The announced changes to NFL kickoffs continued to receive criticism and scrutiny in the media on Wednesday.
Dan Patrick said it’s clear that the league wants to see the kickoff completely eliminated. Dan believes by altering the kickoff or even eventually eliminating the play altogether takes away potential opportunities for lesser-known players to make an impact on the game and make a career for themselves.
“They want to get rid of the kickoff,” Patrick said on his FOX Sports Radio show Wednesday. “Now they give us the allusion that they care about player safety. But fans, we want to see. The players want to see a kickoff. There’s guys who make a living, a reputation – guys who knocked on the door of the Hall of Fame because they’re great on special teams. You wouldn’t have Devin Hester. You wouldn’t have some of these great kick returners.”
Former Buffalo Bills special teamer Steve Tasker was another name that came to Dan’s mind as someone who likely wouldn’t have had the same career if the league altered the punt as well. He said there’s no such thing as special teams.
“They’re not even special anymore,” he said. “They would love to get rid of the punt as well. But they can’t do that.”
“They have no problem adding an extra game or two,” Patrick added. “But as far as a kickoff, they don’t want that. They want the game to start on the 25 yard line.”
Paul Pabst chimed in saying that the league is claiming there’s a rise in significant injuries on kicking plays, but he doesn’t believe that the NFL is providing accurate proof.
“I think what is happening here is there’s more reported injuries, there’s more reported concussions,” he said. “I don’t understand the policy on this play, because the players want to return the kicks, the coaches want to kick off and return the kicks, and the fans all want the kicks returned. And you’re not giving it to them under the fake guise of player safety.”
Patrick added that hits on the quarterback are another example of the league making a major change to how football is played to the point that it creates a significant disadvantage to one side.
“They don’t even know how to tackle anymore,” he said. “Now you’re saying, let’s take out kickoffs.”
Dan felt like ultimately the NFL has good intentions, but the emphasis is in the wrong place.
“I’m all for safety, but I think a better helmet would be the start instead of ‘Let’s take away the kickoff,'” Patrick said. “They just send mixed messages with a lot of these rule changes. And they have no problem adding an extra game. So you would think if you really care about safety would you add another game? And then they’re going to add another game. We’re gonna have an 18-game schedule.”
