NFL Rules Changes Proposal (kickoffs)
 

Here's two things that piss me off about the NFL kickoff rules. Can anyone give me a good reason why they shouldn't be changed?

1. Kickoff out of bounds (aka the Giants-Cowboys rule): if the ball bounces in-bounds, but rolls out of bounds, the ball comes back to the 40 yard line. Now, I understand this if the ball never lands in-bounds at all, but let's face it, no one controls how a football bounces. I propose that the ball merely has to land in-bounds.

2. On-side kicks. Presently, the ball has to go 10 yards before the offence can touch it; if they touch it, there's a rekick. No, that's stupid, the kicking team screwed up, they shouldn't get a second chance. I propose that a touch or out-of-bounds within the first 10 yards means the receiving team gets it at the spot of the touch (similar to a punt).

There has been a rule change here for this season. I will try to find out more for you.

Re: NFL Rules Changes Proposal (kickoffs)
 

I disagree. The point of this rule is to encourage teams to kick the ball down the middle, which encourages runbacks on kicks. If you eliminate this rule, and you can kick kickoffs out of bounds, you might as well eliminate special teams play.

Re: Re: NFL Rules Changes Proposal (kickoffs)
 

Yeah, but I've seen them bounce significanly inbounds and take a bad roll out.

There are very rare occurances. If you don't want to risk it, kick it straight down the middle like a normal kick and odds are it will be fine. Most teams choose to return if it's down the middle because it's more effective to return than wait for the ball to bounce and possibly roll out of bounds.

If they kick it normal than if they dont catch it, odds are it will bounce out of the back of the endzone. The point of that rule is to make sure there is a run back.

OK, I'll withdraw Proposal 1.

Any criticism of Proposal 2 (the onside kick)?

I'm guessing you didn't see the Falcons/Skins game. They talked about the rule change already, and they were praising it. Because if you mess up, you shouldn't get another chance. It's also not where the ball ends up, it's where the illegal contact of the ball is or whatever.

No, Al, I missed that game. And I've Googled all over the place, and hand-searched the NFL.COM site, and I still can't find a summary of the 2003 rule changes. Can someone help me out here?

(And why do you have to buy the rulebook? The current rulebook isn't even available yet, and the season is underway! I don't want to depend on the announcers!)

I found these two references for you and pulled out the quotes pertaining to the rule changes...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/clayt...n/1530103.html

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6279272

Hope this helps...

-Mikey