From the Week That Was
"Jeff Demps - The four-time NCAA sprint champion (he won the 60 in 2010, ’11 and ’12, and the 100 in 2010) was released from the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL (this week is already better for Demps as the Colts signed him to their practice squad). Worried about concussions, the NFL moved the kickoff line from the 30- to 35-yard line in 2011 and kickers now routinely kick the ball out of the end zone. Thus the speedster Demps is a football player without a position, as he excelled at kickoff returns. 80.2% of NFL kicks were returned in 2010. Last year, just 48% of kicks were returned (we think it’s even lower – low-40s this year). In track and field, he may be a guy without a position as well. Demps’ non-wind-aided PR of 10.01 dates from 2008 – when he was still in HS (he has run a windy 9.96 since then). 10.01 for 100m isn’t going to cut it in the US as a sprinter – except for relay duty (Demps ran the rounds of the 2012 Olympics and got a silver medal as a result). In track and field, he seems best-suited to the 60m – where he won 3 NCAA titles – but that’s only run indoors, there isn’t a lot of money in it and it’s impossible for Demps to be in shape indoors when he’s trying to play in the NFL. So he’s a track and football guy without a position. We do have a proposal that could save Demps’ NFL career. We think it’s absurd there are so few kickoff returns. The NFL should move the kickoffs back to the 30 so there will be returns. Kickoffs are a key part of football – at a minimum they should move it back for the playoffs. If concussions are the worry, use the increased TV money to add 3-4 guys to the roster to play special teams. You could make the return men and gunners sit out every other kickoff. As for Demps on the track this year, he didn’t run track. He ran track in 2012 (in the NFL, he was on injured reserve and missed the season with the Patriots) and in 2013 (played in 2 games with the Bucs)."
Alternate return men and gunners every kickoff. Just so a track guy can get a chance. Absurd.