NFL: "Pansy league"

[Box_O_Rocks]

NFL: Are the rule-makers making the game "soft"? - ESPN

Published: July 8, 2009
Heed the cry of the tough guys
Some of the NFL's safeguards have gone too far, and its appeal is at risk

By Jeffri Chadiha
ESPN.com

Recently retired NFL safety Rodney Harrison blasted the league a few months back, and his criticisms shouldn't be quickly forgotten. He called the NFL "soft." He claimed it had turned into a "pansy league." These were the kind of words that certainly will call attention to Harrison's newfound broadcasting career. But they were also comments that weren't too far off the mark.

 

[RayClay]

Wiley seems intelligent and well spoken. How did he get on TV? Mistakes can happen, I guess. Ooh, he called Rodney dirty.

You've got to watch your stuff when you're at the QB. That's show biz, the fans didn't buy a ticket to watch the linebackers. Seems like a silly rule, but they'll figure out how to call it or get rid of it. It isn't like they don't overprotect them already.

 

[DarrylS]

Do not have an issue with protecting the QB, my issue is with some of the other rules.. i.e. the "wedge" rule...that is idiotic, one of the most exciting times in a football game gets watered down...

Rodney will be an excellent commentator.. and will go far in that field.

 

[Julius]

I don't have any problems with forcing pass rushers to avoid diving at or rolling into the quarterbacks knees(Pittsburgh). You can pass rush without trying to go that low, players can adjust to this rule and still pass rush.
My beef is with the way receivers are allowed to use their hands to create separation and defenders get flagged for breathing on a receiver. The safety issues are less of a concern than the manipulation of the rules in favor of offenses.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

The "Brady Rule" itself goes too far by stating you must get back to your feet to tackle. So basically if your right next to the Quarterback and can disrupt the play, you couldn't do it because your not on your feet? All you have to say is simply do not lunge at the QB's legs. You can still tackle or disrupt the QB if your not on your feet without causing injury.

Don't need these stupid rules, just simply say don't lunge at the knees. If they do it's a flag. If a players going to do it he's going to do it, a new paragraph in the rulebook is not going to change that anyway.

 

[Pats726]

Wiley seems intelligent and well spoken. How did he get on TV? Mistakes can happen, I guess. Ooh, he called Rodney dirty.

Wiley seems what?? I guess you missed some of what he said a few years ago during Lie-gate times..I do not recall exactly but..it was neither intelligent nor well spoken..and I wondered why he was on...

 

[Ring 6]

The "Brady Rule" itself goes too far by stating you must get back to your feet to tackle. So basically if your right next to the Quarterback and can disrupt the play, you couldn't do it because your not on your feet? All you have to say is simply do not lunge at the QB's legs. You can still tackle or disrupt the QB if your not on your feet without causing injury.

Don't need these stupid rules, just simply say don't lunge at the knees. If they do it's a flag. If a players going to do it he's going to do it, a new paragraph in the rulebook is not going to change that anyway.

Ultimately we are going to end up with 'in the grasp' rules that only allow defenders to wrap up and not tackle the QB. That is where this is headed, but it is being done slowly.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Not pansy: defending players from hits to the head/helmet. The hit on Welker vs. the Steelers and the hit on McGahee (also vs. the Steelers -- same player?) were outrageously dangerous.

Pansy: players who collapse in a heap every time a defender goes near them -- particularly punters and a quarterback who plays for Indianapolis. No place in football for drama queens!

 

[efin98]

Ultimately we are going to end up with 'in the grasp' rules that only allow defenders to wrap up and not tackle the QB. That is where this is headed, but it is being done slowly.

Already there with the "slide" rule...not much of a stretch to go the distance and put them out of all contact.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Pansy: players who collapse in a heap every time a defender goes near them -- particularly punters and a quarterback who plays for Indianapolis. No place in football for drama queens!

Eli Manning did this early in his career as well. In fact, there were many commentators and players if I'm not mistaken, criticizing him for not fully stepping into his throws when defenders had a clear shot at him. Instead, Manning would lackadaisically throw the football and turn his back out of the pocket as quickly as possible. However, he obviously showed how tough he is in '07's super bowl.

