T he Kansas City Chiefs already have a lot to think about this coming weekend, as they go up against an 8-2 Indianapolis Colts team that means business.
Sitting at 5-5, if the team loses, they will have a losing record and will need to almost win out to secure a playoff spot.
However, this was not the primary thing on one reporter’s mind, who asked special teams coordinator, Dave Toub, about President Donald Trump’s criticism of the new kickoff rule on Veteran’s Day, whilst speaking to sports media.
Chiefs’ Special Teams Coach Criticizes Trump
And Toub had some choice words to say about the President’s knowledge of the game in his response to the media on Thursday.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s looking at. He has no idea what’s going on…with the kickoff rule, so I’m going to take that for what it’s worth. And I hope he hears it.” Toub said to the media, via Sports Radio 810 WHB.
Perhaps Toub’s reaction to Trump’s comments detail some of his thoughts on the President beyond simply his views on the game, but irregardless the Chiefs’s special teams head seems to have little time for the thoughts of the Commander In Chief.
Trump ‘Hates’ New NFL Kick-Off Rule
Donald Trump first made his comments vis-a-vis the kickoff rule on The Pat McAfee’s November 11th broadcast, expressing disdain for the newly implemented rule change.
“I do have to say – and I’ll probably get myself in a little trouble for this,” Trump said to McAfee last week, “I hate the kickoff in football. I think itâs so terrible, I think itâs so demeaning. I think it hurts the game and hurts the pageantry. Iâve told that to Roger Goodell. And I donât think itâs any safer. I mean you still have guys crashing into each other.”
“The ball is in the air and nobody is moving. Itâs supposed to be when the ball is in the air, when the ball is played youâre supposed to be moving. The pageantry of the game is so badly hurt. The NFL, they do what they want to do. I donât think theyâll change. I hope college football doesnât change, because the power of the kickoff was so beautiful.”
The aim of the rule change in the most part is to avoid players on the kickoff team having long, extended run ups at full pace against the return team who are mostly going backwards and are often having to look in both directions to gather information on the play.
The new rule slows down defenders from the kicking team, which ensures that concussion rates and broader injuries decrease on the play.
Many do consider the new play to be uglier than the original kickoff – the President is certainly not alone in that. And with the new rules teams often find themselves in a far more advantageous position offensively after the play, receiving the ball as far as the 35 yard line if the ball lands in the end zone for a touchback.
However, it does seem clear that from a player safety perspective, this way is optimal – even if it does not have the fun of the original.
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