Comments on: Donnie Nickey tees off on kickoff rule

By: seaclaws

seaclaws — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:08:11 +0000

Medical Field advances have allowed the NFL and other organizations to understand what is happening to a human body that plays football much better then 20 years ago. Concussions and other injuries are much more understandable and can be more accurately gauged for short time and long time injuries. Knowing that there are serious risks of career ending injuries in football based on new understanding of concussions doesnt mean that men who play the game should have to constantly face these dangers, especially if there are ways to minimize these risks. All Sports Organizations try to minimize these injuries, first because its the RIGHT thing to do. Second for the men and their families and third for the fans. I dont want my favorite player to become paralyzed on some stupid play, and then all that you hear is he knew the risks. YOU work to eliminate as much as possible the risks to any sport. Donnie used Nascar as an example, NASCAR works hard on the safety element of their sport, probably more then any other sport does. They have changed the rules, ie Lucky Dog rules, they have changed the Cars and Equipment, and they have even changed the tracks adding more safety walls and barriers. They do it so that even if an accident happens the driver can walk away, and you dont lose someone Like Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Football will always be a risky sport, It will have its scary injury moments, its wonderful runbacks, its hits and collisions, but through the use of better equipment, better Fields and yes changing some of the rules, If it eliminates some injuries and allows the players to play the next game, then not only is that a good thing for both the player , the fan, and the game of football, but arent we morally obligated to do so?

By: The Grand Occident

The Grand Occident — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:07:27 +0000

Roger is an effeminate sort of person.

No kickoffs, no real hits, and soon… female referees!

UFC is looking better and better as the real sport of America.

By: thingamajig

thingamajig — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:25:25 +0000

“In the NFL, the new kickoff rule is eliminating jobs.”

With that kind of thinking Nickey needs to run for Congress, he’d fit right in.

By: clintonportisheadd

clintonportisheadd — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:55:17 +0000

Wrong Mr Neanderthal.

Most folks (Raider fans can leave now) don’t go to games or watch them on TV in the hopes of seeing a Darryl Stingley moment.

By: fin72

fin72 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0000

This is strictly about Goodell trying to lower injuries to justify forcing an 18-game season down everybody’s throat. This guy is literally trying to water down the overall quality of the ticket-buyer’s product in order to line the owners’ pockets with 2 more games!

By: marty2019

marty2019 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:37:37 +0000

It’s not going to reduce injuries, it’s going to increase injuries. Because the kickoff is now 5 yards closer to the opposing end zone, teams will kick the ball higher and cover the kick. Hang time will be key.

Last week on one kickoff, the Jaguars kicked it high, and the returner got tackled on the 10 yard line. I don’t know if they did it on purpose, but it was an eye-opener.

By: bullcharger

bullcharger — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:42:34 +0000

I think it’s a terrible rule change, but they did it because it was the easiest way to reduce injuries on kick off returns.

It is self centered for this guy to think there was any intent to eliminate jobs. That’s just an effect of it… the importance of a few different roles are altered because of the rule change.

That said, if safety was the issue then they didn’t need to change the kick off location. All they had to do was police the hits better and fine for anything illegal.

By: ravenator

ravenator — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:38:52 +0000

So why are you unemployed again Donnie? Insider trading, hah, just joking. The kickoff rule isn’t changing this season at least. You should go find a normal job. Quit being a burden on society (and a 52 man roster).

By: blackbug99

blackbug99 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:38:52 +0000

They will either punch it out of the end zone or short kick it. On a short kick they just gave the defense a 5 yd coverage advantage. So, maybe out of the end zone should go to the 30 now vice the 20?

I guess if I want to see real hits…POP Warner/HS/College are my best bet!!

