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Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona criticizes new kickoff rules

Joe Cardona joined teammate Matthew Slater in criticizing the NFL’s new kickoff rules, saying Friday the decision to limit returns wouldn’t have been the main change if player safety was the league’s main goal.

The new rule permits players to fair catch kickoffs no matter where they are on the field and receive the ball at their team’s 25-yard-line or at the spot of the fair catch.

“We have to operate in the rules that are given to us even if it was a unilateral decision,” Cardona said. “We all as players want to play football and we want to play football as safely as possible.