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Here’s how the new NFL rules on kickoffs and overtime will work

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3 weeks ago

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The one-year trial version of the dynamic kickoff in the NFL led to an uptick in the return rate that wasn’t quite as much as the league had hoped.

Now the new form of the kickoff that is more like a scrimmage play is permanent with a change for 2025 that the league hopes will lead to a significant increase in returns.

Owners voted Tuesday to move touchbacks on kicks from the 30 to the 35 in hopes that more teams will kick the ball in play instead of giving up an extra 5 yards of field position.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

What’s new with the kickoff?

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kickoff put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kickoff returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns with a significant reduction as well on lower-body injuries.

The problem last season was many teams still opted to kick the ball in the end zone because the touchback wasn’t punitive enough with the average starting field position on a touchback being only 2.4 further than the average starting position after returns that was the 27.6-yard line.

By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70% with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

The league also approved a small tweak to how how blockers on the return team are allowed to line up in the setup zone that could lead to longer returns.

How will overtime change?

The league approved a proposal to make regular season overtime more like the postseason with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that got the ball first scored a touchdown.

The NFL added regular season overtime in 1974, adding a 15-minute sudden death period that ended on any score. In 2010, the rule was tweaked to a “modified” sudden death that required an opening possession touchdown to immediately end the game instead of only a field goal in both the regular season and playoffs.

Overtime then was shortened for the regular season to only 10 minutes in 2017. A rule change in 2022 for the playoffs only gave both teams the chance to score even with a touchdown on the opening possession.

Now that will be the case in the playoffs, after the improved field position on kickoffs made winning in OT on an opening possession TD easier.

According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening drive TD for the most overtime games ended on the first drive since the rule change went into effect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes like was originally proposed by Philadelphia, which could lead teams opting to go for 2 and a win if they match an opening drive TD with one of their own since there might not be time for another possession.

Replay assist

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles, tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The league has been using replay assist in recent years to overturn obvious errors on aspects like whether a pass is caught or where the ball should be spotted without the referee needing to stop the game for a review.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by officials on the field.

Other changes

There were a few procedural rules changed. Teams will now by able to conduct Zoom or phone meetings with prospective free agents during the so-called legal tampering period.

Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playoff teams also will be granted two additional return from IR designations.

What’s up with the tush push?

A proposal by Green Bay to outlaw the tush push that Philadelphia has used so successfully was tabled until the May meetings. A vote on a proposal to tweak the onside kick rule also was delayed until May, along with a proposal by Detroit to change the playoff seeding to place wild-card teams ahead of a division winner with a worse record.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl





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FIFA Releases Unrealistic 2026 Men’s World Cup Economic Impact Numbers

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21 minutes ago

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April 21, 2025

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Sports organizations always release exaggerated economic impact numbers.

Whenever a sports organization releases an economic impact study, the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt and this holds true for FIFA, the governing body of international football or soccer. The 2026 Men’s World Cup will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico. If FIFA could award the 2026 event again, it might take a different host but scrambling to find a new host within a year’s time might be problematic. The United States is not playing ball with Canada and Mexico economically and that is not limited to just those two countries. So far, it appears national teams are going ahead with plans for the three-country World Cup.

For what it’s worth, FIFA and the World Trade Organization have released an assessment of the economic impact of the 2026 tournament and the numbers are spectacular. The three host countries are going to make money and create a lot of jobs. Of course the matches will be played in existing stadiums and those who work at the games are generally per diem employees. The national clubs will be staying at top ranked hotels which already have employees and will be transported by planes and buses that already have employees. FIFA claims 290,000 jobs will be created in the US “as a result of FIFA’s flagship events”. There will be just 78 contests which is less than a home schedule for a Major League Baseball team. The economic impact on the United States? FIFA said $47 billion. Tourists will flock to America. In Canada, FIFA claims there will be an economic impact of $3.8 billion Canadian or $2.7 billion American. Every game will create 1,850 jobs. The report did not detail the economic impact of the event in Mexico. FIFA’s figures are pie in the sky numbers. The reality will be somewhat different.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com







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Buccaneers Draft Targets: EDGE – Sports Talk Florida

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9 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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By: Carter Brantley

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers much-maligned pass rush room has seen an attempt to upgrade their talent in the recent years, both through the draft and free agency.

Unfortunately not much has worked out, as JTS is now gone after 4 years of middling production and Randy Gregory didn’t even show up for training camp last season.

The Bucs have gone back to the free agency well with their signing of Haason Reddick, and it’s expected they might try to address the position in the draft again.

Whether it’s a first rounder, a mid-round selection, or a day 3 flyer, here are 3 guys the Bucs could conceivably target in this year’s draft class.

Probably the most athletic edge rusher in this class, Pearce Jr.’s status in the 1st round has shifted from top-10 pick to maybe even falling all the way to the Bucs at 19.

If he’s there and Will Johnson and Jihaad Campbell aren’t, the Bucs wouldn’t be totally stupid to take a swing at the former Volunteer.

Pearce, Jr. has the athletic pedigree to be an impressive player, earning a 9.38 RAS due to his elite 40 time and 6’5 height.

He’s a bit skinny compared to many of his pass-rushing counter-parts, but there’s enough to potentially fill out with an NFL-level dietary and workout program.

