NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggests eliminating kickoffs; Fmr. NFL linebacker Chris Draft says 'the NFL is looking towards player safety'

The NFL has been at the center of bad publicity in recent days, with the tragic murder-suicide at the hands of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, and the general discussion of the major stress the sport puts players under. In the new cover story for TIME magazine, Commissioner Roger Goodell opens up about some of the ways he hopes to reform the sport so it takes less of a toll on its athletes.

Among some of the ideas on the table are getting rid of kickoffs, which are seen by many to be one of the most dangerous elements of the game. While it’s only a suggestion, fans and professionals alike wondering what the future of the sport could look like.

Former NFL Linebacker Chris Draft played for the NFL for 12 years. He is also the Founder, President and CEO of the Chris Draft Family Foundation. Draft joins “Early Start” live from Atlanta this morning with his view on eliminating kickoffs.

“Kickoff was proven to…have the biggest impacts of any one play throughout the game of the NFL,” Draft says. “So making adjustments with that, or even just talking about adjustments really just says that the NFL is looking towards player safety. They’re always looking towards player safety.”