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An early tinfoil hat conspiracy theory about the new kick-off rule

tabnews August 15, 2024
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Here is a warning for fans attending NFL games this year. The new kickoff format sees Really personally funny.

Not bad. Just… weird.

When I watched the new kickoffs on TV or in video clips, the change wasn't too surprising to me.

However, if you are in a stadium, And You When you see the kicker all alone on the 35-yard line, your brain short circuits. Then you see the empty grass before 21 other players just standing there looking at each other, and 19 of them can't move until the ball is caught or hits the ground.

It's just weird, that's all. You have to retrain your eyes to see it.

But after seeing the new Kickoff a few times in person and on TV NowThe wheels of conspiracy theory are turning in my head.

Was the intention behind the implementation of this overly complicated structure for the piece simplydesigned to frustrate fans, coaches, officials and players to the point where they eventually accept the complete abolition of kick-offs?

Maybe as already next year? In other words, run this chaotic option for a year, fire everyone up andthen just erase the piece itself to eliminate the grumbling?

We all know that after the concussion settlement, the league office go through a decades-long identity crisis with the inherent physical nature of the sport itself.

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That's why defensive players aren't allowed to breathe near a quarterback or hit a receiver in the open field without facing a flag, a fine, a suspension, social media ignominy, and—I expect this will happen soon—incarceration in a federal prison.

Since the injury rate during kickoffs is increasing due to the high speed Collisions from so many players running all the way down the field have caused the NFL to try to minimize the play over the years, making it increasingly easier to score touchbacks from both the kicker and the pass receiver. End the equation.

It had gotten to the point where the game was almost unnecessary, which is why the league implemented this silly new kickoff format we've all been talking about for months that almost forces both teams to play again.

But because the return Units and the monitoring units are now placed so close to each other (only five meters apart) that the returns themselves are not very interesting and are the result in minimal excitement. Every return looks like a fundamental Running play on 1st and 10

Miles Killebrew, the Steelers special teams standout, accurately predicted back In June, every kick-off is “essentially like one long game.”

In addition, all rules are almost impossible to remember spontaneously what a penalty is and what isn't and where the ball goes. be discovered as a result of a rule violation or a touchback.

As a reminder: The ball must land or be set up within the “landing zone” between the goal line and the receiving team’s 20-yard line. Any kick that hits the landing zone must be returned.

The ball is placed at the 30-yard line if it lands in the end zone. If the ball lands inside the 20-yard line and rolls into the end zone, it must be returned or brought down. If this happens, the drive begins at the 20-yard line. If a kick does not reach the landing zone or goes out of bounds, the receiving team takes possession of the ball at its 40-yard line.

Receive all that? Good. You probably Only had to re-read this two or three times. Now try to remember all of that if you're a player, commentator or official in real time, or if you're just a fan who wants to know what the hell is going on without having to Google something on your phone.

Sure, there were a few large returns after Week 1 of the preseason.

And you are consciously experiencing a sharp increase in the number of returns.

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Unfortunately, according to ProFootballTalk this week, once the regular season begins, most teams will likely Only Hit the ball through the end zone anyway and let the offense take the ball at the 30, with 70 yards of grass to defend.

The theory is: “What's an extra five yards compared to taking the risk of a big return?“The Associated Press reports that after a week of preseason preparation, the average drive start after a kick was at the 29-yard line anyway.

Additionally, PFT points out that if teams commit to kicking the ball out of the end zone every time, they won't have to waste practice time playing the game every week.

My theory is that the NFL is essentially trying to frustrate everyone involved and get them to accept that kickoffs go to disappear, and they will eventually start every offense at the 25-yard line. Those of us (myself included) who are furiously trying to hold on to football as it once was will just give up complaining about how complicated they make the rules.

The same is true when it comes to hitting the quarterback. Despite all the complaints about the inconsistency of the flags designed to protect the quarterback from being hit too hard, they will soon solve these problems simply by saying you can't tackle the quarterback in the pocket. at all.

After decades of fans and media shouting exaggeratedly: “They should just put flag football belts on the quarterbacks,” Don’t be shocked if the NFL actually does something like this one day to “fix” all the confusion about how to hit passers.

Of course, it was the confusion that was originally caused by the league.

Anything to avoid possible future lawsuits… er, I mean… anything for the safety of their beloved players.

Now to this 18th game of the regular seasonf.

LISTEN: WGR's Tim Benz and Sal Capaccio in Buffalo watch the Steelers and Bills' joint practice on Thursday and their preseason game on Saturday.

Tim Benz is an editor at Tribune-Review. You can reach Tim at [email protected] or via X. All tweets may be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.

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