NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay and NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said Wednesday on a conference call that they are planning to crack down ever further on players’ hits against defenseless opponents.

“When warranted, suspensions will be an effective discipline for us,” Anderson said. “We don’t want to go there, but we will do that. We need to be aggressive in disciplining.”

Added Anderson: “In 2011, if there are repeat offenders or flagrant violators, we are going to hold them aggressively accountable, even if it means suspension — some folks believe that suspension is the real messenger in terms of serious enforcement. Some of the hits we had this year, particularly if it’s a repeat offender, that person and that club should know that having that person sit out a game — or multiple games in certain circumstances — is very much on the table.”

Another topic of discussion was kickoffs. McKay said the committee is proposing moving the kickoff back to the 35-yard line (from the 30) and giving the receiving team the ball at the 25 instead of the 20 in an effort to encourage touchbacks and cut down on kickoff injuries.

“The injury rate on kickoffs remains a concern for us,” McKay said.

Another proposed change would be to have replay officials examine all scoring plays for review rather than rely on coaches to make a challenge.

The proposals are scheduled to be voted on by owners an next week’s annual NFL meeting.

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