John Mara is becoming a real pain. First the New York Giants owner championed the unfair salary cap sanctions against NFC East rivals Washington and Dallas. Now he’s trying to ruin the game itself.
Mara recently said kickoffs may one day be eliminated. Last year’s 5-yard change that greatly altered field position — and reduced the number of concussions significantly — wasn’t enough. Mara believes kickoffs should be scrapped.
It’s funny what winning a Super Bowl does to an owner. Suddenly, he has all the answers, and being a member of the league’s competition committee gives him the power to enact them.
Mara is hiding behind the NFL’s new shield of player safety. After all, more than 1,000 former players are suing the league over concussion-related illnesses.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell surely is interested in player safety. However, it’s a little late in a sport that markets violence.
If the NFL truly wants to reduce concussions, improve helmets. Involve military experts and find something that works and isn’t just some marketing tool.
But most of all, accept that football is a violent sport. There’s no getting around it. While the NFL owes former players better health care, today’s athletes know the risks going in.
Eliminating kickoffs further diminishes the excitement, and that’s what it’s all about in the end — entertaining fans.
Under the new rule last year that placed the kickoff at the 35-yard line instead of the 30, the number of kicks returned fell from 80 percent in 2010 to 53.5 percent in 2011, the NFL’s lowest ever. There were 40 percent fewer concussions.
Interestingly, the average return was an NFL-record 23.8 yards, and overall scoring matched 2010 at 44 points per game.
The impact on the game itself is debatable. Mostly, the new kickoff rule hurt teams trailing late by reducing the chances for a big special teams play. But 40 percent fewer concussions means the rule change was worth it.
But no kickoffs? Everybody starts on the 20 after scores? What is this, an everyone’s special league? Might as well distribute participation trophies instead of the Lombardi.
Kickoff returners are some of the most exciting players in the league. Chicago’s Devin Hester is amazing. Washington’s Brandon Banks owes his two seasons in the NFL to returns. Punt returners rely on nerve and agility. Kickoff returns are pure speed.
Mara and many team owners are more worried about lawsuits from past players than the current game. Surely one point of the NFL’s legal defense will be its recent rule change.
Nobody wants players to get hurt, but that’s the game. Otherwise, ESPN would start showing chess tournaments.
I hear when Boris Spassky slaps down a king, he does a wicked checkmate dance.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