By: doyousmellthat

doyousmellthat — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:33:27 +0000

A number of rules instituted the past five years in the name of “player safety” are ruining the game. Namely this kickoff rule and the defenseless receiver rule. Good, clean, exciting footballs plays are being eliminated or penalized. This has really taken some enjoyment out of watching the NFL for me, and likely many others. The Donald Jones hit for example: it was a rough hit, but clean. The refs ruled Jones was defenseless, but why? Because he dropped the ball? If Jones caught the ball and then was separated from it at the last second, the Bronco defender most likely would have not been penalized even if Jones received the injury. Brady rule: can’t tackle a QB below the knees, even if that’s the only way to get to him. I don’t think anyone believes a player should deliberately take a shot at an opponent’s knees, but the hit on Brady wasn’t dirty. It was an attempt to make a tackle. What is the defender supposed to do, lie there and let the QB attempt a throw? Kickoffs are now being slowly eliminated. Why, because of the Kevin Everett injury? Sad to say, but if Everett had been using proper tackling technique and had his head up, he probably would not have been hurt. Pretty soon, kickers won’t be allowed to kick, and defenders won’t be allowed to defend. The outcome of the game will depend solely on the execution of the offense as they run around defenders who might as well be stationary garbage cans.

By: vdaigglesfan

vdaigglesfan — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:30:34 +0000

Oh Nickey what a pity you don’t understand…

Maybe busting wedges for too long.

By: grndizzle

grndizzle — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:26:49 +0000

I think people are making too big of a deal about the change. It wasn’t that long ago when kickoffs were from the 35. The returner should just stand 8 yards deep in the end zone, and if he can catch it with forward momentum then take it out. By November when the weather gets a little bit colder the ball won’t fly as far anyway.

By: cornernum23

cornernum23 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:24:55 +0000

Great artical.

By: sj39

sj39 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:19:46 +0000

A “job”? Really kick off coverage is a job? Sorry Donnie, I think that falls in the privilige catagory.

By: Topher

Topher — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:18:14 +0000

I know the NFL thinks “kickoffs are a dangerous play, we make less returns and we minimize the danger.”

The problem I have is that kickoffs are not more dangerous than a regular play. More people do not get injured on kickoffs than on regular plays.

By: seanb20124

seanb20124 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:06:23 +0000

Quit your whining, Barack Obama is creating jobs everyday. Get off your duff and get one. Jajaja

By: thereisalwaysnextyear

thereisalwaysnextyear — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:05:31 +0000

I just wanted to re-post this person’s post. I wish I’d written this.

brasho says:
Aug 23, 2011 8:07 AM
If NFL rules applied to real life, firefighters wouldn’t be allowed to fight fires anymore, coal miners couldn’t mine, police officers would never walk up to the window of a car they pulled over, a sheriff’s deputy would never knock on a door to deliver a warrant, teachers wouldn’t peform their craft in the inner city, surfers would never ride waves, cab drivers would only pick up old ladies, the Xtreme games would only feature one event-the pogo stick-but eventually that would become too dangerous as well…. this is getting out of hand.

There are known risks associated with many jobs but the jobs don’t get eliminated, they find ways to make the job safer while still performing the same tasks. Safety equipment iin the NFL is poor, it needs to updated and implemented before wide-scale changes are made for the sake of safety that lessen the enjoyment of the game.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:05:17 +0000

while I agree that the rule is bad, he claim that in this economy we need to create jobs, and this rule is eliminating them is LAUGHABLE.

The roster size is still the same, its not like the league said “Well guys you dont need to have kickoff coverage specialists so we reduced the roster size by 2″.

His talents are no longer as valuable, so HE doesnt have a job, but there is someone in his spot on the roster.

By: hineswardcriesafterfumbling

hineswardcriesafterfumbling — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:56:04 +0000

I want to point out that the NFL Network has a commercial with Xfinity/Comcast showing nothing but kickoff returns. It speaks to the hypocrisy of the league; marketing/profiting off an aspect of the game that it’s simultaneously trying to eliminate.

The NFL does not need a franchise in Europe or Canada. The NFL doesn’t need 18 games. The NFL needs a valid preseason.

Everyone knows the risks of football the minute they sign up. The NFL doesn’t neeed to go out of its way to remind people it’s a violent game; a collision sport.

