New Kickoff Rule: Hurting Or Helping Packers?

The annual NFL Owner's meeting in Florida yielded a few new rule changes and one in particular isn't sitting well with Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. A touchback on a kickoff will now give the receiving team possession of the ball at their own 25-yard line instead of the traditional 20. McCarthy questioned the reasoning and asked a legitimate question: is the league trying to make the game more or less competitive?

In 2011, kickoffs were moved up from the 30-yard line to the 35. This seemed to be in response to safety concerns about the violent collisions that often occur during returns. As a result, many kickers can now easily boot the ball out of the back of the end zone and…