The Washington Redskins wanted to see a rule change implemented in the NFL that would reward kickers for their accuracy during NFL games. This rule would have moved the ball from the 25 yard line to the 20 yard line when kickers made it directly through the uprights.
The rule proposal was similar to the one that the Ravens set forth in the 2016 NFL season, but wasn't quite as impactful. That rule would have given kickers like Justin Kicker one point for making it through the uprights on kickoffs, but never had a true chance to succeed.
NFL Rejects Rule Change.
On Tuesday, NFL teams voted down the unique proposal from the Redskins. The new rule would have made kickoffs much more interesting and fans would have had more of an incentive to watch the plays. Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins, who booms almost every kick he hits, would have certainly been a huge beneficiary of the new rule. Other kickers, like Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots, Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, and Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders, would have also been huge beneficiaries of the rule for kickers.
Other Successful Rule Proposals.
The NFL did allow another rule with direct ties to the kicking game to pass. Leaping, which has come to the forefront of kicks in recent seasons, has been outlawed.
The NFL cited a need for safety and will now bar any NFL players from leaping over the center to block a field goal.
Another change to the game will be a centralized reply system, which means that on-field officials will no longer be in control of replay. Instead, reply operations will be handled by a central office in New York that will take a look at each play.
Unsuccessful Rule Proposals.
The Redskins aren't the only NFL team that had a rule proposal fail. Both the Seattle Seahawks and the Buffalo Bills suggested that penalties become reviewable plays. Unsurprisingly, that suggestion was rejected by the NFL as it would likely slow down the game. Fans want to see correct calls, but they certainly don't want to see a review on every play.
