Matthew Slater Comments on NFL’s Changes to Kickoff Rules

June 2, 2016   ·   Danny Webster   ·   Jump to comments

New England Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater is worried the NFL may do away with kickoff returns completely.  
The five-time Pro Bowler said Thursday it may become extinct because of the NFL's newest rule change to move touchbacks to the 25-yard line.
"I'm very disappointed, obviously, in the way we're discussing the future of the kickoff," Slater said, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. "The kickoff is a big part of the history of the NFL and the history of football. For us to be sitting here talking about maybe doing away with the kickoff, it's very disappointing."
On March 23, NFL owners agreed to move touchbacks five yards up. The NFL last adjusted kickoff rules in 2011, when it moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. There were 390 more touchbacks than kickoff returns last year, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com.
Slater shared his thoughts on the evolving rules: "Field position is big in the game of football. If you'...

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