SB Nation Dallas - NFL Rule Passes Replay, Kickoff Rule Changes https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-03-22T15:00:32-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18301262011-03-22T15:00:32-05:002011-03-22T15:00:32-05:00NFL Rule Passes Rule Replay, Kickoff Changes
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<p>NFL owners agreed to make changes to kickoffs and to replay of scoring plays Tuesday, but decided to table a proposal involving hits on defenseless players. Foremost among the changes, owners voted 26-6 to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/3/22/2065778/nfl-rule-changes-kickoffs-touchbacks">move kickoffs forward</a> to the 35-yard line. Some NFL head coaches had suggested moving the touchback line to the 25-yard line and to eliminate the two-man wedge, but both proposals failed to reach an owner vote.</p>
<p>The increase in serious injuries has been a central focus of negotiations between owners and the players union, as well as the competition committee and the commissioner's office in general, and kickoffs were identified as a part of the game that sees a high percentage of the most violent collisions and injuries. The move forward will lead to fewer returns and presumably fewer injuries.</p>
<p>It may also lead to the marginalizing of the importance of the kickoff return man. In Dallas, <span>Dez Bryant</span> emerged as an electric return man, but both of his return touchdowns were on punts. He did return 12 kickoffs at a solid 24.4 yard average, but that represented just 16% of the team's kickoff returns. </p>
<p>League owners also voted to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/3/22/2065849/nfl-replay-rule-coaches-challenges">subject all scoring plays</a> to a booth replay review. From a mechanical standpoint, this will save coaches a small portion of their reviews, and it will spare them a bit of embarrassment if they are out of challenges late in a game. From a viewership and game flow standpoint, the move figures to slow games, as the booth could call down to challenge any scoring play - a pretty steep increase in the number of plays the booth can challenge. An addendum that would eliminate a third coach's challenge in the event that they win their first two challenges did not pass. </p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/3/22/2332025/nfl-rule-passes-rule-replay-kickoff-changesBrett Perryman