They have been a part of the game since the game was first played. A good kickoff return gets the juices flowing. It can change momentum, or even change the game. I can see in my mind's eye David Wilson returning a blazing fast kickoff vs. GT. Oops! Cant see it any more...'cuz it ain't going to happen no more! 😥😥 At least they don't slice up your knee any more and end your football career. Nowadays medical technology has advanced out of the caveman experience to arthroscopic surgery where you're in by 9 and out by 2:30 doing jumping jacks...well, you got my drift. Injuries are not so devastating anymore.

Why do they always want to break with tradition? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think there's concern for player injury, but players have been injured since game #1. C'mon, people!! It's football!!! You want to get namby pamby in the 21st century? Then go start a diddly winks league. Criminy!!

Claiborne used to have a play where the kick-off receiver would catch the ball and stand there while the defense converged on him, then he would throw a lateral pass to a receiver across the field to run up the field. Great, exciting play. Haven't seen it in 50 years. The rulesmakers prolly made it illegal for some stupid reason. Gee wheez, people!! Play ball! Quit jacking off.