Goodell / Kickoffs / Playoffs

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Goodell says the idea came from Bucs coach Greg Schiano.

From the jeenyus who rushed the QB on the kneel-down.

Hey Rodger!!

Just put the ball on the 20 every time and end this charade.

No, just take away the facemasks and watch proper form tackling suddenly return to the game.

Wow. No 108-yarder from Cobb. No more holding your breath when Ginn or Sproles or Hester get the ball. Goodell is intent on making the NFL a skirt game.

One of Goodell's reasons is to eliminate kickoffs is to end players hitting each other with their heads down and injuring their spines, a situation that could happen on any play. Instead of trying to end an exciting play, why not teach the players to lift their heads before contact rather than dipping them? Coaches have taught them to drop their heads and "put a hat on the ball," and it has led to players tackling with their heads all the time and the increase in concussions and spinal injuries. I'd rather they spend some time developing better shoulder pads so guys could hit with their shoulders and not worry as much about injury. Then I think you'd see less head hits.

They have made hockey a safer game by emphasizing hitting with your head up all the time. That message has led to greater player safety, despite collisions at higher rates of speed than they generate in the NFL. Is there still the occasional spinal accident in hockey? Yes, but it would be far worse if guys hit each other with their heads down.

Get rid of the kickoff? Get rid of Goodell.

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One of Goodell's reasons is to eliminate kickoffs is to end players hitting each other with their heads down and injuring their spines, a situation that could happen on any play.

Makes sense. Seems to me if they eliminated tackling all together we'd still have Nick Collins roaming the secondary.

If they want to prevent collisions, make it like some High School rules. If you kick it in the endzone it is an automatic touchback.

see my Location...
stupid stupid stupid. did I mention stupid?

He's trying damn hard Tdog!

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Originally posted by Pakrz:
This man is single handedly killing the NFL.

The same was said when he moved the kickoff line up to the 35 yard line. Guess what? The game is still as popular as ever and nobody even talks about that change anymore.

By the way, all rule changes are voted on by all 32 teams. So stop it with "Goodell is ruining the game" with these rule changes because EVERY TEAM has a vote on EVERY ISSUE. Blame the 31 owners and Mark Murphy for this change (if it happens), because they're the ones that will be voting to change this rule, not Goodell. And go ahead and blame the competition committee too, b/c they'll have a huge hand in this change too.

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Originally posted by Pakrz:

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One of Goodell's reasons is to eliminate kickoffs is to end players hitting each other with their heads down and injuring their spines, a situation that could happen on any play.

Makes sense. Seems to me if they eliminated tackling all together we'd still have Nick Collins roaming the secondary.

They should eliminate running to protect the player's legs.

I go back and forth on this all the time. Like many, I loved the NFL of the '70s through the '90s where they really hadn't legislated too much of the violence out of the game yet. It was definitely not as violent as the days of when the headslaps and other stuff was allowed, but still was a brutal game.

As much as I loved it, when you see what happens to these guys a few years after they are out of the game, maybe some of these changes are necessary. It probably isn't just Goodell making these decisions, there's probably a whole team of lawyers advising Goodell and all the owners on how to handle things.

Do I really think Goodell and the owners truly care about the players safety? Probably not, they're just trying to protect themselves legally. That said, when you see how bad a shape many of these guys are after playing in the NFL, maybe it's time for change even though it makes me sick to see the game I loved so distorted and dumbed down from what it once was.

I'll always miss the way the NFL used to be, but that said, maybe more guys will be able to have productive lives after the NFL if some of these rules actually help. Perhaps it will be all for nothing, but as fans, I think we're just going to have to adjust. The NFL will never be as entertaining as it was decades ago, but it still will be somewhat entertaining.

We could have robots play instead of players. I think they did that with boxing a few years ago.

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Originally posted by JJSD:
No, just take away the facemasks and watch proper form tackling suddenly return to the game.

Special kickoff helmets.

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We could have robots play instead of players.

Extra points could be next:

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Patriots coach Bill Belichick recently caused a stir when he said the NFL wants to eliminate kickoffs. Now Belichick has weighed in on a play that he says would be better suited to elimination: The extra point.

In an interview on WEEI, Belichick pointed out that the point after touchdown is so easy that it rarely creates any interest at all, and he said that if the league isn’t going to make it harder, then the league should just get rid of it.

“Philosophically, plays that are non-plays shouldn’t be in the game,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. “I don’t think it is good for the game. Extra points, when you’re up to the 99 percent range in extra points it’s not a play. Let’s move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap in. Make them kick it. Same thing with the kickoff return, if you’re just going to put the ball on the 20, put the ball on the 20.”

While I hate most things Bilicheat, can't say I disagree. If you put the ball in the end zone, call it 7 points and let's move on.

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call it 7 points and let's move on.

then how do you do a 2 point conversion?

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Originally posted by who:
Reason

They get paid millions of dollars to play a violent game. They are not forced to play this game. It is a choice.

not so much the older guys but any guys since the mid-80s on... "they bought their tickets. they knew what they were getting into."

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Originally posted by who:
Reason

I'd still like to know how many of those in the lawsuit also did tons of cocaine and loads of steroids back in the 70s and 80s. Nobody ever seems to bring this up.

yeah, seeing Todd Marinovich's name on there....wth??

