My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

NEW ORLEANS — Opposing players haven't had much luck slowing return ace Devin Hester, but opposing team owners did so Tuesday when they passed a rule that will make it more difficult to return kickoffs.

The Bears steadfastly opposed the proposal to move kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35 and voted against it to no avail.

Kickers will find it much easier to reach the end zone and force the returner to settle for a touchback as opposed to risking a big return. It is anticipated the touchback rate could more than double to near 40 percent.

Coach Lovie Smith acknowledged the new rule would make it more difficult for the Bears.

"We'll still be able to get returns in," he said before the rule was passed Tuesday. "We'll find ways to deal with it."

The league implemented the rule because it found a higher incidence of collision injuries, specifically concussions, on kickoffs. But Smith said the Bears had incurred only one injury in two years, and that was an ankle sprain.

Smith called the kickoff "the most exciting play in football" and said the rule change is "tearing up the fiber of the game a little bit."

The competition committee modified its original proposal. On touchbacks, the ball will continue to be placed on the 20-yard line instead of the 25, and two-man wedges will be permitted. However, kickoff cover men besides the kicker must line up 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

"What's the difference in 5 yards?" Bears returner Danieal Manning said. "Yeah, there will be more touchbacks. (But) teams might take more chances to return a (deep) kick.''

The league also voted to expand instant replay so that all scoring plays fall under the jurisdiction of the replay official. Coaches no longer will challenge a scoring play but still will receive two challenges per game and a third if they are right on the first two.

LINK

__________________