I don't get this whole concept of getting rid of the on-side kick in the fourth quarter and replacing it with something else. Whether or not the kick is a legit on-side kick, or a squib that bounces all over the place, why replace it because one team has a silly idea?
I am of course talking about the NFL competition committee's idea to accept the proposal put forward by the Denver Broncos, in which the on-side kick in the fourth quarter of a game would be replaced by a 4th and 15 situation from the team's 35 yard line. While it may be more interesting to give star quarterbacks a shot at a potential game-winning throw deep in the final quarter of play (yes, I do find it somewhat intriguing), it can also lead to other problems down the line.
The potential for injuries increases, with the other team's defence wanting to load up for a bull rush, or be quick off the corner to block and/or sack the quarterback before he can make said throw down the field. Also, receivers will look to run full tilt to evade cover (especially if the opposing defence is playing man coverage, or the standard nickel) and end up stretching out and landing on something they don't want to land on. It can almost be assured that the quarterback is going to go for the long bomb or end zone play. No one is going to waste this 4th and 15 on a short pass that could potentially be dropped, picked off, or stymied completely.
While I agree that the NFL needs to make a couple tweaks to the rules to enhance the game a little, this is not one of the tweaks we need. The on-side kick has a mythology of it's own, and can easily end up being a game-changing moment in itself. I believe in earnest that this should be left alone for the time being. Potential pass interference and challenging of said call should be the top priority of the NFL right now, so as to avoid another problem like we saw in the NFC Championship game. Compared to that mess, the on-side kick is nowhere near as imperative.
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