The NFL's kickoff regulations are set to undergo significant changes in the approaching 2024 season, yet not all teams have embraced them.
Among the dissenting voices were the Green Bay Packers, despite being potentially well-positioned to benefit from the adjustments given their roster.
Packers Team President Mark Murphy explained his team's decision to go against the rule change.
"Our issue was that it's such a major change, my thought, our thought, was it makes sense, really, to have [it] as a trial or experiment in the preseason to see what, there's going to be some unintended consequences, I think. And I just felt it made sense to have a trial," the 68-year-old team executive said.
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In addition to the Packers, the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders opposed the rule change, resulting in a 29-3 overall vote. The league required 24 teams to approve the rule change for it to pass.
What are the NFL's new kickoff rules inspired by the XFL?
The recently approved rules, sanctioned as a one-year trial for 2024, resemble the kickoff regulations utilized in the XFL. The primary objectives are to increase the frequency of returns while enhancing player safety.
According to the new regulations, kickoffs will feature a designated "setup zone" for coverage players and blockers, spanning between the 35- and 30-yard line, alongside a "landing zone" extending from the 20-yard line to the goal line.
Players on both teams are prohibited from moving until the ball either touches the ground or is fielded for a return.
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