Andy Reid is kicking the NFL over some recent rule changes.
The league introduced changes to the way kickoffs will be handled at the league’s spring meetings, and it’s a pretty drastic adjustment: The ball will be placed at the 25-yard line on kicks that are fair caught inside the 25-yard line.
That change was seemingly disliked by a number of players and coaches across the NFL, including Chiefs boss Reid. Speaking at his media availability during OTAs, Reid said he was among those who was none too pleased with the change.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on the new fair catch rule for kickoffs: “My thing is, where does it stop, right? … You don’t want to take too many pieces away and you’ll be playing flag football.”
(📽️ @Chiefs)pic.twitter.com/z917RAgIO3
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 24, 2023
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“My thing is: Where does it stop, right?” Reid said. “You start taking pieces — we’ll see how this goes, but you don’t want to take too many pieces away, or you’ll be playing flag football.”
The NFL says the change is to further prevent injuries, specifically concussions, on kickoffs. In 2022, there were 19 reported concussions which came on kickoffs, which is up from the prior seasons.
However, only one returner suffered a concussion on a kickoff: Packers return man Keisean Nixon suffered a concussion in Week 18 this past season.
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Still, the NFL is attempting to limit the amount of high-speed collisions that happen on the play. The league has made changes of all sorts to kickoffs over the last decade to try and curb its concussion problem, including banning wedge blocks and disallowing the kicking team from running starts.
While the concussions may drop, the blood pressure has seemingly risen among players and coaches in the league.