The "Brady Rule" itself goes too far by stating you must get back to your feet to tackle. So basically if your right next to the Quarterback and can disrupt the play, you couldn't do it because your not on your feet? All you have to say is simply do not lunge at the QB's legs. You can still tackle or disrupt the QB if your not on your feet without causing injury.

Don't need these stupid rules, just simply say don't lunge at the knees. If they do it's a flag. If a players going to do it he's going to do it, a new paragraph in the rulebook is not going to change that anyway.

I completely disagree that you think the rules are lame. What Bernard Pollard did was cheap and there is no excuse for it. He was clearly beat by Morris on the play, but the a**hole had the nerve to get up just enough to dive head first into Brady's knee cap. You don't dive head first into a person's legs when they were as vulnerable as Brady was. In fact, that very hit could've ended Brady's career. You say that a player can disrupt a play without diving at another person's knees? Without getting on your feet, there is no other way to disrupt the play besides going after somebody's feet or legs while they are stationary.

 

[mgcolby]

Not pansy: defending players from hits to the head/helmet. The hit on Welker vs. the Steelers and the hit on McGahee (also vs. the Steelers -- same player?) were outrageously dangerous.

You are wrong! The hit on Welker was border line because he could have pulled up, but instead took the extra step to make the hit. That is football!!! Tough hardnose football that makes receivers scared to go over the middle. If you are a receiver and don't want to get hit like that don't leave your feet! Its called intimidation and it is severely missing in today's football. Do you think Ronnie Lott doesn't take that extra step and make the hit?

The hit on McGahee was a perfectly legit. Both players tried to get lower than the other, again that is football.

Not trying to be an ass, but it has been my experience that people who have never actually played the game tend to take your point of view.

Football is a dangerous sport and these rules only make more dangerous. Because now you have defenders not only trying to make a play but also being conscience of where and how they make that play. This IMO could lead to even more lower body injuries on the defensive side of the ball. But that is ok because it is all about money and the revenue comes from the QB and WR spot.

Pansy: players who collapse in a heap every time a defender goes near them -- particularly punters and a quarterback who plays for Indianapolis. No place in football for drama queens!

The NFL by way of rule changes is making every QB and receiver a queen!

And sorry Manning is far from what you describe, does he try to avoid the hit? Sure most players do. But he has drastically improved his play outside of the pocket and he has always stood in the and delivered the ball.

 

[mgcolby]

I completely disagree that you think the rules are lame. What Bernard Pollard did was cheap and there is no excuse for it. He was clearly beat by Morris on the play, but the a**hole had the nerve to get up just enough to dive head first into Brady's knee cap. You don't dive head first into a person's legs when they were as vulnerable as Brady was. In fact, that very hit could've ended Brady's career. You say that a player can disrupt a play without diving at another person's knees? Without getting on your feet, there is no other way to disrupt the play besides going after somebody's feet or legs while they are stationary.

Football players are taught not to quit. Pollard didn't quit and did what he could to get there. Unfortunately it was in concert with Brady stepping up. He is not an ******* for doing his job and playing all out.

Really some of you people need to establish a better understanding of a football players mentality and what they are taught from the time they strap up.

If a kid on my youth football team fell down and chose to lay there and not get back up or make an effort to make a play, he would be benched!

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Football players are taught not to quit. Pollard didn't quit and did what he could to get there. Unfortunately it was in concert with Brady stepping up. He is not an ******* for doing his job and playing all out.

Really some of you people need to establish a better understanding of a football players mentality and what they are taught from the time they strap up.

If a kid on my youth football team fell down and chose to lay there and not get back up or make an effort to make a play, he would be benched!

I have no problem with Pollard not quitting on the play, but be a man, get your a** on your feet and make a tackle. Going after someone legs makes you look like a p****. Also the legendary Roy Williams horse collar tackle is the biggest "I'm a p**** and have to drag you down by the collar because I can't tackle" tackle there is in the NFL.

 

[Deus Irae]

You are wrong! The hit on Welker was border line because he could have pulled up, but instead took the extra step to make the hit. That is football!!! Tough hardnose football that makes receivers scared to go over the middle. If you are a receiver and don't want to get hit like that don't leave your feet! Its called intimidation and it is severely missing in today's football. Do you think Ronnie Lott doesn't take that extra step and make the hit?

Helmet-to-helmet contact there is against the rules. The was nothing borderline about that call. It was absolutely a dirty play. The league defending it was a disgrace.

