Competition Committee to propose ban on leaping to block FG/PAT

[newenglandsports11]

Competition committee to propose ban on leaping to block kicks


Competition committee to propose ban on leaping to block kicks

*sees article* --> *checks list*

Paraphrasing here but guessing this meeting went something like this:

John Elway: How can we stop the Patriots from winning next year?
Ozzie Newsome: We lost a game because one of their guys jumped the line on a field goal, we should try disposing of that!

(applause and clapping)

Stephen Jones: Yeah, they have had Collins and McClellin do it in the past two years. It compromises the integrity of the shield.
Rich McKay: They tried it in the Super Bowl, luckily the refs f*cked up the call, but they are the only ones in the league with the personnel smart enough to actually complete it.
Mike Tomlin: We would've beat the Patriots in the AFC championship if their players weren't allowed to jump the line! Damn cheaters!
Marv Lewis: Didn't you guys deflate footballs too only to have it swept under the rug by Goodell, Mike?
Bruce Arians: You guys lost by 19 points, Mike...
John Mara: As long as we don't ban walkie talkies on the sideline!!

(laughter, Bill Polian enters)

Bill Polian: So.....let's ban leaping on field goals?
(unison agreement)

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Competition Committee likely to propose ban on FG/PAT leaps


It's not surprising, especially since the NFLPA proposed it and thus it's an easy way for the NFL to score some points (or at least not lose points) with the NFLPA, but the CompComm is expected to propose banning leaping over the line to FG and PAT attempts.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

No need to be so conspiratorial about it. This was originally proposed by the NFLPA and it's just good business for the NFL to throw the NFLPA an easy bone, even if it's a minor one.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

John Elway: How can we stop the Patriots from winning next year?
Ozzie Newsome: We lost a game because one of their guys jumped the line on a field goal, we should try disposing of that!

This is starting to remind me of those Hitler videos!

 

[jmt57]

No mention of how a new rule is adopted on a whim by the commissioner, without any vote.

 

[Froob]

No need to be so conspiratorial about it. This was originally proposed by the NFLPA and it's just good business for the NFL to throw the NFLPA an easy bone, even if it's a minor one.

True, NFLPA is out for safety, not boning the Patriots. No need for conspiracies that the NFLPA would for some reason be doing the comp committee a favor.

 

[maineman209]

No need to be so conspiratorial about it. This was originally proposed by the NFLPA and it's just good business for the NFL to throw the NFLPA an easy bone, even if it's a minor one.

Apparently, the play has been used more frequently in the past couple-three years, and not just by the Pats. Kam Chancellor was cited as "the master" of the move in one piece I read.

Anyway, the NFLPA proposed to ban it as a significant player safety issue before the play becomes even more widely used and teams begin to develop counter-measures that could result in significant injury.

 

[GodBrady]

Apparently, the play has been used more frequently in the past couple-three years, and not just by the Pats. Kam Chancellor was cited as "the master" of the move in one piece I read.

There was a game a couple years ago where Kam Chancellor did this on literally consecutive snaps!
Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor leaps to block two field goals

Personally, I don't like it. I was watching the CAR-NE game from the video above, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. It really is a dangerous play, and what I really hate is that it just feels sort of exploitative, like something you'd see in the XFL. What if Chancellor landed on a lineman with his cleats? What about these guys being flipped upside down and landing on their head/neck? Notice also that Chancellor runs into the kicker on the second attempt (the last thing we need is a 225 pound tank like Chancellor running into kickers).

I think the game is being "wussified", but this is one area where I'm okay with them emphasizing player safety. I do not like block attempts like this. They just feel tacky. If teams are making too many FG, then lower the width between the goalposts.

 

[mgteich]

1) This play is a Seattle idea.

2) The play is extremely dangerous.

IMHO, only paranoid fans should think that this is primarily about the patriots. Of course, we have many who believe that every NFL action must be patriot-related.

 

[brdmaverick]

Meh, I'm ok with this play being banned and qutie frankly was expecting it. It does feel dangerous for the players involved.

 

[Simpelton]

Frankly, I'd take hurdling out of the game entirely myself. It's a flashy exciting play and fun for the fans to watch, but it seems to me that it's a play with a very high risk of head injuries to the player getting vaulted.

Remember Legarritte Blount's hurdle against the Dolphins? Awesome play. Brilliant. Very enjoyable. He clipped the Dolphins player right in the freaking helmet with his cleat on his way past. Not a serious blow thank God. Guy went down, got up, was visibly fine, but that's still the sort of thing that's going to raise eyebrows with the competition committee and it's a matter of time before someone gets far more seriously hurt. More to the point it's the sort of thing we'd be loudly pissed about if one of our guys got a concussion over it. I don't see any reason not to be concerned about that kind of thing when it comes to big heavy running backs leaping over defenders -- and if you ban it for them, you really have to take the play away from everyone.

