Michael Spurlock’s Value Took A Hit Yesterday
March 23rd, 2011
So yesterday — all in the name of trying to stem injuries — the NFL, at the urging of Richie McKay, decided to move kickoffs back to the 35-yard line. That’s all but taken kickoff returns out of the game.
What once was a weapon is now useless. This may have nailed few players worse than Bucs return man Michael Spurlock.
Run Michael Run was a lethal weapon for the Bucs on kickoff returns. If he didn’t bring one to the house, he certainly put the fear of doing so on opposing special teams coaches. Now a free agent, Spurlock undoubtedly was banking of hitting the bank as a result.
Now, nearly half his game has been taken away. Sure, he can still return punts, but 40 percent of his game was kickoff returns (40 percent punt returns and 20 percent as a receiver).
The Bucs simply are not going to throw big cash at a guy who is now a one-trick pony. Joe believes Spurlock still has a spot on the roster as a punt return man and as a reserve wide receiver.
But his value and stock sure took a hit yesterday.
Joe wonders what Spurlock thinks of McKay about now?
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:17 am
Reminds me of the tree falling in the forest.
If a kickoff line is moved , and no one is there to kick the ball , did the line ever actually get moved ??
How about the dumb azz NFL get a labor agreement in place before they worry about changing rules ?
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:25 am
All this rule changing crap is really starting to pizz me off, time to go consume so adult beverages….(I’ll drink a Singha for you Joe (Thai beer) while I’m vacationing in this beautiful country). =D
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:29 am
Well at least they returned a kickoff for a TD before they changed the rule.
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 am
The rule isn’t THAT different. The ball is kicked from the 35 instead of the 30, but touchbacks are still at the 20.
The amended rule lessens the blow, I think.
Of more importance is their removing the right for coaches to throw a review flag on touchdowns. THAT will hurt much more.
As to Spurlock, he wasn’t going to get big money anyway, so it really has not cost him anything. And he is developing into a decent WR…if he continues to do so, he could be great.
I love the guy.
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:05 am
The kickoffs have only been at the 30 yard line for a short time anyways. The game will adjust. Not a big deal….
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Disagree about Spurlock. He’s not a dynamic returner, by any means. His value is as a WR, who can return KO’s, IMO.
March 23rd, 2011 at 1:09 pm
These rule changes are complete BS
All the focus is on defenders, but the biggest culprits of using the helmet as a weapon are the leagues top RB’s. Watch Adrian Peterson or Rashard Mendenhall charge through the line with their heads down and slamming into defenders.
March 24th, 2011 at 2:51 am
Amar, you can buy Singha anywhere. Try something exclusive to Thailand, and have fun.
March 24th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
They just continue to ruin the NFL! Players have to be SO careful not to hit someone too hard now or Roger Goodell will rob them of $50,000! Now they move the kickoffs to the 35 yard line?! Wow, now we’ll surely see touchbacks on probably 80% of the returns cause the kickoff team will be getting downfield faster.
This is complete bull****. Despite how brutal the game of football is, do you ever hear players complain about it? Do you ever hear them crying about getting hit too hard? NO. Because they’re not pussy’s! They’re NFL players.
Sick of the NFL. Sick of the rule changes. Sick of the greedy, spoiled brat players. Oh, most importantly, I’m sick of the corrupt refs. The refs who made sure we didn’t get into the playoffs last year.