The GBP Rules and GB Fan For Life are both trying to inject logic into the legal system. If it gets to a jury, the case is likely to be decided by emotion.

I've actually been all in favor of getting rid of the extra point myself, but I think that movement took a step back with Chicago running in a fake against MIN. That's the only possible scenario the league would miss if you made the XP automatic but gave the option for a traditional 2-pt conversion.

Can someone explain to me why these players get paid so much money? If you are worried about your health 10 years down the road then dont take the money and go work in an office.

These guys are warriors, they know what they are into, especially by the time they get to the NFL. I am pretty conservative by nature, but if I had a chance to play in the NFL for even one game, even knowing the risk, I would do it. It is not all about the money, guys did it when they got paid practically nothing, and you could even argue they do it for nothing in college (or at lease some do).

The risks are becoming more public, but just like PEDs, people have known for a long time how debilitating these injuries are, there is just more objective data now.

Yes, the NFL and NFLPA need to figure a way to take care of their players afterwards, just like the US should take care of its wounded vets (and hopefully both they and the vets would get better taken care of in the future.)

But in the end, yes, there are certain things that can make the game more safe and many have been done over the years, but I think sometimes now it is getting into the ridiculousness. The fact that you basically can't hit a receiver who jumps up for a catch until they come down and are ready to get hit is absurd.

One way I think this will eventually get addressed is better equipment. Someday, a brace or something to protect the knee will be a basic equipment. I wonder if someday a softer shelled helment could reduce the effects of using the helment as a battering ram and I imagine that eventually there will be helments that absorb the shocks of hits much better.

In the meantime, the media is in a frenzy and the NFL will overreact to counter the lawsuits and public opinion, but in the end these are grown men who know what they are getting into.

Just make a penalty for tackling.

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Originally posted by GratefulPack:

Yes, the NFL and NFLPA need to figure a way to take care of their players afterwards, just like the US should take care of its wounded vets (and hopefully both they and the vets would get better taken care of in the future.)

Poor comparison. The players need to take care of themselves. I have to invest my money and I don't make millions.

At the rate Goodell and the owners are reacting, the players and others must have some serious evidence against them. Usually huge organizations are big enough to overlook or squash this stuff. The way the NFL is willing to morph so quickly to get rid of what has served it so well for so long is probably indicative of how vulnerable the owners and Goodell feel.

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Originally posted by Tdog:

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call it 7 points and let's move on.

then how do you do a 2 point conversion?

That would not need to change. It would just be a 9 point score vs 8. The extra point is a waste of time considering kickers make them nearly 100% of the time.

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The extra point is a waste of time considering kickers make them nearly 100% of the time.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GratefulPack:
These guys are warriors, they know what they are into, especially by the time they get to the NFL.
Yes, the NFL and NFLPA need to figure a way to take care of their players afterwards, just like the US should take care of its wounded vets (and hopefully both they and the vets would get better taken care of in the future.)
QUOTE]

Disagree about calling them warriors. Yes, they know what they are into, it is called MONEY. And again, yes, even moreso by the time they get into the NFLFU.

Disagree with the second point here as well. These players need to learn how to take care of themselves and their own finances. From the NFL and Players Union it should be as simple as forcing the players to wear protective gear provided. As well as removing the face-mask from the helmet.
Put me in the camp that says the old fashioned leather helmet will do away almost completely with head injuries.
and where i have a real problem with the second point is football players playing a game for MILLIONS being compared to the soldiers past and present that have given them the opportunity to play their game.
I do agree that soldiers should be better taken care of and paid a heck of a lot more than they are.....

I did not and I can promise you no one has joined the military before or after me for the money. Some may join for a job or a career but most join for love of country. And if anyone should get the best of healthcare in this country it should be our military men and women.

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Originally posted by packman15:
I did not and I can promise you no one has joined the military before or after me for the money.

I joined the military for the money, man was I disapointed. (just kidding, you're absolutely correct)

Most Football players play the game for no compensation. Most players in the history of the NFL including most of the great Packers names of the past made nowhere near millions they do now. I never meant to compare the motivation of those who play football, withy those who serve, I was pointing out that employers need to car of workers who participate in hazardous occupations.

Goodell's days as commissioner are numbered. This sort of acute stupidity won't fly forever. Nearly every time he opens his mouth, it only serves to further confirm that he's a nitwit. I don't mean that in a small way (like these are the comments of a guy in a tough job he has no business attempting), the man is a genuinely stupid human being. He's the archetypical empty headed nitwit who managed to work his way up the ladder of a corporation by knowing how to spew the right sort of execu-speak and suck up to the correct people along the way.

I think it will add some excitement.. Chances of converting a 4th and 15 are probably greater than recovering an onside kick.

Also, starting field position for offenses should improve if they punt from the 30. Lets say you have an avg net of 40, that means teams will be starting at the 30 on average.

Are there more KO returns for TD or Punt returns? Couldn't answer, but my guess is punt.

You don't just change how the game of football is played after 90 years. eliminating parts of the game is wrong.

Yeah, next thing you know the pitchers won't even get to bat in baseball.

Last time I checked the Brewers were in the National League.