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Cribbs upset with kickoff rule change

— The chorus of naysayers regarding the NFL’s new kickoff rule includes Josh Cribbs, who tweeted that moving the kickoff to the 35-yard line from the 30 made last weekend’s preseason opener “a scrimmage.”

“I’m entitled to my opinion,” the Cleveland Browns return man said Wednesday after practice.

His opinion seems to be shared by many around the NFL. Bill Belichick went on record saying the NFL told him it wants to eliminate the kickoff from the game entirely (not true, the league said). Baltimore coach John Harbaugh and special teams coach Jerry Rosburg said the change takes away too much of the game. And the Chicago Bears thought so little of the rule that they kicked off from the 30 anyway last weekend — until the league got ahold of the officials and said the Bears had to kick from the 35.

The argument against the switch? That with the growing strength of NFL kickers, kicking off from the 35 makes touchbacks too frequent.

“There will always be (rules) tweaks,” said Cribbs, who holds the NFL record for career kickoff return TDs with eight. “But (these) are rules changes that change the game as a whole.”

The argument for the change? Kickoffs are dangerous, and limiting returns eliminates dangerous collisions that produce concussions.

The result: More touchbacks, and fewer returns — and the virtual elimination of one of the most exciting plays in football.

In the first weekend of preseason, nearly one in three kickoffs resulted in a touchback, compared to less than one in six all last season, as 76 percent of kickoffs reached the end zone (106 of 140), compared to 42 percent (63 of 150) a year ago.

Cribbs said the increased touchbacks will result in returners getting impatient and ending up with some short returns.

“There will be a lot of inside-the-20 tackles this year,” he said. “A lot of returners will get tired of taking a knee in the end zone and try to bring it out, and that’s when there will be a lot of inside-the-20 tackles.

Four Cavs Jerseys You Gotta Have | August - Stepien Rules

The most underrated PG of his generation, a fringe Hall of Famer, poor color commentator, quality gospel singer, and all around tremendous NBA basketball player. Mark Price was a score first PG before guys like Allen Iverson, Chris Paul, and Derrick Rose made playing that way normal.  He never missed a free throw since the age of 4 when he missed one once because someone probably moved the Nerf hoop he was shooting on, and he could step out and shoot the three with anybody in the League in his prime. Lenny Wilkens’ Cavaliers teams won because Mark Price was the PG.  #25 is a legend.

Price was the "Gotta Have" jersey, but Brad Daugherty did get some consideration at that spot as well from the committee for what that's worth.  Criag Ehlo was the "Can't Go Wrong With" jersey - which I couldn't agree more on - Nance the "Oh that's cool", and Ricky Davis the "Oh that's funny" because Ricky Davis was kinda funny even though he could fill it up with anybody.   Ted Stepien was the owner of the Cavaliers from 1980 to 1983. In 1982, the New York Times wrote an article calling Stepien's Cavaliers the "worst club, and most poorly run franchise in professional basketball."  During his tenure as Cavaliers owner, the Cavaliers went 66-180, had five different head coaches, and losses of $15 million.  Click Here to Read More...