Comments on: New helmet-use rule is more narrow, limited than believed

By: dcowboy4life

dcowboy4life — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:20:59 +0000

Good grief! Do you “so-called” football fans not care if any player gets concussions, broken necks, paralyzed or killed?? This rule is to PROTECT players. If you don’t like it, simply don’t watch! That simple!

By: dallascowboysdishingthereal

dallascowboysdishingthereal — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:45:52 +0000

Currently the NFL is enjoying a peak in popularity however these rule changes designed to make the game completely safe will water down the product and eventually popularity will suffer.

It reminds me of how NASCAR went. More safe now than ever but not as popular as before.

By: ytownjoe

ytownjoe — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:08:45 +0000

If we’re going to have powder puff football and eliminate the violence, let’s hope they start a women’s league. No pads, no helmets and tight fitting uniforms. Watch which league gets the ratings.

By: petedutcher

petedutcher — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:25:15 +0000

“The facemask and hairline of the helmet may still be used to initiate contact.”

So…if a tackler is coming at the guy with an Arm Bar grab/tackle…wouldn’t that cause a major neck injury???

This new rule is going to cause more injuries than ever. And it isn’t about player safety…it’s about making teams pass more than run…because passing games are more exciting.

By: fordwuzanazi

fordwuzanazi — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:18:49 +0000

Everyone notice it says defenders will not be allowed to lower their heads when tackling a ball carrier too.

By: mumfio

mumfio — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:32:01 +0000

justintuckrule,
Please provide a link proving WR’s have more concussions than ever before since the “defenseless receiver” rule was put in place. To say a rule that penalizes defenses for hitting receivers has actually increased concussions seems ludicrous. It would seem db’s would just want to blow up anyone in their path if they weren’t penalized or fined for it. A penalty & fine would more than likely DECREASE concussions.

Even if you are right about increased concussions, it would probably be due more to the fact that WR’s are getting more passes thrown their way. More catches = more hits. Not the rule.

By: mumfio

mumfio — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:52:01 +0000

People, please explain why players not being allowed to use their helmet as a weapon is going to ruin football. There is no reason a player should intentionally use the crown of the helmet to hit another player. Spearing has been an illegal play for as long as I have been watching football. This is just expanding on the original spearing rule. What’s the problem?

By: justintuckrule

justintuckrule — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:14:13 +0000

@mumfio – the WRs shouldn’t go up for uncatchable passes then. If the risk was placed back on WRs and their QBs where it used to belong, you would see less of those types of hits.

There’s more concussions on WRs now then ever before. The rule isn’t working! It’s encouraging WRs to be more fearless. The ground causes just as many concussions as the hit themselves.

By: bobbybrown3

bobbybrown3 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:54:47 +0000

Plain and Simple there are going to be missed calls on this. I remember the Kam Chancellor hit on Vernon Davis last year that was arguably the most violent hit of the year; but it was perfectly clean legal hit!!! However he got a 15 yd penalty because it “looked” bad, same thing is going to happen, RB lowers his shoulder hits a DB hard and he’s going to get flagged if it “looks bad”

By: istallion

istallion — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:51:11 +0000

The NFL needs to be aggressive in protecting its assets, ESP from head injuries.

By: CP

CP — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:27:08 +0000

It’s not going to trickle down to the lower levels of the sport, because the lower levels aren’t as stupid as the NFL.

It will also open the door to another league.

By: turner28

turner28 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:25:40 +0000

clincoln007 says:
Mar 20, 2013 3:00 PM
Tell me if I’m missing something….this rule now makes a goalline dive an illegal play? If your on the 1 you have to run standing straight up into a wall of 300lb elephants!

————–

You are missing something.

By: hmpennypacker

hmpennypacker — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:10:18 +0000

Isn’t this a rule that applies to open field tackling? In which case it wouldn’t apply to getting through the line of scrimmage? If thats the case I don’t think this rule is bad at all. It might also answer some questions about why James Harrison is not getting work.

By: purplepunisher

purplepunisher — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:41:14 +0000

NFL = Not Football League

The NFL version is quickly becoming something other then football. Sorry to say these constant rule changes are driving me to other sports.

