The punt and the kickoff are the most dangerous plays in the game

I returned on Wednesday from the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix. The meeting presents a rare opportunity for owners, general managers, head coaches and other executives (from the teams and the league office) to come together. A highlight of the meeting is the discussion of proposed rule changes. In recent years, the focus of many of the proposed rule changes has been to make the game safer.

This year was no different, with an emphasis on making the punt and the kickoff safer. The punt and the kickoff are the most dangerous plays in the game. It has been that way for many years, but the spread between injuries on kicks over other plays has increased recently. Kickoffs represent only 6% of the overall plays, but 14% of the concussions. Also, 20% of concussions and ACL tears occur on punts and kickoffs.

The issue with kicks is the speed and space of the plays that result in high-speed collisions. The challenge for the league is to make the play (i.e. the return) safer rather than just having fewer returns. By moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line (from the 30) years ago, touchbacks have increased. The ball is now placed at the 25-yard line rather than the 20 to encourage returners to stay in the end zone. There were two proposals this year that both involved fair catches on kicks that would have placed the ball on the 25-yard line. Again, the thought was to minimize the number of returns, although the returner does have the option to try to return the ball past the 25. Neither proposal passed, and the proposal for fair catches on kickoffs was tabled, and the league office will work with special-teams coaches on ways to make the punt and the kickoff safer and keep the kick return in the game.

In my mind, there is no more exciting play in the NFL than a long kickoff or punt return for a touchdown. I hope the special-teams coaches can come up with options that will keep the play (and the return) in the game. The XFL had a creative solution for the kickoff (the kicker kicks off from the 30-yard line and the kickoff coverage team is many yards ahead of him and 10-yards from the return team). The results thus far have been encouraging from a safety (and return) standpoint.

Mr. Murphy, a comment and a question if you please. One of the things I love about this time of year is the Packers Tailgate Tour. I have been fortunate to see the tour pass through my small corner of Wisconsin on two occasions and can’t wait to bring my son along to see you again in Eau…