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The NFL has completely changed the kickoff rules for the upcoming season. What do you think? If it improves player safety, I think it is great.

1. No running starts before the ball is kicked.

2. The kicking team must line up with five players on each side of the kicker.

3. At least two players on the kicking team must be outside the numbers.

4. At least two players on the kicking team must be between the numbers and the hashmarks.

5. At least eight players on the receiving team must be within 15 yards of their restraining line, which would typically mean between the kicking team’s 45-yard line and the receiving team’s 40-yard line.

6. Until the ball is touched or hits the ground, players on the receiving team can’t cross the restraining line (typically the 45), or initiate a block within 15 yards of the line where the ball is kicked.

7. No wedge blocks.

The pussification of the game continues

#6 is the only thing I don't think makes a lot of sense.  Why should my return team have to stand still until the ball's caught while the entire coverage team gets to run down at him?

can't run towards but can run back until ball is caught then forward, which most teams do anyways.

I don't know that most return teams are moving forward at that point anyway. The rule is not that they stand still but that they can't go forward. Isn't it more common that they move backwards to set up the return blocks?

Yeah but you can't initiate a block.  And I have to stay within the 15 yard restraining box.  What the hell good does that do?  That's where it gets confusing.  Even if I retreat, given the fact that most kickers can reach the endzone, about the farthest I can back up until the ball hits the ground or is caught is my own 40 yard line.

I think you are misreading. They do need 8 players in that box at kickoff. There is nothing in the rule stopping them from retreating any distance. Only forward movement.

Ehh...This one I guess I'll have to see it in action, I saw the NFL video tweeted out about...I really don't have an opinion on...

I got a feeling The new lowering the Helmet =ejection rule,a few of our guys aren't gonna be in games very long...***Cough** Cough** T.J. Mcdonald,** Cough* Kiko Alonzo **Cough ** Cough*** :D

I might have thought this way when I was young and didn't use reason before speaking. Player safety needs to taken into consideration here. If trying to limit head injuries is pussification, then pussify away.

I think this may actual lead to more/better kick-off returns.  Previously it always seemed to end up being a touchback, or the returner runs it out and doesn't even make it to the 25.  Making it so the kicking team can't have a running start will give the receiving team an extra second or two allowing for better kick returns.

The only time #6 would be relevant would be onside kicks.  As everybody runs in the opposite direction once the ball is kicked, the only reason they are that close to the line is for onside kicks.

#6 offsets #1.

I don't like #2 and feel it should change to at least 4 and no more than 6.  My favorite onside kick move involves sending out both the kicker and punter and make the receiving team guess who is actually kicking it, with this rule you must declare the kicker.   

These rules are stupid. football is a physical sport and people are going to get hurt and the worst injuries are typically self inflicted like an ACL tear.

Do you really believe an ACL is the worst injury when we live in a world where CTE is causing suicides and murders?

If you care about the game of football (but not the human beings playing it) ACL is worse.  Players miss entire seasons.  CTE is rarely relevant until after the player has retired.

I'd say people who care about a sport so much that they disregard what happens to the players after would have fit right in watching the gladiators.

You are correct I'm going to have to see it because in my head I'm seeing something completely different.

At this time in history I think it's the players that disregard what happens to themselves.  They all know about CTE, but some players just go flying through the air headfirst to make a hit.  It's like a smoker that knows smoking causes cancer, but they do it anyways.

CTE cases will go down now that the NFL has developed a concussion protocol requiring players to sit out until they are fully healed.   You can have 25-50 concussions over the course of your career, but as long as you take down time and fully heal after each one, your brain will be none the worse for wear.  It's coming back from them too early and sustaining another one that causes CTE and other forms of brain damage. 

The problem with the rules regarding hitting in the head is now players are going to go low and hit the knees.  And an ACL tear or patella tendon tear is way worse.  That will end a player's season and quite possibly their career.

No doubt they should go down. Many players are admitting that they are trying to lie to stay out of the protocol though.

I will also admit an ACL is worse short term but look at what has happened to many former players long term and tell me a little tear is worse than not being able to take care of yourself at an age where most people still do.

If they lie, that is on them

And you know this information how exactly? I was under the impression that they still weren't sure how and what caused CTE exactly or how to prevent it. Sure there's a link between head injuries and CTE, but to say that only getting another injury before the last injury is healed is what causes CTE, I find that hard to believe they know this to be a fact.

According to the below site, it's thought that even hits that don't cause any symptoms of a concussion could still lead to CTE. If that's the case, then no the concussion protocols the NFL has in place won't prevent CTE even if they are followed appropriately.

http://stopcte.org/whats-cte/what-causes-cte/