NFL....free shot for the D on touchdowns?

[grusse]

I thought of this while watching a rough Pitts-Cinci game recently.

A Steeler caught a TD pass and was clocked in the end zone by a defender.
A roughing penalty was applied to the kickoff which guaranteed a touchback.

But, here's the catch....the number of kickoff returns is very low...I don't have the stats but I'm guessing 80-90%of kickoffs result
in touchbacks anyway so the penalty means zilch.
With/without the penalty in all likelihood they have 1st&10 at their own 25.

I think it'd be more meaningful to enforce the penalty by making the offending team start at their own 10...poor field pos'n being the punishment.

Now, if I can spot this loophole, I think the NFL pros, esp. DB's who hate WR's, can also see this as a way to land a lick on a rival scot-free.

Maybe I'm missing something here?

Input is welcome.

 

[Lets Review]

IMO as long as the NFL requires a receiver to hold the ball until the extra point to be considered a catch, you'll have DB's attempting to "separate" them from the ball.
7 points or a 15 yard penalty, which hurts more? Every time I see a tackler make himself into a missile instead of taking the runner on face-up and wrapping him it drives me nuts.
Can't really blame the players; since the days of Jack Tatum, Steve Atwater et al, the emphasis has been on highlight reel hits. Now it's 15 yards, hard to change overnight.

And please don't get me started on the way different zebras call games. Nor how some 70 year old man is supposed to keep up with these athletes.

 

[grusse]

I think there has always been the "face-saving" end zone tackle and I agree with the highlight-reel hits.

As in hockey,the rules are supposedly changing to better protect guys from hits to the head.Players like Tatum&Atwater, and Scott Stevens from the NHL
would be fined/suspended today for what were ok hits in their day.

After I posted, I thought of a problem potential with making the defensive team start on their own 10 rather than receive a kickoff....what if the team that scored a TD
and had the foul committed against them,was trailing and wanted to attempt an onside kickoff?

Changing course,several nb games this wkend that might make the playoff positions clearer.

 

[papillion]

The NFL has to balance the entertainment factor (money) vs player safety
Like any big business, greed usually wins over the welfAre of the workers.

 

[manni]

penalize a dirty hit all you want, don't think it's ever going to go away.
NFL football is all about winning at all cost.

there are still the few gents out there who plays with an edge but still respectable
to their opponents. I respect those guys.