Yeah, that's totally different Kickoffs and punts are the only plays designed for a possession-change midplay. Both have a much greater opportunity for big collisions than other plays. They are closer to being the "exact same" than "totally different".
James Harrison perfected the art of using the crown of his helmet to the side of the opponent's helmet 3 years before the NFL took notice. It was a shame the league reacted so slowly. At the time, I considered him a criminal on the field because he deliberately tried to concuss opponents. Individually, each rule change may not affect much. However, down the line as more changes are legislated, a cumulative effect could diminish fan enjoyment. Unlike basketball and baseball, violence, intimidation and players brutalizing/hurting each other fuel football.
The NFL and NCAA disagree, with good reason since the nature of the collisions are nothing alike. Their changes both leagues have made (like moving touchbacks on kickoffs, the wedge rules) are all centered around kickoffs - no attempts have been made to change punts. Punts just don't have the same injury concerns/risks, regardless of whether you think they are similar on the surface. Kickoffs, most dangerous play in sports: http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2007/10/ledger_the_most_dangerous_play.html Moving kickoffs to touchbacks: https://www.theringer.com/2016/6/10/16039092/nfl-kickoffs-player-safety-3e0c4bfbb2b The league moved kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line before the 2011 season, and the percentage that resulted in touchbacks jumped from 16.4 percent to 43.5 percent that year before rising steadily to 56 percent in ’15. Still, as ESPN’s Brian Burke and Sharon Katz wrote in March, deeper kicks failed to provide enough of a deterrent. Even with an uptick in touchbacks, the decision to take them wasn’t statistically savvy. Here's a good description of what make kickoffs so crazy: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/...n-vs-player-safety-in-nfl-kickoff-debate.html Steve Tasker is 50 and has been retired from the N.F.L. for 15 years. Tasker was one of the greatest special-teams players in league history as a kickoff returner, and, more notably, on kick coverage. He loved covering kicks, which he calls “a train wreck of a play,” loved it so much that he used to say the world would be a better place if everyone got to cover a kickoff once a week. He compares it to charging up a hill to take it in battle, to running headlong as a child. The wild, reckless abandon of the play speaks to men in their early 20s, Tasker says, striking a deep emotional chord that resonates with him still. And he would prefer that nobody ever has to do it again. None of that applies to punts.
I agree - but the flipside is that people like high-flying offense too, and these rule changes lean towards that some as well. This is essentially a fancier version of the targeting rule in college - similarly, that first year, people endlessly complained, but now it's universally accepted and generally appreciated. Compare the NFL today to 20 years ago and you'd see a ton of differences - but at the end of the day, everyone adapts, I think.
Dez will be a good #2 for any team. I don't think he can handle #1 any more. So long, Dez. You can't say Cowboys offense will take a hit over this...because he hasn't done much in a while.
Sad but true. I really will miss the guy and his passion but he just can’t create separation anymore. Feels like a let down 6-10 rebuild type year for me. But then again, last time I felt this way was 2 yrs ago when dez and zeke stormed the league.
I'm not so sure Dez will be a good #2 for whoever signs him. Perhaps his new team will benefit from the chip on his shoulder.
That and he'll benefit if he finally gets a good QB to throw him the ball again. If you look at it, his numbers took a nose dive when Romo stopped being the QB.