If the league is really that concerned about contact to the head, I'm really a little puzzled why they haven't already taken hurdling out of the game if I'm honest.

 

[DaBruinz]

There was a game a couple years ago where Kam Chancellor did this on literally consecutive snaps!
Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor leaps to block two field goals

Personally, I don't like it. I was watching the CAR-NE game from the video above, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. It really is a dangerous play, and what I really hate is that it just feels sort of exploitative, like something you'd see in the XFL. What if Chancellor landed on a lineman with his cleats? What about these guys being flipped upside down and landing on their head/neck? Notice also that Chancellor runs into the kicker on the second attempt (the last thing we need is a 225 pound tank like Chancellor running into kickers).

I think the game is being "wussified", but this is one area where I'm okay with them emphasizing player safety. I do not like block attempts like this. They just feel tacky. If teams are making too many FG, then lower the width between the goalposts.

1) This play is a Seattle idea.

2) The play is extremely dangerous.

IMHO, only paranoid fans should think that this is primarily about the patriots. Of course, we have many who believe that every NFL action must be patriot-related.

Could either of you cite the injuries that have occurred on said "Jumping the Line" plays that make it so dangerous? You aren't allowed to jump over the center, but you are allowed to come over the guards because they don't have their head down..

I look forward to the answers.

 

[TB_Helmet]

I think it's an awesome play but every time it's run there's a lot of confusion about the specific rule (where you can line up, when you can start running, etc.), including in the Super Bowl by both the announcers and the refs. That takes a lot of the fun out of it.

I like how Collins did it a lot and then we traded him and the McClellin started doing it. It's like we always needed one LB to be able to pull this off.

 

[deroc5050]

This is starting to remind me of those Hitler videos!

So funny I was thinking the exact same thing lmao.

 

[XLIX]

Could either of you cite the injuries that have occurred on said "Jumping the Line" plays that make it so dangerous? You aren't allowed to jump over the center, but you are allowed to come over the guards because they don't have their head down..

I look forward to the answers.

Are you *honestly* saying that because there have been no injuries yet, it is therefore a safe play and should be allowed?

 

[Simpelton]

True, do we really have to wait for tragedy to strike with a play this obviously dangerous?

Like I said, given the choice, I'd ban all vaulting plays. We all saw Blount clip a defender right in the head with his cleat, frankly we're lucky that wasn't worse. I don't want to wait until some poor kid has his career ended or worse before we do something about this.

 

[newenglandsports11]

True, do we really have to wait for tragedy to strike with a play this obviously dangerous?

Like I said, given the choice, I'd ban all vaulting plays. We all saw Blount clip a defender right in the head with his cleat, frankly we're lucky that wasn't worse. I don't want to wait until some poor kid has his career ended or worse before we do something about this.

If a player is athletic enough to attempt it, why not let them? It is an incredibly uncommon play, almost obscure but if a team has the personnel to get it done, why not allow it? There's a reason they test broad jump/vertical at the combine.

Think of it this way: if Ryan gets ATL into FG range for Bryant in the last minute, wouldn't we at least want the chance for McLellin to jump the line, even given the penalty risks? I'm guessing Carolina and St. Louis wish they had the chance to do it...

 

[Deus Irae]

Another stupid idea by the NFL. Change the old rules, leading to a new way of attack. Then ban that new way of attack instead of just dealing with the problem of the earlier rule.

Brilliant.

 

[1960Pats]

Frankly, I'd take hurdling out of the game entirely myself. It's a flashy exciting play and fun for the fans to watch, but it seems to me that it's a play with a very high risk of head injuries to the player getting vaulted.

Remember Legarritte Blount's hurdle against the Dolphins? Awesome play. Brilliant. Very enjoyable. He clipped the Dolphins player right in the freaking helmet with his cleat on his way past. Not a serious blow thank God. Guy went down, got up, was visibly fine, but that's still the sort of thing that's going to raise eyebrows with the competition committee and it's a matter of time before someone gets far more seriously hurt. More to the point it's the sort of thing we'd be loudly pissed about if one of our guys got a concussion over it. I don't see any reason not to be concerned about that kind of thing when it comes to big heavy running backs leaping over defenders -- and if you ban it for them, you really have to take the play away from everyone.

If the league is really that concerned about contact to the head, I'm really a little puzzled why they haven't already taken hurdling out of the game if I'm honest.

What do you propose that a runner do to avoid hurtling a tackler diving at his ankles?

 

[thecore762]

I'm okay with it being banned, could cause serious injuries to the center and possibly the guy jumping over if he doesn't jump high enough he could injure his legs or his jewels.