It seems as though every year we go through this with the NFL, and rightfully so.  They review the current state of the game and try to figure out how to make if more competitive or safer.  With today’s athletes it’s almost a necessity.  After all, they’re bigger, faster and stronger than they ever were, and as man, and the game itself continue to evolve it’s the NFL’s job to ensure continued success and competitiveness.

This week it was rumored that the NFL may soon do away with the kickoff.  WHAT???  That would be a travesty in my opinion.  The kickoff is one of the most exciting plays in the NFL and in collegiate football as well.  And the fact is that if the NFL does away with the kickoff, it will no doubt trickle down to both the collegiate and high school ranks as well.

Imagine some of the plays that we may not have seen if it weren’t for the kickoff.  The “Music City Miracle” in 2000 that propelled the Tennessee Titans to a win over the Buffalo Bills and a berth in Super Bowl XXXIV.  We wouldn’t even know who Devin Hester is right now.  Not to mention that he was the first player to ever take the opening Super Bowl kickoff (Super Bowl XLI) back for a TD.   And we would have missed the 99 yard job done by Desmond Howard in Super Bowl XXXI, which is the longest in Super Bowl history.  And let’s not forget that without Kenyon Drake’s kickoff return in the CFB Championship game, Alabama could not have claimed the title.

I’m all for player safety, but I’m also a traditionalist.  There are some things that should not be changed or eliminated, and the kickoff is one of those things.  It requires coaches to strategize about it, there are players who are specialists because of it, they’ve even made it a position on the Pro Bowl team.  And quite honestly, if you remove the kickoff there are players that will never see the field in college or pro football.

Football is a violent, contact sport based on moving forward as fast as possible and throwing your body at your opponent to prevent them from scoring.  There’s only so much you can do to make it safer.  And I just don’t feel that removing the kickoff is going to give you the “bang for your buck” that the NFL is looking for.