Forget the scouting combine’s 40-yard dash times—Bill Belichick’s got a new metric for special teams studs in 2024: forgo speed, bring on the beef! The NFL’s dramatic overhaul of the kickoff rule, with 10 players on the kicking team and nine on the return team, lining up five yards apart, has the legendary coach worried about one thing—size.

“There will be more of an emphasis on size players in the return game than speed,” Belichick grumbled on the Pat McAfee Show. Imagine a world where shifty returners like Devin Hester are replaced by big-sized linebackers. Coach Belichick seems to envision just that, fearing teams will prioritize “guys who can play at the point of attack, shed blocks, and defend their space” to handle the tighter confines of the new kickoff.

Per new changes in the kickoff rules, players on the kicking team will still boot the ball from their 35-yard line, but the other 10 kicking team members will be lined up just five yards from the receiving team’s 40-yard line. This creates a tense standoff. The receiving team, with at least nine blockers crammed into a tiny ‘set-up zone’ between the 30 and 35-yard line, has a tough decision to make in a heartbeat: take the ball back or just take the touchback at the 30. Only the kicker and two returners (allowed inside the 20) can budge until the ball hits the ground or someone catches it in the red zone—talk about pressure!

Inspired by the XFL, this whole new rule’s all about more returns and fewer injuries. Plus, they’re hoping to ditch those brutal high-speed crashes that used to happen on kickoffs. Here’s the question everyone’s asking: will the speedy returners have an advantage with a little more space? Or will Bill Belichick be right, and teams will need bigger, stronger guys to battle it out in this close-quarters brawl? While the 72-year-old ponders his coaching future (and where those ‘size’ monsters might land), one young Patriots cornerback isn’t fazed. 

Unlike Belichick Marcus Jones isn’t concerned

New England’s first-team All-Pro punt returner, Marcus Jones, is back after a season-ending injury. But while punt returns remain the same, kickoffs are a completely different story now. “Honestly, it’s not too crazy for me,” Jones told ESPN. The 5-foot-8, 188-pound speedster believes it could be pretty challenging when everyone’s on the same level, all at the same yard line. But he’s curious to see how things might be different for players who don’t do punt returns. 

For the rebuilding Patriots, anything that eases offensive burden and supports top-ranked defense is a win. Jones’ healthy returnis a big part of that equation, especially with the new kickoff rules adding another wrinkle to the game. Even head coach Jerod Mayo admits it’s a mystery: “I don’t think anyone actually knows how this thing is going to play out.”

One thing’s certain, Marcus Jones is ready to show fans what he can do again. “I’m locked in,” he said. “I love the fans here and the pressure as well. It’s Titletown up here.” With a new season and a new kickoff rule, Jones’ return will be a fascinating story to watch as the Patriots head into training camp.