The new rules lessen the impact of a dangerous kick returner like Josh Cribbs and should result in more boring touchbacks.
Browns kick return Josh Cribbs tweeted today that he does not like the change moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line. "U not making the game safer, u messing a great sport," he tweeted through @joshcribbs16.NEW ORLEANS -- The Browns were one of six teams that fought a losing battle on the new kickoff rules passed by the NFL today.
In the interest of player safety, the league moved the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and limited a player's running start on covering kickoffs to five yards. To get the rules passed, touchbacks were restored to the 20-yard line and the two-man blocking wedge was not eliminated.
The league sought to reduce violent collisions on kickoffs. The end result indeed could be fewer injuries -- but also fewer returns and more touchbacks. Ultimately, Josh Cribbs may get fewer runback opportunities as teams choose to power kickoffs deep into the end zone.
"Would I rather give Colt McCoy the ball at the 20, or put the ball in Cribbs' hands?" said an AFC team official.
The original proposal would have advanced touchbacks to the 25-yard line. That might have been a disincentive for kicking the ball deep. But coaches argued it could lead to more injuries because coaches would scheme to pop the ball high in the 10-yard area to reduce returns.
The average landing point for kickoffs last season was about the 6-yard line, so proponents of the change say another five yards would not eliminate kick returns. That may be true in cold outdoor venues such as Cleveland Browns Stadium. But whenever the Browns play in dome stadiums -- they are at Houston and Indianapolis in 2011 -- you can be sure opponents will kick for the touchback.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_browns_lose_fight_on.html
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