Replacing the KO

No, it isnt, yet i still dont see that big of a gap when it comes down to the hits returners take either scenario ... blocking and people getting cut low is an obvious KO risk along with blind side hits, but punts also carry those type hits ... its a difference, but in my opiniin the gap isnt that big to make such a deal out of kickoffs and assume punts are just fine and dandy

It's not just the returners taking big hits on kickoffs. That's the difference.

What about Schiano's proposed "zero blitz on kneel down plays"?

I hate that crap. Bush league.

I think they should go the other route and get rid of the fair catch on punts. Remember this sicko??

Skins vs Rams no "Fair Catch" against the Skins is a bad idea Week 4 2011 - YouTube

I keep going back and forth on how I feel about this, but I think my main is concern is this: If we're taking kickoffs out of the game because they're the most dangerous play in the game, how long before we remove the next most dangerous play in the game?

I mean, let's say this actually happens and we replace kickoffs with punts. Then, after a while, the league starts to notice that more guys are being carted off from injuries during punts. Are we then going to eliminate punts and arbitrarily place the ball at the 20? If so, why don't we just do that now, if we're getting rid of the kickoff?

Also, what if this change makes team change their punt return formations? What if, a head coach says, "You know what, having all of my guys on the line for a punt doesn't make much sense, why don't we start dropping them back?...I can still keep a bunch of guys within 10-15 yards of the ball in case of a fake, but I'm not going to try to block their kickoff." Now, we're right back in the same position of guys getting a 10-20 yard head start before collisions start to occur.

Basically, my thinking is, if you're getting rid of kickoffs, you should probably be prepared for punts to also go by the way side. So, I don't think this solution is particularly viable since it will just replace "the most dangerous play in the game" with "the most dangerous play in the game."

The only way I really see this working, from a safety standpoint, is if you start to create rules for punt return formations. If you're going to do that, why not just mandate that a return team must have X number of plays within Y yards of the ball on kickoffs and avoid the big collisions that way?

Paintrain, meet First Down. First Down, put down the rooster and meet Paintrain.

Or you could just read FD's magnificent post here (http://www.thewarpath.net/debating-with-the-enemy/50594-in-the-year-2000-a.html#post971228) which he's subsequently edited. Daseal (correction) quoted him later in the thread so it's saved for eternity.

For the record I tried to change it back but the system will not let me edit it again. I ask Matty to put it back as it was.

The more I think about it, the more I come up with reasons why this shouldn't be adopted.

Let's say I just scored and I just want to try to dominate the ball, so I decide to go for this 4th and 15. I call a pass play and illegal contact/pass interference is called on the play. I now get to keep the ball because of an automatic first down? How does that seem fair? The only way I can get on board with that occurring is if it goes both ways. Let's say I'm going for it and one of my linemen is called for holding, I think the ruling should be: other team's ball at my 20. That's really the only way I see it being fair and even then, with the way the NFL skews their officiating toward the offense, it's not really giving the defense a fair shake, in my opinion.

If this is going to be a rule, you have to come up with a realistic way to deal with automatic first down penalties.

You don't think the Refs would weigh that in any post flag conversation?

Flopping should be a 15 Yard unsportsmanlike, like the roughing the kicker BS we had recently.

id like to see hard data which shows that kickoffs result in significantly more serious injuries to players than any other play.

I also agree with Jdlea that if you remove the most dangerous play, then another play will become the most dangerous. Then another play. If you keep removing the most dangerous plays from the game, then you're left with 11 guys on the field hugging eachother.

The kicking game is integral to the game of FOOTball. Leave it as is. Just come up with ways to make the game safer through technology and minor rule changes.

The only significant change i'd support is eliminating overtime. by allowing games to go on longer than 4 quarters, you increase the number of plays in the game and the number of opportunities for players to get hurt. You elminate ridiculous and overly complex overtime rules. You make the actual 4 quarters of the game more meaningful. Sure, there would be ALOT more ties, but that would also change the strategy of the game. I think it would be interesting to see.

id like to see hard data which shows that kickoffs result in significantly more serious injuries to players than any other play.

I also agree with Jdlea that if you remove the most dangerous play, then another play will become the most dangerous. Then another play. If you keep removing the most dangerous plays from the game, then you're left with 11 guys on the field hugging eachother.

The kicking game is integral to the game of FOOTball. Leave it as is. Just come up with ways to make the game safer through technology and minor rule changes.

The only significant change i'd support is eliminating overtime. by allowing games to go on longer than 4 quarters, you increase the number of plays in the game and the number of opportunities for players to get hurt. You elminate ridiculous and overly complex overtime rules. You make the actual 4 quarters of the game more meaningful. Sure, there would be ALOT more ties, but that would also change the strategy of the game. I think it would be interesting to see. with all the BS about sudden death being unfair, personally I'd like to see no overtime rather than a college style shootout overtime.

how about making kickoffs a free kick at say the 50 and the receiving team has to have nine guys on the line ten yards downfield. no field goals allowed.

Pat Kirwan suggested on NFL Radio today that they should do a kickoff at the beginning of each half and overtime but place the ball at the 20 for all other post score scenarios. He didn't however address onside possibilities.