- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Messages
- 20,536
- Reaction score
- 1
NFL rule changes put safety first - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Four of the seven changes put forth by the competition committee involve player safety, including one that aims to provide added protection for wide receivers.
If it passes, it would prohibit defenders from launching themselves at receivers that have not established position on the ground and are deemed defenseless by officials. Under current NFL rules, only helmet-to-helmet contact with defenseless receivers is not permitted.
Two hits by Steelers free safety Ryan Clark that did not draw penalties last season — one against Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker and another on Ravens running back Willis McGahee in the AFC Championship Game — would likely become illegal if the proposed change to the rules is made.