An NFL without kickoffs?

[bonarae]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-o ... t-kickoffs

When NFL owners and the commissioner speak about upcoming rule changes, player safety is usually cited as one big reason to make evolutions to the rulebook. Or as Giants owner John Mara says, player safety is the first, second and last thing the league is concerned about.

Which is why it's not surprising to hear what Mara says could be the future of kickoffs in the league. As in, they might be taken out of existence.

[JayJ79]

next up, they will change the name of the league to the NFFL. National Flag Football League. getting rid of tackling altogether.

[AZGrizFan]

next up, they will change the name of the league to the NFFL. National Flag Football League. getting rid of tackling altogether.

Might only take one or two more class action lawsuits and you won't be too far from the truth.

[JayJ79]

and of course, no kickoffs would mean no onside kicks.
even though the probability of those actually working out is fairly slim, it's nice to at least have a small chance of making a late-game comeback.

[bluehenbillk]

Listened to Mike & Mike this morning & they were talking about this. The NFL may be largely unrecognizable in 10-15 years.

[andy7171]

The pussification of the NFL keeps on going and going and going and...

[Ivytalk]

Let's get rid of punts, too. Just give the other team the ball 30-35 net yards away from the last line of scrimmage, or half the distance to the goal, whichever is less.

[Willie]

What a bunch of pussy bitches. Let the owners suit up and they can return kicks.

[alvin kayak]

You can't just eliminate the kickoff!!!

Game kicks off at 3 PM....

What are we going to say now?

Snapoff at 3 PM?

For F***'s sake!

[Ivytalk]

You can't just eliminate the kickoff!!!

Game kicks off at 3 PM....

What are we going to say now?

Snapoff at 3 PM?

For F***'s sake!

Funny you should say "snapoff" with that luscious siggy!

[dal4018]

Listened to Mike & Mike this morning & they were talking about this. The NFL may be largely unrecognizable in 10-15 years.

If the kickoff is taken away your right maybe even 5-10 yrs earlier.

[bluehenbillk]

I don't think they've fully thought this through. How does a team stage a late 4th quarter comeback without an onside kick opportunity?

What's next? Punts? They take away INT returns too?

[SuperHornet]

How about Steal the Bacon?

[youtube][/youtube]

FWIW, I don't like the idea, either.

[AshevilleApp]

next up, they will change the name of the league to the NFFL. National Flag Football League. getting rid of tackling altogether.

Might only take one or two more class action lawsuits and you won't be too far from the truth.

In fifty years the interest in football will be similar to where the interest in boxing is now. Somebody name me the heavyweight champion without looking it up.

[Vidav]

Might only take one or two more class action lawsuits and you won't be too far from the truth.

In fifty years the interest in football will be similar to where the interest in boxing is now. Somebody name me the heavyweight champion without looking it up.

What is boxing?

[tampajag]

How about Steal the Bacon?

[youtube][/youtube]

FWIW, I don't like the idea, either.

no chance, somebody got hurt doing that.

[rkwittem]

Might only take one or two more class action lawsuits and you won't be too far from the truth.

In fifty years the interest in football will be similar to where the interest in boxing is now. Somebody name me the heavyweight champion without looking it up.

I like the idea here, but my guess it will be closer to what baseball was/is. At one time, baseball ruled the roost in American sports (right up there with boxing). Now it's clearly option #3 (or #4 if you count college football). I wonder what would replace the NFL in America's affections? The NBA would be my guess. MLB? College sports. I can already hear the NHL execs jumping for joy.

I am hoping and praying and borderline freaking out that college football might follow suit. My guess is they won't, because players won't be able to sue based on "unsafe working conditions," as they are technically not paid employees of their universities.

What will Goodell ban next? Helmets? Tackling above the waist? Blocking? Running the ball?

This is precisely why I HATE lawyers. All of 'em should be put out of their misery. Goodell for being an insecure, incompetent, and insufferable candyass of a moron and the lawyers who will be profiting from these ridiculous lawsuits all the while cheapening what once my favorite sport.

[BDKJMU]

Bet it won't be too long before some idiot suggests taking away the 3 point stance, too.

[grizzaholic]

After all the namby-pamby shit that is going on around the country lately, if this happens, and I have been giving this a lot of thought, I won't be watching the NFL again if they get rid of kickoffs.

[JoltinJoe]

I don't think they've fully thought this through. How does a team stage a late 4th quarter comeback without an onside kick opportunity?

What's next? Punts? They take away INT returns too?

After you score, you announce you want to try an "onside kick." The coach then rolls the dice. If it comes up 2 and 12, his team gets the ball at midfield. If not, the opponents get the ball at the 35 -- already in field goal range.

Problem solved.

[Ivytalk]

In fifty years the interest in football will be similar to where the interest in boxing is now. Somebody name me the heavyweight champion without looking it up.

This is precisely why I HATE lawyers. All of 'em should be put out of their misery. Goodell for being an insecure, incompetent, and insufferable candyass of a moron and the lawyers who will be profiting from these ridiculous lawsuits all the while cheapening what once my favorite sport.

Hi!

[SuperHornet]

After all the namby-pamby shit that is going on around the country lately, if this happens, and I have been giving this a lot of thought, I won't be watching the NFL again if they get rid of kickoffs.

All right, Gunny.

[Ibanez]

Before you know it, the NFL will be recruiting girls and the Sacramento Sirens will be the #1 Farm team of the NFL.

SMFH.

[SuperHornet]

Before you know it, the NFL will be recruiting girls and the Sacramento Sirens will be the #1 Farm team of the NFL.

SMFH.

[Pwns]

The worst thing about this is that while it will cut down on acute injuries, it won't do a darned thing about premature dementia.