New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski has slammed the NFL for changing the fair catch rules for the 2023 season, siding with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
The NFL have made multiple adjustments to the rule book ahead of next season, and even proposed some major scheduling changes for prime-time TV viewing. One of the main rule changes has been to the fair catch, as it'll now automatically start teams off at the 25-yard line.
Previously teams would start their drive from where the catch was made, but now both a touchback and a fair catch will move the offense further up the field. Reid criticised the changes in a press conference on Wednesday, and Gronkowski agrees with the legendary coach.
After hearing the news, coach Reid questioned where the changes will stop as the game is evolving into something new. "My thing is, where does it stop, right? ... You don't want to take too many pieces away and you'll be playing flag football," Reid said.
And Gronkowski feels the same way, calling the changes "ridiculous" as the NFL is "going too far" with their adjustments. "I agree with coach Andy Reid I think it's getting a little bit ridiculous on that rule change because there's already that rule," Gronkowski said on The UpAndAdams Show.
"If the ball goes in the endzone you can just take a knee and be at the 25-yard line. But you've got to be able to play football at some point. I mean that's why you have the kick-off, you might as well take the kick-off totally out of the game then and just have the team start at the 25-yard line.
"That's pretty ridiculous, that's going a little bit too far because there's already so many touchbacks. It's like 75 percent it's a touchback every single kick, so 75 percent of the time you're starting at 25 already. You've got to play football, you've got to play the kick-off, it's part of the history of the game."
The NFL has stated that the changes are being made to prioritise player safety, as the league are looking to prevent injuries - especially concussions - on kick-offs. 19 concussions were reported from kick-offs in the 2022 season, a rise from the previous year.
However, the majority of those didn't come from punt returners, as only one player in that position suffered a concussion last season. Green Bay Packers returner Keisean Nixon was the only player to suffer badly from a major hit, and it occurred in week 18 against the Detroit Lions.
