DallasEast]

This does not exist.

ARTICLE 13
SALARY CAP ACCOUNTING RULES
Section 6. Valuation of Player Contracts
(c) Incentives
Pages 117-118 (link)

(EXHIBIT B)
INDIVIDUAL INCENTIVES

RUSHING
Total yards
Average yards (100 attempts)
Touchdowns

PASSING
Passer rating (224 attempts)
Completion percentage (224 attempts)
Interception percent (224 attempts)
Total yards
Yards per pass (224 attempts)
Touchdown passes

RECEIVING
Total receptions
Total yards
Average yards (32 receptions)
Touchdowns

DEFENSE
Interceptions
Interception return yards
Touchdowns on interception
returns
Opponent fumble recoveries
Opponent fumble return yards
Touchdowns on opponent
fumble returns
Sacks

PUNT RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

KICKOFF RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

PUNTING
Gross average (40 punts)
Net average (40 punts)
Inside 20-yard line

PLACE KICKING
Total points
Field goals
Field goal percentage (16 attempts)
Field goal percentage
0-19 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
20-29 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
30-39 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
40-49 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
50 yards or longer (3 attempts)

OTHERS
Roster bonuses
Reporting bonuses
Playtime bonuses
(excluding special teams)
Special teams playtime

_____________

What does not exist? "Contract incentives?" "Incentives?" Something else? I may have the verbiage wrong.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

ARTICLE 13
SALARY CAP ACCOUNTING RULES
Section 6. Valuation of Player Contracts
(c) Incentives
Pages 117-118 (link)

(EXHIBIT B)
INDIVIDUAL INCENTIVES

RUSHING
Total yards
Average yards (100 attempts)
Touchdowns

PASSING
Passer rating (224 attempts)
Completion percentage (224 attempts)
Interception percent (224 attempts)
Total yards
Yards per pass (224 attempts)
Touchdown passes

RECEIVING
Total receptions
Total yards
Average yards (32 receptions)
Touchdowns

DEFENSE
Interceptions
Interception return yards
Touchdowns on interception
returns
Opponent fumble recoveries
Opponent fumble return yards
Touchdowns on opponent
fumble returns
Sacks

PUNT RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

KICKOFF RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

PUNTING
Gross average (40 punts)
Net average (40 punts)
Inside 20-yard line

PLACE KICKING
Total points
Field goals
Field goal percentage (16 attempts)
Field goal percentage
0-19 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
20-29 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
30-39 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
40-49 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
50 yards or longer (3 attempts)

OTHERS
Roster bonuses
Reporting bonuses
Playtime bonuses
(excluding special teams)
Special teams playtime

_____________

What does not exist? "Contract incentives?" "Incentives?" Something else? I may have the verbiage wrong.

That doesn't mean they're included.

I'm not saying that players can't have those incentives, but that there are so few players who are so specialized to kick returns that there'd be reason to include it in a contract.

 

[JD_KaPow]

My preference is to not try to catch it if you're fielding it close to the goal line.

I'm sorry, what?

 

[DallasEast]

That doesn't mean they're included.

I'm not saying that players can't have those incentives, but that there are so few players who are so specialized to kick returns that there'd be reason to include it in a contract.

ah. Okay. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

True but it does not mean they are excluded. Those incentives exist even if a particular player's (e.g kick return specialist) contract does not include them. Or is that assumption incorrect?

I'm not sure I follow. The incentives only exist if they are included, specifically, in a player's contract. They aren't automatically applied.

I guess I shouldn't have said that they don't exist originally, just that they aren't used.

 

[DallasEast]

I'm not sure I follow. The incentives only exist if they are included, specifically, in a player's contract. They aren't automatically applied.

I guess I shouldn't have said that they don't exist originally, just that they aren't used.

* see my #45 post reply above.

 

[gimmesix]

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.

Will make it more difficult to decide when to return a kick. Before there was no hesitation because you had to return those that didn't reach the end zone. Now, it's a question of whether you feel confident that you're in a position to return it at least unto the 25.

 

[JD_KaPow]

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

I find it really strange that people get worked up over changes to special teams stuff. That's not football to begin with.

This is why I like the 4th-and-15 (or whatever) option after scoring: more football plays, fewer plays where you trot out the soccer player.
Move the goalposts closer together, make kicks harder. More football plays, fewer kicking plays.
These are changes that would make it more like tackle football.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Will make it more difficult to decide when to return a kick. Before there was no hesitation because you had to return those that didn't reach the end zone. Now, it's a question of whether you feel confident that you're in a position to return it at least unto the 25.

And lo! he did not make it unto the 25, and the Coach did call down great wrath upon his head, and he and his sons and his sons' sons did not partake of the football for all their remaining days.

 

[Momanpr100]

Majority of kickoffs are touch backs any way.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Majority of kickoffs are touch backs any way.

True, but it's just the principle for me.

 

[Momanpr100]

True, but it's just the principle for me.

Yea I get it, at first I thought it applied to punts, but quickly found out it wasn't. Now that would've been a big issue.

