A season of touchbacks?

Now that the NFL has moved kickoffs to the 35 yard line to make the game safer the Onion Sports Network has this little gem of an article on the subject.

The money quote, "In fact there is nothing more boring to me than when the return man evades a few tackles, gets a key block, and sprints up the sideline towards the end zone. Touchbacks are why I watch football."

Heck, I can remember when they used to kick off from the forty. That was years ago. Are you ready for some football?

UPDATE: Of the 12 kickoffs in last night's opening game between the Saints and the Packers, 8 resulted in touchbacks, one was an onside kick and one was an electrifying 108 yard return by Packer's rookie Randall Cobb in what he admitted was a "rookie mistake."

Under the Packers' special team strategy the kick returner lines up 5 yards deep in the end zone and is instructed to take a knee if he has to back up to field the ball. Given that the return was credited at 108 yards that means that Cobb backpedaled 3 yards to field the ball and never should have brought it out in the first place. This season promises to be one of yawns and bathroom breaks during kickoffs. Look for your excitement elsewhere in the game.