NFL Notes: Kickoffs, Everett Golson & Jets

Kickoffs

Mark Maske of the Washington Post writes that while the NFL has made several moves in recent years to make kickoffs safer, the league has no intention of taking the kickoff out of the game entirely.

A source tells Maske that he could see the NFL eventually eliminating this aspect of the game, but it appears as though they’re still a ways away from doing so.

“Could I see a day when there is real consideration of taking the kickoff out of the game? Yeah, I could probably see that,” one person familiar with the league’s inner workings told Maske. “But we’re not there yet. We’re not at that point. We’re looking at what we can do to make it a safer play, if that’s possible.”

One issue with getting rid of kickoffs is that it would eliminate onside kicks, which give a team the ability to steal a possession.

“I’m not sure how you replicate the onside kick,” a source told Maske said. “That’s a competitive issue that would have to be worked out. But the bigger issue is the safety issue, and that will dictate how this eventually goes.”

Everett Golson

• The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL announced Monday that they’ve signed former FSU QB Everett Golson to their practice roster.
• Golson wound up going undrafted out of FSU and participated in rookie mini-camps for the Colts and Eagles. However, he didn’t receive an offer.

Jets

• Rich Cimini of ESPN expects the Jets to eventually adjust the amount they’re offering to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in the second year of their three-year, $24 million offer. Cimini adds that their current offer of $6 million won’t be enough to get a deal done.
• Cimini can see contract talks with Fitzpatrick picking up next month.
• In regards to franchise DL Muhammad Wilkerson, Cimini reports that there haven’t been any talks regarding an extension as of last week.
• Between re-signing Fitzpatrick and keeping Wilkerson long-term, Cimini believes Wilkerson is the better long-term investment while Fitzpatrick is probably more important to the team in 2016.
• Cimini hasn’t heard anything that would suggest the Jets’ approach towards Fitzpatrick and Wilkerson will have an impact on their reputation with agents around the league. Although, he says that players are watching how GM Mike Maccagnan is handling negotiations for the two players.
• Cimini considers veteran K Nick Folk the favorite to win the team’s kicking job over Ross Martin.