NFL looking to modify, not eliminate, kickoffs

Speaking at the NFL's two-day coaching summit on new proposed rule changes, NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent indicated the league is not looking to eliminate kickoffs, but rather revise them with an eye toward player safety, according to NFL.com's Judy Battista.

Battista added Vincent does not want to erase the impact of the kickoff on the game, but still sees a number of dangerous hits during returns, even on kicks that result in a touchback.

The kickoff rule has long been under consideration for altering in an attempt to make one of the games' most dangerous plays less hazardous. During the league meeting in March, members of the NFL's competition committee threatened to eliminate the play if it doesn't become safer. Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week the league would look into creating alternative ideas instead.

Vincent is hoping to build a new kickoff proposal during the two-day summit and present it to the league owners during their May meetings, which take place in Atlanta from May 21-23.