The NFL has voted to change the kickoff lineup.

[dncdawg]

The kicker will continue to kick from their own 35, but the rest of the team will be lined up on the opponent's 40.  9 players on the receiving team will be between their own 35 and 30, and the other two are back to receive.

This lineup originated with the XFL and is intended to reduce high speed collisions and concussions.

The rule will go into effect for a year and may be tweaked in the future.

[JC-DAWG83]

I guess onside kicks will be a thing of the past in the Kneeling Football League.

[DawgWood]

Sounds like kickoffs in general are a thing of the past... i dont see how that will work, but i've not watched xfl.

[McDonoughDawg]

They will still be allowed, just have to be declared...so no real surprise onsides..which is rare in the NFL anyways.  It's usually pretty obvious late in games when teams try it.

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I've seen it, there are a few more tweaks that DNC didn't get into...I think it will be more interesting than having every kick sailing into the end zone for a touchback...

Field position can vary for the receiving team based on 2 or 3 variables..

[JC-DAWG83]

Why bother with a kickoff? Place the ball on the 20 and blow the whistle to start the play clock.

[dncdawg]

Original XFL was stupid as hell.  They put the ball down on the 50 and had 2 guys run from their goal lines.  The very first "kickoff" in the XFL resulting in one of the guys getting his neck broken and paralyzed, as I recall.  Pretty sure Vince McMahon was the guy that put the ball down. They moved to a more traditional kickoff afterwards.

[Lobatt]

Interesting how this will look.

“The kicker will kick the ball from his own 35-yard line. Ten of his teammates will line up on the other team’s 40-yard line. The receiving team’s nine or 10 blockers will line up on their own 35-yard line. The kick must land between the 20-yard line and the goal line. A kick that either goes out of bounds or lands short of the 20 will be awarded to the receiving team at the 40-yard line. A kick that goes into the end zone for a touchback will go out to the receiving team’s 30-yard line.”

[JC-DAWG83]

That sounds even stupider than the original post.

[Concourse E]

That sounds even stupider than the original post.
[/quote]

agree.  If they have become too pussified to have real kickoffs, just award the ball on the 25 and go from there.  If a team wants to do an onside kick, let them line up the old fashioned way, let the other team put all their players up, and call it a dead ball if the ball goes more than 20 yards.

[dncdawg]

I think the onside kick is still possible, but the players will line up the old fashioned way. It will take the surprise onside kick out of the game.

[ugafan49]

Good one, JC,