The RB position is already so devalued in this league, if this rule passes they might as well eliminate the position altogether.

Next they will make a rule that eliminates the 3 point stance for offensive and defensive lineman, yeah like thats gonna prevent these guys from banging heads on every play.

This is just getting rediculous, we’ll save your head but end your career with leg injuries instead.

You can’t legislate the violence out of the game. It’s a violent game by nature.

well, flag football is on it’s way…just a dumb rule change, but designed to eventually eliminate the running back position in 10yrs or less.
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Totally agree. The lawyers and P.C. crowd are going to legislate and litigate the sport out of existence. I guess it’s time to embrace soccer…

Roger, if you are that worried about safety, you can start by getting rid of all those in-season Thursday night games for which the only purpose is to get the NFL’s network exposure it can’t merit on its own otherwise. Those games force players back into action three days earlier than normal for no good reason (outside of your wallet).

When you get rid of these games, get back to us on this rule.

They teach you growing up NOT to use your head. This guy should be no exception. If he’s the “greatest” as some of the Viking fans claim, he should be able to adjust his play and be just as good.

But guys like AP or Steven Jackson this is a career ending rule. Taller backs with upright running styles and body types need to lower their heads at the time of impact otherwise they will take all of those shots direct to the legs.

It would be impossible for AP or Jackson to survive an NFL season without the ability to lower their heads. If the NFL passes this rule, they should at least have the decency to pay off the contracts of all current running backs so teams can cut them and change to pass only offense.

I thought the language of the rule was that a running back cannot “lead with the crown of their helmet.” Or am I wrong about that?

If so, then what it’s aimed at is easily distinguishable from simply “Lowering your shoulder” and putting the pads into another player or busting through an arm tackle.

Only in RARE circumstances where a RB accidentally (or intentionally) makes contact with a defender’s helmet or chest or whatever.. with the CROWN of their helmet would it be called.

Am I misunderstanding the language of the rule?

The rule does NOT state “No RB can ever under any circumstances move their head even 1 millimeter down towards the plane of the ground”….

Second of all, it only applies in the open field, not in the tackle box.

Everyone acts like this rule would mean runners have to run bolt upright and completely defenseless. Utter nonsense.

Everyone complained that defenders were getting penalized for hitting offensive players in the head when the offensive player lowered his head to take the shot. So they try to eliminate that possibility, and everyone complains about that.

A runner in the open field should be taking defenders shots by lowering his pads and rotating his shoulder into the hit. I guarantee no runner was taught when they first started playing football to lead with their heads down in the open field when the defender has a full head of steam. This is another case of players forming bad habits over their careers and not wanting to change.

FilthyMcnasty: Wow. The best running back, possibly in history, is an “idiot.”

I’m glad you agree.

There it is somewhat respectable GB fans. You wonder why Vike fans pounce on your team updates. His comments are well thought & wise enough to warrant replies.

With Defensive backs also starting to aim low more to avoid penalties it seems dangerous to make running backs feel as if they will have to stay more upright. Especially on the outside runs a corner or safety is going to being going low on them. I would think that would spell even more career threatening leg injuries.