Jason Kelce and KC’s head coach, Andy Reid, also agree new rule sucks
In the latest NFL offseason news, there’s a new “wack” rule in place for the 2023 season.
Team owners voted Tuesday in favor of a rule allowing teams to start drives at their own 25-yard line if they call for a fair catch on kickoffs… no matter where the returner fields the ball. Why? The league felt that it would make the game a little bit safer and reduce concussions on KO.
in NFL, 38 percent of KO are returned. They expect it to drop to 31 percent. KO has highest rate of concussion every year. “You can’t stand by and do nothing,” said Jeff Miller, head exec of NFL health and safety.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 23, 2023
Despite the NFL’s reasoning behind the rule change, some players and coaches are 100% against it. Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce didn’t hold back his feelings about the change as he bashed it on his New Heights podcast.
🗣 KEEP KICKOFFS IN FOOTBALL
Jason and Trav are NOT fans of the new NFL touchback rules 👀 @JasonKelce @tkelce
New episode out NOW: https://t.co/2Ox2qjMUjR pic.twitter.com/XHpXAIq8rQ
— New Heights (@newheightshow) May 25, 2023
“I think this is absolutely stupid,” Kelce said. “I don’t think this is making the game safer. I think it’s making it more boring and taking a lot of excitement out of the game’s opening play. This is wack.”
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Travis’ problem with it is that he feels like it’s just a way to ultimately stop players from ever returning a kickoff again. His brother Jason agreed and predicts it’s a step toward removing special teams altogether.
“We’re just getting closer and closer to removing special teams,” the Philly star said. “We’re just going to have guys, ‘Hey, I’m going to run 80 yards for no reason and then we’re going to start the drive!'”
The Kelce brothers are not alone in how they feel about the new rule. KC’s head coach, Andy Reid also isn’t happy with the change. “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.”
How do YOU feel about this new rule?
#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