 

[gimmesix]

And lo! he did not make it unto the 25, and the Coach did call down great wrath upon his head, and he and his sons and his sons' sons did not partake of the football for all their remaining days.

Verily.

 

[BigStar]

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.

And really just any younger or non-starter type of players are hurt. Maybe not a direct incentive is in their contract, but in order to keep any contract at all, they will need ST to exist.

I kinda liked the mention above @JD_KaPow about doing away with the non-football plays. It's become almost a commercial break at this point (kick offs) and I would be mostly fine with doing away with ST in general.

Think FGs are still needed, but even those can be modified so they're not booting 80 yarders in 2 years, etc.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

ARTICLE 13
SALARY CAP ACCOUNTING RULES
Section 6. Valuation of Player Contracts
(c) Incentives
Pages 117-118 (link)

(EXHIBIT B)
INDIVIDUAL INCENTIVES

RUSHING
Total yards
Average yards (100 attempts)
Touchdowns

PASSING
Passer rating (224 attempts)
Completion percentage (224 attempts)
Interception percent (224 attempts)
Total yards
Yards per pass (224 attempts)
Touchdown passes

RECEIVING
Total receptions
Total yards
Average yards (32 receptions)
Touchdowns

DEFENSE
Interceptions
Interception return yards
Touchdowns on interception
returns
Opponent fumble recoveries
Opponent fumble return yards
Touchdowns on opponent
fumble returns
Sacks

PUNT RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

KICKOFF RETURNS
Total yards
Average (20 returns)
Touchdowns

PUNTING
Gross average (40 punts)
Net average (40 punts)
Inside 20-yard line

PLACE KICKING
Total points
Field goals
Field goal percentage (16 attempts)
Field goal percentage
0-19 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
20-29 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
30-39 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
40-49 yards (4 attempts)
Field goal percentage
50 yards or longer (3 attempts)

OTHERS
Roster bonuses
Reporting bonuses
Playtime bonuses
(excluding special teams)
Special teams playtime

_____________

What does not exist? "Contract incentives?" "Incentives?" Something else? I may have the verbiage wrong.

The actual usage of that possible incentive is minimal-to-nonexistent. Teams rotate returners far too often for any player to demand that in their contract. Plus returners are often the lowest paid skill position player on the team; if you’re important enough to get worthwhile incentives, then you’re too important to use on special teams

 

[JD_KaPow]

And really just any younger or non-starter type of players are hurt. Maybe not a direct incentive is in their contract, but in order to keep any contract at all, they will need ST to exist.

I kinda liked the mention above @JD_KaPow about doing away with the non-football plays. It's become almost a commercial break at this point (kick offs) and I would be mostly fine with doing away with ST in general.

Think FGs are still needed, but even those can be modified so they're not booting 80 yarders in 2 years, etc.

One thing that I think people don't appreciate is that the game changes whether or not you alter the rules: keeping the rules the same is just as much a choice about how the game evolves as changing them is.

Fifty yard field goals used to be attempted out of desperation (or as what-the-heck end-of-half plays). Now they're routine. That's been a bad change to the game. I'm kind of amazed they haven't fixed it yet, given how easy the fix is: just move the goal posts closer together, dial back the success percentage. When it's 4th-and-6 at the opponent's 35,, does anyone think a FG is more fun to watch than a conversion attempt?

 

[noshame]

How about 1 game a season where the league reverts to 1990 rules?
We'll call it "football weekend "

 

[BigStar]

One thing that I think people don't appreciate is that the game changes whether or not you alter the rules: keeping the rules the same is just as much a choice about how the game evolves as changing them is.

Fifty yard field goals used to be attempted out of desperation (or as what-the-heck end-of-half plays). Now they're routine. That's been a bad change to the game. I'm kind of amazed they haven't fixed it yet, given how easy the fix is: just move the goal posts closer together, dial back the success percentage. When it's 4th-and-6 at the opponent's 35,, does anyone think a FG is more fun to watch than a conversion attempt?

I'm with you on this definitely. The only hold off is that kick returns can be very fun to witness during that 1% chance it is returned for a TD or long gain. But I got conditioned for that expectation, etc.

I'm all for removing most of the kicking elements but do think it will rougher for the younger players who may have an even less of a chance to stick. That will evolve into different types of "flashes" that will need to be displayed either in TC, PS, or in practice at their actual position. But really, that's how it should be.

If you're an ok LB/S, but a great STer, you're really not adding much "quality" to the game...you're filling in for more talented players they don't want to risk on STs.

I remember Darren Woodson playing STs and even then I felt it was a bit of a waste of his "Safety" talents. You don't see that too often anymore and think that's bc teams have realized the importance just isn't "there" for STs.

 

[MS17]

This news doesn't phase me. I've just lost confidence in the owners to implement fair, effective and needed changes to rules anymore.
It's more about protecting an "inve$tment" rather than promoting safety or competition.
Citing the recent owners rules changes "in order to protect the passer and defenseless receivers". I suppose that one saves players from being ambulanced to the ICU. Has it improved the game? Well, at least fans know a whole lot more about the parts of a helmet now.
The NFL could be a co-ed league in 10 years at this rate.