Returning Kicks (1 Viewer)

[strong]

I know it's conventional football wisdom to feel returning kickoffs substantially increases a player's risk of injury.

But how many return men were injured last year returning kicks?

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Just as every incremental minute spent on the front lines increases the risk of being shot, doesn't incremental time spent on the football field in itself increase the risk of injury?

I haven't looked at any stats, so you might be right that returning kickoffs doesn't "substantially" increase risk, but even though there may not have been many players injured in kickoffs last year as opposed to during regular play, the risk is still there, though, no?

 

[strong]

Just as every incremental minute spent on the front lines increases the risk of being shot, doesn't incremental time spent on the football field in itself increase the risk of injury? I haven't looked at any stats, so you might be right that returning kickoffs doesn't "substantially" increase risk, but even though there may not have been many players injured in kickoffs last year as opposed to during regular play, the risk is still there, though, no?

Sure, I agree that the being on the field for an extra play increases a player's chance of injury but... it seems there's a bit of hysteria surrounding just how dangerous it is for the return man.And calling a coach dumb because he puts his first round pick back there is perhaps a bit much, especially if that player averages 32 yards per return...

 

[TinHat]

It seems that in the open field, running into the entire D, there seems to be a better chance of getting clocked by a guy head on who has a full head of steam.