What’s in a name? Dynamic is a word in the NFL’s new kickoff rule, but it’s hardly been that through two-plus weeks of the 2024 NFL season.

Did I expect a rule designed to entice the number of actual returns to be more, well, dynamic? I sure did. But I could see by how things unfolded during the preseason that most kickoffs would be booted through the back of the end zone, thus guaranteeing the opposing team would begin its possession at its own 30. As for the kickoffs that were returned? Most resulted in their offense setting up around its own 30-yard line.

If you’re an NFL fan then you know that, under this new rule, the blockers and coverage specialists line up five yards from one another, with the former stationed at their own 35 and the latter positioned at the 40. Nobody in this setup area can move until the returner touches the kickoff. Any kickoff that hits between the landing zone–the return team’s goal line and the 20–must be returned. Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone must be returned or downed. If downed, the receiving team gets the football at its own 20. Any kick that hits in the end zone and goes out of bounds or is downed results in the receiving team setting up at its own 30. Any kick that is booted through the back of the end zone in the air will also result in the opposing offense getting the ball at its own 30.

To reiterate, the rule looked good on paper.

But I’m not sure the league is getting the results it wanted out of it, at least not so far.

Per the Football Database, the Cardinals’ DeeJay Dallas, who took one 96 yards to the house at Buffalo in Week 1, currently has the only touchdown and longest return under the new kickoff rules. The Bears DeAndre Carter has the second-longest return at 67 yards.

As for the rest of the NFL return specialists? When they do get a chance to bring one back, they’re averaging your usual 25-30 yards.

Nothing too exciting.

Just like I suspected in the preseason, most dynamic kickoffs seem to result in the kicker booting the football through the back of the end zone, resulting in the opposing team setting up shop at its own 30.

And why wouldn’t this be the case? Most NFL head coaches are more risk-averse than grandmothers who refuse to ride anything at an amusement park.

Why take any chances on a long return if you don’t have to? Besides, the vast majority of kickers have legs so strong these days, that the U.S. military should study them for its missile program. It was nothing for them to kick the football through the back of the end zone from their own 35 under the old rules, so why would it be now from the same distance?

It obviously wouldn’t, which has resulted in kickoffs being just as boring as ever. Obviously, coaches have and will continue to try strategies that induce weird bounces and force returners into making poor decisions, but that could also lead to disaster if the ball bounces out of bounds and results in the opposing offense setting up shop at the 40.

At the end of the day, who really cares, right? The results now are the same as they were under the old rules. You might get the occasional long return, but you’ll mostly get touchbacks.

Even back in the old days, when head trauma was barely a consideration, how exciting were most NFL kickoffs? Not very.

NFL kickoffs have mostly always been dull, but they spent decades being dull and dangerous. Today, they’re dull and safe.

Or as safe as a football play can be, of course.

Under this new rule, the NFL gets to continue having kickoffs, more special teams specialists get to stay relevant,  and we’re free to grab a snack right after a score.

It’s the same as it ever was, only different.