He also had a great final season with the Volunteers, racking up 52 total pressures for the season and a 91.9 total pass rush grade on PFF.

Overall, Pearce, Jr. is the best pass-rushing prospect this side of Abdul Carter in my mind, but we’ll see if NFL teams agree.

While not nearly the athletic freak Pearce, Jr. is, Kennard is quite impressive in his own right, racking up an 8.47 RAS due to another elite 40 time and a decent height at 6’4 and an ok bench showing.

He too is in need of a bit more muscle to fill out, but his production at South Carolina in 2024 was undeniable, winning the Nagurski and earning All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

His PFF scores disagree a bit with that production, only earning a 77 flat for the season overall and 80.1 in pass rush, but the raw production is too good to ignore, especially if he manages to fall to the 3rd round and the Bucs haven’t invested in the position yet.

Kennard is my overall favorite edge prospect in terms of draftability and upside, as Kennard is still only 23 and won’t turn 24 until December.

Yeesh, I’m falling into a bit of a pattern here; Robinson is yet another guy in need of adding some bulk, but him way more than the previous 2 prospects, as he comes in at only 240+ and 6’5.

Luckily the athleticism is there, as he’s explosive off the line and has quite a bit of length.

He’s also a great special teams add, and even is a former safety, meaning the Buccaneers can drop him back into coverage out of that outside linebacker spot if needed.

He’d be at best a rotational pass rusher, sort of an Anthony Nelson type, but these hidden gems can sometimes work out, especially for someone like Robinson who dealt with being behind some other uber-talented players while playing for the Crimson Tide.

Hopefully he can shine on his own in the NFL.

Follow @ctbrantley12 on Twitter and listen to him on the RBLR Bucs Podcast

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Sardja Tosses a Complete-Game One-Hitter as USF Softball Sweeps Memphis

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19 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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GOUSFBULLS.COM – Belle Sardja was phenomenal inside the circle for the University of South Florida softball team in the series finale against Memphis on Saturday. Sardja tossed a complete-game one-hitter as the Bulls (36-12-1, 15-5-1) run-ruled the Tigers (16-30, 4-17), 8-0, in five innings inside the USF Softball Stadium.

The Bulls remain 1.5 games out of first place behind the Florida Atlantic Owls after both teams recorded American Athletic Conference sweeps. North Texas stays in third place, a half-game behind South Florida.

Sardja recorded her sixth complete game of the year and produced her second complete-game one-hitter of the season. She improved to 14-4 on the season. She did not give up a hit until one out in the top of the fifth inning. She finished with two strikeouts and had one walk.

Offensively, Alexa Galligani led the Bulls with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. She extended her streak of reaching base safely to 14 games. Camille Ortiz-Martinez recorded her ninth home run of the season, which moved her into a tie for 10th on the USF single-season list. Josie Foreman and Ortiz-Martinez drove in two runs each. Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to eight games with a single in today’s contest.

Elliott led off the bottom of the first inning with a five-pitch walk. Galligani singled to third base and gave the Bulls two runners on and no outs. Wilkes dropped down a perfect sac bunt and moved the runners up. Josie Foreman notched a sac fly to left field. After Alanah Rivera drew a walk, Galligani stole home on a delayed steal. Ortiz-Martinez battled at the plate and hit the 10th pitch of the at-bat over the right-center wall for a two-run home run. USF took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.


Elliott reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs in the second inning. Elliott stole second and moved into scoring position. Galligani delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle. USF extended its lead to 5-0.


Elliott was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the fourth inning. Wilkes drew an eight-pitch walk and moved Elliott into scoring position. Foreman produced an RBI double down the right-field line.


DaNia Brooks doubled down the left-field line to start the bottom of the fifth. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Karhys Pierce notched a sac fly to center as the Bulls moved closer to a run-rule. Elliott singled to left field to keep things going for USF. Galligani doubled to right center and drove in Elliott to enforce the 8-0 run-rule victory.

Key Stats:

  • The Bulls are 33-0-1 when they record more hits than their opponents.
  • Belle Sardja tossed her sixth complete game of the season and her second complete-game one-hitter.
  • Camille Ortiz-Martinez recorded her ninth home run of the season, which moved her into a tie for 10th on the USF single-season list.

Notables:

  • Alexa Galligani has reached base safely in 14 straight games.
  • Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to eight games.
  • Kathy Garcia-Soto collected two assists, moving her season total to 113. She moved into the top 10 in the nation in assists.
  • The Bulls recorded their third conference sweep of the season.

Up Next:
The Bulls play their final midweek game of the 2025 season on Tuesday, April 23. South Florida travels to No. 7 Florida for a 6 p.m. game on the SEC Network+.

Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls softball at the USF Softball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.

Follow us:
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Softball news, follow the Bulls on social media (X/ Facebook / Instagram).

About USF Softball
The South Florida softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012. Under head coach Ken Eriksen, who enters his 28th season in 2025 and has accumulated 1,117 wins, ranking seventh among active DI head softball coaches, USF has produced 10 NFCA All-Americans, two USA Softball Top 10 Player of the Year, and one NFCA Pitcher of the Year. In 2022, Georgina Corrick became the first player in softball history to earn the NCAA Pitching Triple Crown. She led the nation in ERA (0.51), Victories (37), and total strikeouts (418).

– #GoBulls –





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