NFL Offseason News

26th March 2011

NFL Offseason News | read this item

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lj-smith The 2011 March Madness betting tournament conveniently ends two days before the NFL and NFL PA are set to meet in court on April 6. This offseason has been one of the most memorable in NFL betting online history, as we have seen several players receive huge pay raises thanks to the franchise tag rule, the players union dissolve after being locked out, and CBA negotiations exploit the greediness of the NFL as a corporation.

However, one change that the players union and NFL each agreed upon before the lockout, was that kick returns were one of the leading reasons head injuries were on the rise. Earlier this week, the NFL announced, that kick returns would now be at the 35 yard line instead of the 30 yard line.

Essentially, the changes for the kickoffs are as follows, the ball will be kicked at the 35 yard line instead of the 30, touchbacks will still allow teams to start at the 20 yard line, and only two players can block for the kick returner in the initial wedge. For all intents and purposes, the only change to the original rule is the 35 yard line.

During decision process to change the kickoff from 30 to 35 yards, there was plenty of dispute amongst players, coaches, owners and the league itself. One of the main pressing points is that by giving the kicking team five extra yards to use, it will provide an unfair advantage. In essence, a kicker now has an easier time pinning his opposition in their own end, since they have to kick from a shorter distance.

On the other hand, the one issue that wasn’t even discussed is determining if players can on the kicking team can still jump to tackle the players on the return team. To us this made us scratch our heads, as if anything is leading to concussions, it isn’t the distance of where the ball is being kicked, but rather players lunging onto one another.

Topics: betting online, CBA, March Madness betting, NFL