When NFL house owners permitted a rule Tuesday permitting groups to begin a drive on the 25-yard line when a honest catch is signaled on a kickoff, the league was conscious a backlash was coming.
“It is by no means simple for particular groups coaches. They’ve coached it a sure means. They suppose they’ve a bonus, so they are not gonna be proud of adjustments like this,” Wealthy McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competitors committee, advised NFL Community.
“However the adjustments wanted to be made as a result of, in our thoughts, we now have the information that mentioned it needs to be made.”
Travis Kelce of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles watch Recreation 6 of the NBA Japanese Convention semifinals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Middle Could 11, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Pictures)
And backlash has ensued, with Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce ripping the rule on the “New Heights” podcast.
PACKERS’ ALL-PRO RETURNER DISMISSES NFL’S NEW KICKOFF RULE
“I believe that is completely silly,” Travis Kelce mentioned. “I don’t suppose it’s making the sport safer. I believe it’s making it extra boring and taking a number of pleasure out of the sport’s opening play. That is whack.”
“We’re simply getting nearer and nearer to eliminating particular groups,” Jason Kelce added. “The one factor left now’s punt. When is anyone not going to fair-catch it and take the ball on the 25? Except it’s only a actually unhealthy kick, proper?”
The rule was permitted with participant security in thoughts as concussion charges have elevated over the previous two seasons on kickoffs, in response to ESPN.
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Travis Kelce of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs celebrates onstage with the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the course of the first spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station April 27, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Pictures)
“The information may be very clear in regards to the increased fee of damage on that play,” Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned. “We have been speaking about it for a number of years. We’ve not made a number of progress on this play. This was a step that we predict was applicable to handle that. However we now have much more work to be carried out about how we proceed to evolve going ahead. Can we proceed to maintain this play in an thrilling means however, extra importantly, a protected means?”
The response to the brand new rule by the Kelce brothers got here in the future after Chiefs head coach Andy Reid mentioned he sees the kickoff rule as a pathway towards “flag soccer.”
Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs solutions questions from reporters throughout a media convention Feb. 7, 2023, in Phoenix, Ariz. (Jason Allen/ISI Images/Getty Pictures)
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“My factor is, the place does it cease, proper?” Reid advised NFL Community. “We begin taking items, and we’ll see how this goes. However you don’t wish to take too many items away, otherwise you’ll be taking part in flag soccer.”
The brand new rule can be in place for not less than one 12 months.
Alokito Mymensingh 24’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report
