We've got some interesting rule change ideas going around in the NFL, one of which is giving players the chance to make a fair catch on any kickoff taken inside the 25, and get the ball for their team at the 25 as if it were a touchback.
Of course, Brian Mitchell, who made his living as a kick returner, was adamantly against that rule change – and even a former Pro Bowl offensive lineman in Jermon Bushrod, who joined Grant & Danny on Friday, agrees with Mitchell and feels for those for whom special teams is their team.
"This is how a lot of guys earned their living," Bushrod said. "This is how these guys make a name for themselves, and can make the Pro Bowl as just an elite special teams player. Look at Matthew Slater in New England, or Craig Robinson who was a special teams captain – a lot of guys made their name there, so to me, when I hear another rule change, what's going to happen in another couple of years? They might as well take it out of the game completely."
A recent statistic bandied about said that now, less than 30 percent of kickoffs might be returned this year, which is roughly one or two a game, and even Grant said 'we're closing in on just putting the ball on the 25.'
Danny doesn't trust that the NFL is doing this truly for player safety, which they claim the rule is in the vein of, but is simply willing to sacrifice part of the game to CYA to avoid a lawsuit – and Bushrod agreed, invoking Thursday Night Football as an example of how the league puts status over safety.
"They're trying to make sure they cover themselves. If you truly cared about the health and safety of players, you'd let players get five or six full days of rest," Bushrod said. "When you play Sunday, then travel, and play again on Thursday? I'll give it to you like this: after Sunday, your body is in shock, and Monday you're sore, but Tuesday you really start to feel it – and Thursday is the day you finally start to feel better. If you're going to preach health and safety, I'd find a way to do away with Thursday Night Football and give guys more rest. There are other things we can put our energy into to make the game safer."
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