The NFL is always adapting, adding and changing rules in order to make the game more competitive and protect its players.
Most recently, this was seen in the new kickoff rule.
The new rule changes the configuration of the NFL kickoff, putting players closer together so they are less likely to cause concussions or other potentially serious injuries.
Additionally, there are no rules regarding when a player must return a football and when it is a touchback.
This rule has proved controversial among football fans, with some missing the older style. This includes a certain former president.
Speaking with OutKick’s Clay Travis, former president Donald Trump spoke about the new NFL kickoff rule, specifically saying that he doesn’t like it.
“I don’t know what they’re doing with the kickoff return in the NFL,” Trump said. And I don’t want to get involved in controversy, of course, but it looks so bad. And I noticed that they hadn’t done that in college, and they shouldn’t do it. And I think the NFL should go back.”
“And maybe it is a little bit more dangerous, but I doubt that it’s any more dangerous. It’s football.”
While this would normally go unnoticed, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell actually addressed the rules mentioned on “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network.
“I think we’ll have to make a few changes on the kickoff that will, I think, lead to a lot more kickoff returns,” Goodell said.
While there may be some tweaks that need to be made, the new kickoff rule has actually been a slight success. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, kick returns have actually increased from 17 percent in the first four weeks of the 2023 NFL Season to 29 percent this season in the same amount of time.
However, two-thirds of kickoffs are still just touchbacks due to them guaranteeing field position for the offensive team.
According to NFL officiating rules analyst Walt Anderson, this rule is still being worked on and hasn’t been fully finalized yet.
“There’s a lot of elements that go into defining what success is on this play,” Anderson said. “And so, really, we’re taking the approach of, ‘Hey, it’s a long season. Everybody’s going to have to get used to this. Let’s not worry about evaluating it upfront.’ There will be plenty of time to evaluate it after the season.”
“But from our standpoint, it’s at least heading in what we feel like is the right direction, which is increasing the number of returns, making the play more exciting, and then, obviously, everybody hopes that it’s also making it safer.”
In the end, the safety aspect is the most important part of this rule change. In the end, if this is a rule that keeps the players safer, it will be better for the sport in the long run.
For more NFL news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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