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NFL implements huge new touchback rule, admits it could backfire



One of the biggest rule changes proposed by the competition committee this year was to change the touchback. Despite the fact that the NFL has no clue what's going to happen, the league voted to make the change anyway on Wednesday.
Starting in 2016, any kickoff that results in a touchback will give the opposing team possession at the 25-yard line, instead of the 20. The new rule only applies to kickoffs, meaning a touchback after a turnover or a punt would still give the opposing team the ball at the 20-yard line.
The new touchback rule was one of nine new rules that were approved at the NFL's annual owner meeting that was held in Boca Raton, Florida this week.
Of course, the touchback rule is slightly different than the others, because the NFL has no idea if it's actually going to help the game.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday that there was a "safety element" to the change; however, he did point out that the league could rescind the rule after one year if it doesn't actually make the game safer.
"We passed moving the touchback to the 25, which we do think has a safety element to it," Goodell said. "We passed that also for one year because we do want to see if it changes the numbers and how it impacts the game because there is that thought that there will be some more short kicks."
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino admitted that the new touchback rule could backfire and have "unintended consequences."
"We put it in for one year so we can look at if there are any unintended consequences, and we won't get stuck with a rule," Blandino told NFL Network on Wednesday, via Pro Football Talk. "It'll be interesting to see how it plays out."
Blandino's right. It will be interesting because, basically, the NFL has no clue if the rule change will lead to more returns or more touchbacks.
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