Bears disobey kickoff rule

[Mr. Scot]

Bears refuse to bend to new kickoff rule; told by league to stop

he Chicago Bears were one of six NFL teams that reportedly voted against the new rule moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line of the team doing the kicking. The rule, which moves the ball up from the 30-yard line and should cause more touchbacks and fewer exciting returns, was implemented by the league's Competition Committee at the owners meetings in March as a move to improve player safety. The thought was that those exciting returns also involve too many high-speed collisions, but the Bears weren't buying it.

In their Saturday preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills at Chicago's Soldier Field, the Bears refused to accept the new rule, and instead lined their first two kickoffs up at their 30, as had been in the past. Apparently, the officials on site didn't catch it, because no penalties were called and it took a call from Vice President of Officiating Carl Johnson(notes) to "put a stop to it," according to the Twitter account of Johnson's predecessor, current Fox Sports analyst Mike Pereira.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith, who's had return teams among the league's best for a number of years, seemed unaffected by the violations and any potential fallout. In other words, it wasn't a mistake.

"[bears kicker] Robbie Gould(notes) … we can put it on the 35 and he can kick it out each time,'' Smith said. ''We're not really getting a good evaluation of what we can do coverage-wise on some of our players. That's what we were trying to do with it.''

Don't recall a prior incident of a team openly violating a league rule, even in preseason.

I hate the rule myself.

[Darth Biscuit]

I see why they did it, even though it does take some excitement from the game.

[dimbee]

"Disobey" is a strong word. "Interpreted differently" is how I would put it. When you read the nuanced wording of the rule: "the line of restraint shall be the 30 yard line on kickoffs," that can lead one to think that the ball can be kicked from no further than the 30 but can be placed further back. Oh well :D

[Mr. Scot]

The fact that the league said "knock it off" makes me think they interpreted it as disobedience.

But frankly, I have no problem if they did blatantly disobey it. I think it's a stupid rule.

[dimbee]

I think it's a stupid rule as well

[Chimera]

Have a player run offside. 5 yard penalty. Problem solved.

[MadHatter]

Have a player run offside. 5 yard penalty. Problem solved.

Would not work. Receiving team would just refuse the penalty and make them kick it again.

[Davis83]

Would not work. Receiving team would just refuse the penalty and make them kick it again.

Maybe, but I'd try it once and see if you can sucker them into it a couple times.:wink:

[I am Hubby]

Would not work. Receiving team would just refuse the penalty and make them kick it again.

I believe you are thinking about last years rule. I am under the impression that an offside penalty adds 5 yards to the end of the play. Although, after 20 years of marriage, I am used to being incorrect. (Just could not use the "W" word)

[w280sax]

I watched some of that game on the NFLN and the Bears' announcers said that the kicking team had the option of kicking off from the 35. I suppose that was wrong...

Agreed that its a bad rule change.

[Proudiddy]

This rule sucks and it really isn't helping anything... just makes it extremely boring.

I think if they keep it in effect though, we'll see teams get their kickers to either squib it or kick it as high as they can regularly in hopes to get under it quicker and blow up the KR.

It may end up causing more problems than the previous spot for kickoffs did in the long run.

I actually think this is what Mare was doing on the first few KOs during our game Saturday.

[Galvatron]

This rule sucks and it really isn't helping anything... just makes it extremely boring.

I think if they keep it in effect though, we'll see teams get their kickers to either squib it or kick it as high as they can regularly in hopes to get under it quicker and blow up the KR.

It may end up causing more problems than the previous spot for kickoffs did in the long run.

I actually think this is what Mare was doing on the first few KOs during our game Saturday.

Why even kickoff? Unless your kicker is teh suck, they're going to start at or around the 20 anyway. Agreed it's a stupid rule.