Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is not loving a certain new NFL rule and thinks the league is heading in a direction that could turn its product into “flag football.”
The NFL has approved a new rule that will see the ball placed at the 25-yard line after any fair catch during kickoff, and the reaction has not been great. Fans don’t seem to like it, based on some of the reactions we’ve seen online. And Reid isn’t a fan either.
According to The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov, Reid is worried that the NFL is tearing professional football down bit by bit.
“My thing is: Where does it stop, right?” he was quoted as saying “You start taking pieces. We’ll see how this goes. You don’t want to take too many pieces away or you’ll be playing flag football.”
The Rule Change Had Overwhelming Support
It’s not all bad, though. The rule has only been approved for a one-year trial so, should it not work out, things will go back to normal. It’s been implemented as a measure to reduce injuries on kickoff plays and will permit returners to call for a fair catch from anywhere on the field, even though they don’t catch the ball in the end zone.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that five teams voted against the new rule, including the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions. The Las Vegas Raiders did not offer a vote.
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The NFL seems to be averse to kickoff returns while keen on promoting as few as possible. In 2016, they moved touchbacks from the 20-yard line to the 25 in an effort to reduce such plays.
