How long until kickoffs are removed??

[IBleedYellow]

Just saw on NFL Live that the NFL is removing kickoffs from the equation for the Pro Bowl. I believe last year was one of the first times that I heard about this option.

So, I ask you all.

How long until kickoffs are removed and we get the ball on the 25 yard line??

Makes me nervous, to be honest.

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[BEAR]

I personally think they oughta do a scrum. Would make it much more exciting and possession isn't a question.

[IBleedYellow]

Here is the article talking about it last year.

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=8720551&src=desktop

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[appsfan]

I think that there will always be some kind of "kickoff." In time, the kickoff might evolve to more of a free kick like we have now after a safety. This would preserve, somewhat, a game tradition while reducing the velocity of impacts which can occur during the kick.

[darell1976]

They are turning the Pro Bowl into more of a joke. What was actually wrong with having the game 1 week AFTER the Super Bowl with all players eligible, instead of all players can be in the Pro Bowl except the 2 Super Bowl teams, and now its like a fantasy draft? Just can the game altogether. As for IBY's question on removing kickoffs...I hope not but I can see Godell trying it for a year (saying its a safety issue).

[PAllen]

When they do, that will be the day I stop watching all together. Right now I'm down to the occasional Sunday and the playoffs. I the NCAA goes the same route, I'll have to find something else to do on Weekends in the fall.

[DSUrocks07]

I personally think they oughta do a scrum. Would make it much more exciting and possession isn't a question.

Didn't the XFL have something similar?

[walliver]

I suspect it happens in the next 5-10 years. I don't think the kick-off can be made completely safe and will be eliminated. The major downside is that eliminating the kickoff eliminates the onside kick and that will have a major effect on the game.

[darell1976]

So do they eliminate punts too? Or a free kick after a safety. Where is the line drawn?

[MplsBison]

I would get rid of kick-offs, PAT's and free kicks after safeties altogether. Less special teams to practice.

All plays in football should be 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th down and from the line of scrimmage!

[Laker]

So do they eliminate punts too? Or a free kick after a safety. Where is the line drawn?

They can drop the Pro Bowl- it is anti-climactic anyway. No one else has their all star game after the season is over.

There are three parts to football- offense, defense and the kicking game. I've seen so many special teams plays completely change the outcome of the game. Keep them in!

[IBleedYellow]

I agree Laker, and that's what worries me. I could give a rat's ass about the NFL, other than the fact that the way the NFL goes, the NCAA seems to follow.

If they remove kickoffs, I will stop watching, period.

NDSU beat Kansas 6-3 when the only goals were due to kicking games, I don't know if they would remove field goals, since they don't seem that dangerous, but either way, so many game dynamics would be changed.

[MplsBison]

I agree Laker, and that's what worries me. I could give a rat's ass about the NFL, other than the fact that the way the NFL goes, the NCAA seems to follow.

If they remove kickoffs, I will stop watching, period.

NDSU beat Kansas 6-3 when the only goals were due to kicking games, I don't know if they would remove field goals, since they don't seem that dangerous, but either way, so many game dynamics would be changed.

FG and punts are the only time a football needs to be touching a foot (intentionally).

[Bisonator]

I suspect it happens in the next 5-10 years. I don't think the kick-off can be made completely safe and will be eliminated. The major downside is that eliminating the kickoff eliminates the onside kick and that will have a major effect on the game.

WTF there isn't anything in life that's completely safe! They may as well get rid of all contact and just have flag football. It's really sad what is happening, not just football but the wussification of everything now days. Everyone needs a participation award too! xnonono2x

Just drop the stupid pro bowl and have a skills competition or something! xsighx

[darell1976]

WTF there isn't anything in life that's completely safe! They may as well get rid of all contact and just have flag football. It's really sad what is happening, not just football but the wussification of everything now days. Everyone needs a participation award too! xnonono2x

Just drop the stupid pro bowl and have a skills competition or something! xsighx

I heard cheerleading isn't safe should we ban that? Also using your head in soccer isn't safe how come they all aren't wearing helmets. Roger Godell is making a mess out of the NFL.

[smallcollegefbfan]

They are turning the Pro Bowl into more of a joke. What was actually wrong with having the game 1 week AFTER the Super Bowl with all players eligible, instead of all players can be in the Pro Bowl except the 2 Super Bowl teams, and now its like a fantasy draft? Just can the game altogether. As for IBY's question on removing kickoffs...I hope not but I can see Godell trying it for a year (saying its a safety issue).

Just take a look at these rules. The Pro Bowl is now a waste of time like this. Just honor the Pro Bowl Squad as the NFC and AFC team but just not play a game. That's the best way to go.

2014 PRO BOWL, PRESENTED BY MCDONALD’S, FEATURES NEW FORMAT FOR NFL ALL-STAR GAME

Major changes include elimination of AFC vs. NFC format, fantasy football-like draft for team assignments, rules and roster changes;

Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders to serve as alumni captains

The 2014 Pro Bowl, presented by McDonald’s, will feature a new format for the NFL All-Star Game based on major changes proposed by NFLPA President DOMONIQUE FOXWORTH designed to make it the ultimate fan-friendly celebration of the game, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced today.

