Part of the reason the return game is so overpowered is because we don't have to be prepared for surprises. Rather than nerfing the returners -- which has happened with punt returns, apparently -- it would be more realistic to make a way for us to spring surprises in the kicking game.

Punt returns was definitely nerfed nearly 2 years ago. I shockingly had a Punt Return TD this past sim cycle and before that I cannot remember the last one I saw. (for real, returns beyond 5-10 yards never ever happen ....for like 2 years now!)

I'm sort of cool with that in that what was happening is if you were backed up in your own end zone and were punting the ball, eh, maybe 50% of the time you were giving up a touchdown. I like how it is now because I know what we're getting...it's all about pinning the opponent, field position game and not worrying about getting blown up. With Fake Punts now it triggers one's need to expose another defensive play to the game for the counter which can result in later hot reads or over-use messages.

As for the kick return game, I think it's fine. I don't see an over-saturated amount of kick return touchdowns and there's a good balance of when they crop up and when they don't.

Fake Field Goals? I'm cool with the kick a FG on 4th down or go for it options we have. I'd hate to lose a game.....a title game because my opponent snuck me by taking advantage of my special teams' defense and not off a normal defensive set.

Giving up a play slot for this would be pretty extreme. I was thinking of a slider (and I won't be the gazillionth person to complain about sliders, I doth protest too much as it is) in the miscellaneous section of the rules which would include some chance of a fake, 1 in 100 maybe. That would have the added benefit of sidestepping the overuse penalty issue.

I can load the kick return team with offensive lineman because they never have to handle the ball. I can load the punt return team with blockers because they never have to play defense. The way it is might be nice, but it isn't realistic at all.