 

[mgcolby]

Helmet-to-helmet contact there is against the rules. The was nothing borderline about that call. It was absolutely a dirty play. The league defending it was a disgrace.

"Using any part of a player’s helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/hairline parts) or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily; although such violent or unnecessary use of the helmet is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protect those players who are in virtually defenseless postures.”

You can't avoid all helmet to helmet contact. And that is what this rule states. Clarke led with the shoulder and McGahee tried to get lower which led to inadvertent helmet contact.

 

[mgcolby]

I have no problem with Pollard not quitting on the play, but be a man, get your a** on your feet and make a tackle. Going after someone legs makes you look like a p****. Also the legendary Roy Williams horse collar tackle is the biggest "I'm a p**** and have to drag you down by the collar because I can't tackle" tackle there is in the NFL.

Going after someone's legs when they have the ball is playing football. Whether you have to crawl, dive, grab a shoelace etc.. it doesn't matter as long as the opponent goes down.

Football is an inherently dangerous sport. Accidents and injuries happen and that will never change. I think the over regulation of how a player can hit or tackle another player will only lead to more injuries.

But then again I don't like the defenseless reciever rule either, so maybe I'm in the minority with Rodney. If you are on a football field it is your duty to stay alert and if you leave your feet you should be prepared for the consequences of that. It's what seperates the men from the boys.

I don't remember Welker crying about his hit. And Brady came out and said he didn't have a problem with what Pollard did.

Now dirty is going after someones knees in the open field behind the play ALA Ronnie Brown(?) on Vrabel in week 3 last year. That was dirty!

 

[Scouse Patriot]

I completely disagree that you think the rules are lame. What Bernard Pollard did was cheap and there is no excuse for it. He was clearly beat by Morris on the play, but the a**hole had the nerve to get up just enough to dive head first into Brady's knee cap. You don't dive head first into a person's legs when they were as vulnerable as Brady was. In fact, that very hit could've ended Brady's career. You say that a player can disrupt a play without diving at another person's knees? Without getting on your feet, there is no other way to disrupt the play besides going after somebody's feet or legs while they are stationary.

Yes, thats why my post clearly objected to lunging at knees. However, the idea that you can't tackle unless your on your feet is taking the concept of protecting the player too far for my liking and it's ruining how defenders can play the game. So players can't scramble and try to wrap up or tackle the QB up round the waist or thighs just because they might not be on both feet? Theres tons of senarios were a defender rushing the QB can get knocked down in the process, scramble and still cleanly attempt to tackle the QB. To say there isn't is being simplistic towards the game.

Pollard was in no position to make a clean tackle and had no business charging into Brady's knee but thats an isolated incident that shouldn't require wholesale changes into that particular rule. All they need to do is keep it the same, don't lunge at the QB below the knee. Thats pretty clear to me.

Theres a difference between being dirty and just trying to play football. If the QB gets hurt from a defender legitimately trying to tackle him from whatever position he finds himself in I'd say that was just part of the game. It's no coincidence a good percentage of defensive players in the league are p!ssed off.

 

[Dino 6 Rings]

I don't have any problems with forcing pass rushers to avoid diving at or rolling into the quarterbacks knees(Pittsburgh). .

Boy someone is mad about a t-shirt. One moron makes a tasteless t-shirt and now My QB shoud be injured for it.

 

[Deus Irae]

"Using any part of a player’s helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/hairline parts) or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily; although such violent or unnecessary use of the helmet is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protect those players who are in virtually defenseless postures.”

You can't avoid all helmet to helmet contact. And that is what this rule states. Clarke led with the shoulder and McGahee tried to get lower which led to inadvertent helmet contact.

On the Welker hit, he didn't lead with his shoulder. That was the hit being talked about. Replays clearly showed it going helmet to helmet.

 

[TrueBeliever]

Not exactly the same thing, but when people start saying the NFL has gotten too soft, I'm reminded of Vince McMahon bellowing how his new XFL would do away with all the "sissy rules" and "just let 'em play." Like his ridiculous idea to not protect kick/punt returners... until he learned that it's hard to concentrate on catching the ball when there's a strong likelihood of being plowed into by two guys running at you full bore. So then he invented the new and improved "5-yard halo" rule, which was basically the same thing as the "sissy rule" he threw out.

Just my $.02.