Gone is the familiar AFC vs. NFC match-up that has existed since 1971. Instead, players will be selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. For example, the top six quarterbacks following voting will earn distinction as All-Stars, regardless of how many are from AFC or NFC teams.

Players will be assigned to teams through the Pro Bowl Draft, in which two leading vote getters will join two NFL.com fantasy football champions – who will attend the Pro Bowl – to draft players. One of these champions will earn their spot as part of Lenovo’s Fantasy Coach of the Year program, which provides NFL.com fans a chance to be rewarded for their fantasy football skills. The other champion can compete for a Pro Bowl role by playing at NFL.com/fantasy.

The fantasy football champions will have Hall of Fame help. Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE and DEION SANDERS will serve as alumni team captains, assisting the Pro Bowl team captains and fantasy football champions in the draft process.

“As players, we wanted to keep the Pro Bowl to honor excellence in individual performance and connect with the fans in a different environment,” Foxworth said. “To do that, I worked with a group of players to map out new ideas.”

The Pro Bowl player draft will air on Wednesday, January 22 on NFL Network. Players will practice with their teams on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The coaching staffs will be from the losing teams in the AFC and NFC Divisional playoffs with the best regular-season record. The 2014 Pro Bowl takes place on Sunday, January 26 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, and will be televised by NBC.

“We were very receptive to the ideas that Domonique and the players put forth,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “From there, our office worked closely with him in developing the concept. The players made it clear that they wanted to continue the Pro Bowl and were committed to making it better than ever. We think these changes will enhance the game for both fans and players.”

In addition to these changes, several other aspects of the Pro Bowl will be new in 2014:

• Game within the Game – A two-minute warning will be added to the first and third quarters and the ball will change hands after each quarter. This will increase the opportunities for quarterbacks to direct “two-minute drills,” which are especially exciting for fans.

• No Kickoffs – The coin toss will determine which team is awarded possession first. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays.

• Rosters – The rosters will continue to consist of 43 players per squad. The kick return specialist will be replaced by an additional defensive back.

• Cover Two and Press Coverage – The defense will be permitted to play “cover two” and “press” coverage. In previous years, only “man” coverage was permitted, except for goal line situations.

• Stopping of the Game Clock – Beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter, if the offense does not gain at least one yard, the clock will stop as if the play were an incomplete pass. This rule will make the team with the ball attempt to gain yardage toward the end of each quarter.

• Game Timing – The game clock will start after an incomplete pass on the signal of the referee, except inside the last two minutes of the first half and the last five minutes of the second half.

• Play Clock – A 35-second/25-second play clock will be adopted instead of the typical 40-second/25-second clock.

• Sacks – The game clock will not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of the game. Currently, the game clock stops in these situations outside of two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

[Laker]

Well, when they ban tag in recess- and dodgeball- and stop keeping score in youth games- we are officially a nanny state.

You need to learn how to recover from a loss- and to be a gracious winner. Unfortunately society no longer teaches this.

[AmsterBison]

A football game is a war. The Pro Bowl is not a war. Ergo, the Pro Bowl is not football.

If they are going to do a contest between AFC and NFC all-stars, it'd be more watchable if the contest was not a football game. Maybe a "network battle of the stars" type deal.

[darell1976]

Well, when they ban tag in recess- and dodgeball- and stop keeping score in youth games- we are officially a nanny state.

You need to learn how to recover from a loss- and to be a gracious winner. Unfortunately society no longer teaches this.

I wish they would keep score. I did keep track how many hits and RBI's my son got. The best two players on his team were him, and NDSU's men's basketball coach Saul Phillips' son. I hope they are teammates next year.

[Hammerhead]

The Pro Bowl should just be a weekend of skills competitions with QBs trying to hit moving targets, running backs navigating obstacle courses, linemen bench pressing or doing some kind of World's Strongest Man competition with a big rock or tractor tire, and other stuff.


A football game is a war. The Pro Bowl is not a war. Ergo, the Pro Bowl is not football.

If they are going to do a contest between AFC and NFC all-stars, it'd be more watchable if the contest was not a football game. Maybe a "network battle of the stars" type deal.

[Laker]

The Pro Bowl should just be a weekend of skills competitions with QBs trying to hit moving targets, running backs navigating obstacle courses, linemen bench pressing or doing some kind of World's Strongest Man competition with a big rock or tractor tire, and other stuff.

You would probably get just as many, or more watchers. I haven't watched the Pro Bowl in more than a decade. I might watch that. I remember something called the NFL Olympiad back on CBS Sports back in 1973. Some white announcer named Johnny Sauter (?) with a crew cut was wearing a sweatshirt with the arms cut short and "CBS NFL Olympiad" on the front. Even my Dad made a comment about the guy and how stupid that look was. A t-shirt would have made more sense. Hammerhead, the competition was something like you described and well, I, my Dad and my two brothers watched it.