Kickoffs moved to 35; touchbacks stay put

If you're a fan of kickoff returns in the NFL, things figure to be a lot different next season . . . if there is a season, of course.

Once the labor situation is resolved, significant rule changes will impact the number and quality of kickoff returns. League owners Tuesday approved a measure that will place kickoffs at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. But one of the NFL's top return men, the Bears' Devin Hester, didn't sound worried.

"Hey hey fans, don't get mad about the new rule," Hester wrote on his verified Twitter account. "my run back just going 2 be over a 100yards now. I hate them 90 something yards anyway!!!!!!"

But another prominent returner, the Browns' Joshua Cribbs, dislikes the new kickoff rules. "I'm very upset about it,'' Cribbs said on SIRIUS Radio. "I highly disagree with the rule changes.''

The change was made because of concerns about an uptick in injuries -- mainly concussions, particularly on the kicking teams. In another change, no player but the kicker may line up more than 5 yards behind the ball. Previously, players were allowed a longer running start, which led to collisions at a higher speed.

"We'll make it work one way or another," Rex Ryan said of the change. "We don't want to major in kickoff returns.'' They occur after touchdowns and field goals, so Ryan would rather have the Jets kicking off instead of returning kicks.

Touchbacks still will be placed at the receiving team's 20. The Competition Committee initially planned to have touchbacks at the 25, but several coaches voiced opposition to the move, so the rule change was amended before the vote.

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After several coaches lobbied for the two-man wedge, it also was retained. In the rule change's original wording, all wedges were removed.

Moving up kickoffs to the 35 is likely to increase touchbacks, although some teams might opt for higher kicks in an attempt to pin teams deeper.

Kickoffs were moved from the 35 to the 30 in 1994 to increase kickoff returns after a steady decrease in previous years. The percentage of kickoffs returned went from 68.4 in 1993 to 88.4 percent in '94. Last year, 80.1 were run back. TDs also increased dramatically when kickoffs were moved back. In 1993, only four were returned for scores; in 1994, there were 16. Last season, there were 23.

Owners also voted to allow automatic replay of all scoring plays, including kicks and safeties, without a challenge. This expands the use of booth review beyond the final two minutes of each half and during overtime. Also, a third challenge still will be allowed if a coach is correct on his first two. A proposal initially killed the third challenge but was amended before the vote.