NFL's Chief Medical Officer spills beans on new kickoff rule decision - "It was suffering"

The NFL's new kickoff rules are here, looking to encourage more exciting return play after a few past seasons of dullness. And while it mostly has a sports and entertainment purpose, Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer. also sees health and safety benefits in the new rules.

On "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday, Sills said:

"What really motivated this was the very, very high rate of concussions over the years. It's been persistently high. ... It basically got to the point where that was a ceremonial play. Not even really part of the game, no action. And so, from an entertainment standpoint, it was really suffering.

"I think it's going to be a really exciting play that fans are going to love and that players are going to appreciate, because it puts some skill back in the game that really had been lost."

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Players, coaches already showing optimism toward new NFL kickoff rules

Meanwhile, Pro Football Network managed to catch up with players and coaches who expressed positive thoughts about the new kickoff rules.

First was Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris:

“It was fun. You know, I think the National Football League is getting what they want: some extra returns. ... The uptick in the excitement for the fans and what they’re going to see. And bringing that play back for us is exciting.”

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker said:

"This is not just going to keep the play in the game, it’s going to make it much more exciting. I think there’s going to be a lot more action."

Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys returner Ka'Vontae Turpin called the new rules "a great weapon" and said:

"I feel like I have fun back there. (I hope teams) give me a chance. The first three games, I feel I’m going to have a chance."

Not everyone is totally positive, however. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay had a strong word for it: "weird."

"I know that the intent is right, and we’ll try to figure it out, and I know everybody that has been involved in that has their intentions in the right place," McVay said. "But it’s a very foreign-looking play and, ultimately, however we feel about it, we’ve got to be able to adjust and make sure that we adapt."

The Dynamic Kickoff first debuted during the Hall of Fame Game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans,