NFL owners voted on today to approve a resolution that allows players to fair catch on kickoffs with the resulting possession beginning at the team's own 25-yard line.
As far as I can tell while unpopular the league felt they had to do it because injuries are much higher when a kick-off is returned than in other plays and college football shows that having this rule reduces the number of such plays.
Surely if the object is to reduce the number of kick-off returns the solution is to just get rid of them. Kick-offs are eliminated and instead of a punt a team on offence can give the ball away with the opposing team starting on their own 25. Alternatively the ball is kicked and the opposing team start their drive where the ball lands (or on the 25 if it lands in the end zone or oob).
In fact if the objective is to reduce injuries get rid of tackling entirely and just play flag football.
As far as I can tell while unpopular the league felt they had to do it because injuries are much higher when a kick-off is returned than in other plays and college football shows that having this rule reduces the number of such plays.
Surely if the object is to reduce the number of kick-off returns the solution is to just get rid of them. Kick-offs are eliminated and instead of a punt a team on offence can give the ball away with the opposing team starting on their own 25. Alternatively the ball is kicked and the opposing team start their drive where the ball lands (or on the 25 if it lands in the end zone or oob).
In fact if the objective is to reduce injuries get rid of tackling entirely and just play flag football.