Andy Reid Is Worried The NFL Is Becoming «Flag Football» After Latest Rule Change
Kansas City Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid has voiced his concerns about a new NFL rule, expressing his fears that the league might gradually transform the game into "flag football."
The NFL has greenlit a rule modification which will position the ball at the 25-yard line following any fair catch during a kickoff. This decision hasn't been well received, as evidenced by the slew of negative reactions on the internet. Reid is also among those who are not thrilled about this change. As reported by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Reid is apprehensive that this rule might chip away at the essence of professional football.
"Where does it end, right?" Reid was quoted as saying, "If we keep stripping away elements, there's a risk of ending up with a game of flag football."
However, the picture is not entirely grim. This rule has been approved for a one-year trial run. Hence, if it doesn't prove successful, the game can revert to its previous state. The change was proposed as a way to mitigate injuries during kickoff plays, allowing returners to signal a fair catch from anywhere on the field, regardless of whether they ultimately catch the ball in the end zone or not.
Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated revealed that five teams voted against this new rule - the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions, while the Las Vegas Raiders refrained from voting.
It appears that the NFL is seeking to minimize kickoff returns, continually adjusting rules to discourage such plays. In 2016, they relocated touchbacks from the 20-yard line to the 25 to reduce the frequency of these plays.
| POLL | ||
27 MAI | 126 ANSWERS Andy Reid Is Worried The NFL Is Becoming «Flag Football» After Latest Rule Change Is the NFL getting too "soft"? | ||
| Yes | 96 | 76.2 % |
| No | 30 | 23.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
