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The NFL’s new kickoff rule has already undergone several small tweaks since being approved in March and the league hasn’t fully ruled out the possibility of making yet another change before the start of the 2024 season.
During a conference call with reporters on Monday, the NFL’s Chief Football Administrative Officer, Dawn Aponte, was asked if the league might think about moving the touchback from its current spot at the 30-yard line out to the 35-yard line.
Aponte didn’t rule it out, but she did say that it’s unlikely that there would be a change that would be made at this point.
“It would be not likely,” Aponte said, via the Associated Press. “The way that we passed this and discussed it with the competition committee as well as membership at large was really about continuing to evaluate. It is a one-year rule change, so we anticipate to evaluate this throughout the season.”
Although the touchback might not be moving, Aponte did leave the door wide open for other possible tweaks.
“As things progress through the preseason, it’s very possible that we will see some changes as we head into the regular season,” Aponte said, via The Athletic. “We will continue to monitor it.”
The NFL has already made two minor tweaks to the kickoff rule. First, the league made it illegal for the kicker to put the football sideways on the tee. Another tweak is that a 12th man is allowed on the field to hold the ball for the kicker if there’s inclement weather.
Through the first two weeks of the preseason, one aspect of the new kickoff rule is definitely working: There have been more returns. The NFL has seen 78% of all kickoffs get returned, which is a huge jump over last year’s preseason number of 63%. That being said, the average starting field position has been the 28.3 yard line and that’s apparently where there’s some concern. If returners are getting that far, teams might just…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfls-new-kickoff-rule-could-still-be-tweaked-league-doesnt-rule-out-possibility-of-making-changes/
Author : John Breech
Publish date : 2024-08-20 11:43:47
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