The NFL implemented a new kickoff rule this offseason that was supposed to incentivize returns, making the play more exciting while limiting the player safety concerns of the old play. Mike Tomlin was part of the competition committee that approved the new rule, but it doesn’t sound like he sees it as all that more exciting, at least for Week 1.
“To be honest with you, I expect to see some touchbacks,” Tomlin said via his weekly Keys to the Game segment on the Steelers’ website. “I think a lot of us have analyzed it and obviously, although it’s exciting, there’s still some things, some questions that remain in terms of personalities and so forth.