P.S. College football don’t listen to the NFL, you will soon be the king of sports and the NFL will be like the NBA.

By: jamief3

jamief3 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:40:24 +0000

I’d rather watch the lingerie league if they’re gonna powder puff it up. the first time someone drops his shoulder and turns his head and gets his neck broken, we will have another round of lawsuits. sign a waiver if you don’t know football can be dangerous.

By: santogigantepatriota

santogigantepatriota — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:34:38 +0000

Know it when you see it. Top of the helmet. Forcible. Not subject to review. Great guidance!

By: rodh32340

rodh32340 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:29:57 +0000

NFL=National Federation of Lawyers

By: pillowporkers

pillowporkers — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:26:55 +0000

I’m so glad they clarified this. It’s only in the OPEN FIELD 1 on 1 is when the penalty will be called…

TRANSLATION: Only on big gains (potentially before half, 4th quarter drives) will the penalty be called, resulting in 25 yard+ game changing, field position killing penalties. I feel so much better now about the new rule.

By: norcalsportsknowledge

norcalsportsknowledge — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:21:53 +0000

Judgement calls are bad for the sport and need to be reviewable. One bad call can change a game, one game can change a season.

By: christophershearin

christophershearin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:20:47 +0000

i want a replacement commish………….

By: bleedsoe9mm

bleedsoe9mm — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:15:55 +0000

@humbleminded85
ya i don’t need to watch it ridley was 100 % responsible , he lowered his head . now maybe rb’s will be taught not to do that

By: cliffordc05

cliffordc05 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:13:44 +0000

There have been different reports on the number of times this rule would have been in effect last year. One report on ESPN claimed that it would have impacted 11 plays during the entire 2012 season while Florio’s figure is 11 times in three games. Clarification please….

By: buminaroundbrown

buminaroundbrown — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:12:01 +0000

So does this means that the greatest power back of all time Earl Campbell would have been penalized for the greatest run in MNF history . When he hit the corner put his head down and demolished the Dolphins linebacker ?

By: tennesseeoilers

tennesseeoilers — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:11:57 +0000

What?!? You mean Jeff Fisher isn’t a tool?!?

… Wake up, people. For a moment there, PFT fans were sounding as foolish as the Nashvillians who were (notice the past tense?) glad he left town.

By: rtant2013

rtant2013 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:09:00 +0000

You guys ate ridiculous if you think this rule is stupid. First it will be fairly easy to call, to lead with the crown of your helmet you have your entire body bent over pretty much, its totally different positioning of the body between leading with the hairline and the crown of the helmet. Secondly, your taught not to do this in pop warner, you never lower your head and lead with it. Thirdly, look at the injuries this would have saved not only to RBs like Ridley in the Ravens game but the LaGrande kid from college who was paralyzed because he led with his helmet on a tackle on special teams. This is a great move in safety, and won’t change the game at all. Like I said your told not to do this when you first start playing football, guys in the NFL should already know this is stupid and can seriously injure you.

By: heyzeus143

heyzeus143 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:05:18 +0000

Stupid, leaves the door open for someone to get screwed

By: larryboodry

larryboodry — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:04:23 +0000

brownsfanincali says: Mar 20, 2013 2:27 PM

“eh…. I was wasting too many Sundays on the NFL anyways, I’ll get more done around the house anyways.”

You’ll be back, anyways.

By: southbeachtalent

southbeachtalent — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:03:24 +0000

kh221 says:
Mar 20, 2013 2:21 PM
Look forward to this call being called incorrectly all season long. Goodell is ruining football.
___________________________________

No, broke players that mis-managed their money and greedy lawyers DESTROYED football.

By: lovefootball4life

lovefootball4life — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:03:24 +0000

So I’m a running back, a defender grabbed me around the waist which is causing me to lead forward. I lunge forward for that one last yard I need for the first down just as another defender arrives in front to prevent me from getting that last yard. The lunge causes the crown of my helmet to hit him because I am nearly horizontal. Penalty for me?

I am not looking forward to the time this rule ends a critical drive or stops a touchdown.

By: larryboodry

larryboodry — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:02:58 +0000

I was all in on this clarification, until I got to the ‘judgement call’ part…We all know NFL referees have no judgement.