In this article, the main issue being discussed is the prevention of head related injuries in professional football. I agree with the author of this article, that the only way that will significantly diminish this statistic would be to switch the game to two hand touch. The way I see it, is football is a game based around men colliding with one another, and kickoffs are certainly no exception. Eliminating an entire facet of the game in an effort to reduce a problem that is going to happen regardless, to me is insensible. This author also said that he doesn’t think anyone will strongly pursue this idea, because of the increased number of touchbacks since just last season due to the kickoffs being moved up 5 yards. It is believed that teams will be looking to acquire and develop more big leg kickers like Sebastian Janikowski and Olindo Mare, to sort of nullify, but certainly not eliminate the injury results of the kickoff. And although kickoff return totals were at some of their lowest figures in NFL history this past season, there certainly is no denying that the kickoff is amongst the most exciting plays the game has to offer. There aren’t too many other times in the game where you are always given a chance to travel from end zone to end one on one single play. And although as a Buffalo Bills fan the bitterness of that infamous “Music City Miracle” play will always bother me, there is certainly no denying that aside from Buffalo, it was really something to behold for the rest of the league. Also when you look at current game changing players such as Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs, who make a living off returning kicks, it would really be a shame to take the excitement that they bring to the game with their style of play away from the game completely. I think that the NFL damaged the kickoff enough by moving it up five yards, and that eliminating it all together would be a crime.
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