The NFL could implement a new rule very soon, as some teams are voting for it at the offseason's Annual League Meetings with the head coaches and owners. In this case, it's another kickoff rule among the many others we have seen proposed over the years.
The Athletic broke the new proposed rule perfectly.
The proposal aims to increase kickoff returns and reduce injury by eliminating the running start of the kickoff team and by incentivizing kickers to drop kicks into a landing zone, which extends from the goal line to the 20-yard line. Any kick that drops in the landing zone must be returned. If it bounces into the end zone from the landing zone, it must be returned or downed, and any kick that falls short of the landing zone will be treated like an out-of-bounds kickoff and placed on the receiving team's 40-yard line. Any kick that lands in the end zone or goes out of the back of the end zone is a touchback and placed on the 30-yard line. - Kalyn Kahler, The Athletic
It's all about making the game safer, especially after some of the things we have seen over the last few years—it really puts into perspective how dangerous the game we all love is. This rule would certainly help and could limit the number of injuries we see on kickoffs.
And Big Red is open to the rule as well.
"It's going to be interesting and exciting if it passes. I like the idea. I'm for it," Reid said on Monday.
This new rule would certainly bring more strategy into the game and more skill from the kickers. I have not seen the official votes on this rule, but it's hard to see why any team wouldn't want this to be a rule change. It's not one of those rules you change, which takes away the game's history.
NFL owners approved a one-year rule change last season that allowed returners to catch any kick behind their own 25-yard line and begin the ensuing possession on the 25-yard line. Now, this new rule is being proposed, and we will see how the players and teams react to it and whether they like it or not.
Of course, we know the Chiefs are one of the teams leading the charge for a rule change in overtime. Well, that was in 2018 when the Chiefs tried to change the rule, but the rule actually changed when the Buffalo Bills made the suggestion. They aren't new to sharing how they feel about a rule.
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