The NFL Plans To Make Changes In Punting

The National Football League has recently opened up to the idea of changing the way punting is done to make the game safer. After revamping kickoffs last season, the league will consider modifications to how punts are performed during next year’s offseason. In an article written by Mark Maske from The Washington Post, he says that that the N.F.L.’s competition committee will “consider changes both from a player-safety standpoint and from a competitive aspect, based on the high rate of penalties on punts.” According to league officials, kickoffs are considered “the sport’s most hazardous play,” with players suffering concussions at a much higher rate than on plays that result from the line of scrimmage. Some of the changes made from kickoffs last year include the elimination of “wedge” blocking, with a ban implemented on “would-be tacklers” that get a  running start before the ball is kicked. These efforts were made to prevent kickoffs from being permanently eliminated from the game. In another article written by Sean Wagner-McGough from CBS Sports, although the league plans to listen to any and all ideas, they did not promise any assurances. Time will tell whether these change will prove to be beneficial for all players involved in the foreseeable future.