By: steelhammer92

steelhammer92 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:49:32 +0000

It’s a shame they can’t get rid of Goodell already. Does anybody in the league actually respect him? Selig, Bettman and Stern may all get bad raps… But you don’t hear players berating them on a daily basis. In fact, you rarely hear it at all. Something must be wrong if a commissioner is getting criticized continuously for his negative impact on the sport.

By: cwt123

cwt123 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:44:15 +0000

@brasho:

You are absolutely correct. Let’s try to make the game as safe as possible but within the confines of the game. If it is changed too much, it won’t even be the same sport of football anymore.

By: thegrey7

thegrey7 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:41:17 +0000

I don’t like the rule either, but this statement is ridiculous:

“In the NFL, the new kickoff rule is eliminating jobs.”

It’s not like the NFL is employing less people because of the rule change. It’s just that players who only skill is special teams are being replaced by guys who can play regular positions too.

By: britishraven

britishraven — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:40:30 +0000

Are these the same risk-loving players that

a) don’t want an 18 regular season because of increased risk of injuries
and
b) don’t want to practice almost at all at any point throughout the year because of increased risk of injuries.

The very same players now complaining about it not being violent/hardcore enough are the same ones whose union demanded a massive reduction in padded practices and practice time throughout the season

Personally I thought that getting rid of the ‘wedge’ was a good idea but the current 35yard kickoff rule is non-sensical.

If the majority of players cared, why didn’t they include it in the CBA? The answer is, they don’t care and would rather that they aren’t exposed to the violent hits.

By: NFLJunkie

NFLJunkie — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:38:09 +0000

I don’t follow NASCAR at all, and even I know about restrictor plates being required at certain tracks, especially ones with a history of the most violent crashes.

This stuff about not needing to protect players from themselves sounds good and all, but the reality is if players want/expect the league to take care of them in retirement, including better medical coverage, then you can’t blame the league for wanting to find ways to limit the injuries and the long-term effects players are exposed to now.

If Nickey wasn’t a 31-year-old safety never known for playing safety, he’d be more employable. Because the NFL is not downsizing. They’re just looking possibly for a different combination of skills at the bottom of the roster now.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:37:37 +0000

It is not as if there is such a long history of kicking off from the 30 yard line. It wasn’t that long ago when kickoffs were from the 40. One thing this does do it make a little tougher for the team winning the toss in OT to get a couple of first downs and kick a field goal. Now, there is a risk that if you go three and out, the team playing that solid defense sets its offense up to score.

By: bluvayner

bluvayner — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:32:02 +0000

No jobs are being lost. The roster size still remains the same and they still need players to cover punts. If he is out of a job, it’s either because he isn’t very good, he can’t do anything else to help the team, or his veteran minimum salary is now too high.

Special teams players don’t have long career expectations, because those jobs usually go to younger, less expensive, developmental players. If you don’t eventually develop into a guy who can start for your team, your special teams job will probably be given to a younger guy who might eventually be able to start.

By: cliffordc05

cliffordc05 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:30:17 +0000

Eliminating the kickoff would be better than what the league has done with this new rule. The beginning of the game is now boring compared to being one of the most pivotal moments in a game. If the kickoff were eliminated the first play of the game would be from the twenty. Kind of like a scrimmage.

The new rule requiring a second look at every touchdown is stupid and slows down the game. It also makes the ruling and touchdown almost anticlimactic. Both of these rules are detrimental to the pace and excitement of the game.

By: prestigew0rldwide

prestigew0rldwide — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:26:09 +0000

love this article.. really love the point made that the one making the changes is the one who never played the game. Its amazing how much easier it is to change something you dont fully understand from experience. This happens all the time in management at all levels.

By: monctonvike

monctonvike — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:20:38 +0000

100% agree with the man

By: exboomer

exboomer — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:20:29 +0000

The reason the NFL is keeps changing the rules is one word MONEY. The owners consider players financial investments (which they are to a certain extent) and they will do whatever it takes to protect their investments even if it ends up hurting the overall product.