President Donald Trump on Monday morning took to Truth Social to call out the NFL over its polarizing new format for kickoffs.
In an effort both to make kickoffs safer and encourage more kickoff returns, the NFL introduced additional changes to the play this season. Last season brought the most controversial changes, requiring players from both teams to remain stationary until the ball is touched by a player or lands in the “landing zone” — the area of the field between the 20-yard line and the goal line. If a kicker kicked the ball into the end zone for a touchback, the opposing team would start the ensuing drive on the 30-yard line.
This year, failure to kick the ball into the landing zone results in the team starting a drive at the 35-yard line. That has further encouraged more returns.
Although the logic of the new format is clear, Trump still didn’t like the look of it. In a Truth Social post, the president accused the NFL of resorting to “sissy” football and called the
The NFL has to get rid of that ridiculous looking new Kickoff Rule. How can they make such a big and sweeping change so easily and quickly. It’s at least as dangerous as the “normal” kickoff, and looks like hell. The ball is moving, and the players are not, the exact opposite of what football is all about. “Sissy” football is bad for America, and bad for the NFL! Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas? It’s like wanting to “roll back” the golf ball so it doesn’t go (nearly!) as far. Fortunately, college football will remain the same, hopefully forever!!
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