The NFL's new fair catch rule for kick-offs has been slammed by players and coaches, past and present, and Andy Reid and John Harbaugh are among them, but for completely different reasons.
The competition committee passed the new rule on a one-season trial basis at the NFL's spring meetings in Minneapolis this week, meaning kick returners can call for a fair catch and the ball will be placed at the 25-yard line, regardless of where they caught it. Previously, a fair catch would see the ball placed at the spot where it was claimed.
The change in rules is part of an effort to increase player safety, but the move has not gone down well across the league. Special teams coaches were said to be unanimous in their opposition, fearing a layer of strategy was being removed from the game.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, fresh off winning the Super Bowl in February, is not a fan. Likewise, Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh has spoken out against the change, but they both have very different takes on why it will be bad for the game.
"My thing is, ‘Where does it stop?’ Right?" Reid told Arrowhead Pride. "So you start taking pieces (away) – and we’ll see how this goes – but you don’t want to take too many pieces away. You’ll be playing flag football.”
While Reid is not happy with the physicality of the game being reduced year by year, Harbaugh believes the change could be more dangerous, although he did not specify exactly why.
“We thought there were better ideas," he said at his press conference as the Ravens continue their organised team activities (OTAs). “The fair catch rule, we had a chance to weigh in on that with all the special teams coaches.
"We had a long talk and discussion about that. We weren’t for it. We voted against it. We think it’s going to create more high-speed head trauma than not having it in there. That’s our position on it. But we’ll see. They want to give it a shot and take a look at it.”
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell also aired his frustration after the rule change was passed.
"Highly frustrating, but I don't make the rules," he said. "I hate that we continue to take away from the game. That's what really worries me, we continue to bleed this league and if we're not careful, it won't replenish at one point."
Kick-offs have proven to be one of the biggest sources of injuries in the NFL and the league has gradually increased rules to disincentivise kick returns. This move is a step towards scrapping them altogether.
