By Tom E. Curran
CSNNE.com
NEW ORLEANS - The NFL's Competition Committee hatched a proposal that would radically change kickoffs. Bill Belichick hates it. The proposal, which would move the line of scrimmage on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35, would result in more touchbacks. Yet the line of scrimmage after a touchback would now be the 25 instead of the 20. Additionally, the kickoff team would only be allowed a 5-yard runup before the kickoff - currently there's no limit. And there would be no wedge-making. Currently, two players are allowed to join together to block for a kickoff return. "It's a very complicated proposal," Belichick said to a group of reporters in the hallway at the Roosevelt Hotel. "I dont like the idea of removing the kickoff from the game. I think it's one of the most exciting plays in football. It seems to me the Competition Committee wants to eliminate that from the game."Belichick went a step further, noting that the notion it's proposed for player safety didn't come through in the commuttee's presentation Sunday night. "I dont know that its because of head injuries, Belichick said. The ones they showed, there werent very many of them. I think you should talk to the Competition Committee. They are the ones that really proposed the rule. Talk to Rich McKay, whoever else is on the committee and see what they have to say about it. There are a lot of components to it, four different elements to it. Its a complicated rule."One thing that isn't complicated - Belichick's feelings on the proposal.
Tom E. Curran can be reached at tcurran@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Tom on Twitter at http:twitter.comtomecurran