NFL bans ALL hits where player lowers head

[SHOWTIME15]

NFL Makes Significant Rule Change, Banning Players From Lowering Heads To Initiate Contact

edit: Players cannot hit ANYWHERE with the crown of the helmet, and it applies to both offensive and defensive players. 15 yard penalty and possible ejection.

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

Excellent with the new catch rule and this abomination we can have the refs making more judgment calls.... Perfect the NFL must be shooting for 5 Hour Games.

 

[maineman209]

NFL Makes Significant Rule Change, Banning Players From Lowering Heads To Initiate Contact


Wow, defensive players are getting jobbed. They cannot hit ANYWHERE with the crown of the helmet.

???

Shazier is lucky to be alive, much less walking around and thinking about playing football again. And he's the guy who lowered his helmet.

 

[signbabybrady]

This rule sux. But they have to do something to try and protect these brains.

To be fair the offense shouldn't be allowed to lower their heads either. Otherwise the ball carrier will almost always have leverage.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

???

Shazier is lucky to be alive, much less walking around and thinking about playing football again. And he's the guy who lowered his helmet.

Yeah but how’s a defensive player supposed to make a tackle now?

 

[maineman209]

This rule sux. But they have to do something to try and protect these brains.

To be fair the offense shouldn't be allowed to lower their heads either. Otherwise the ball carrier will almost always have leverage.

The ball-carrier is rarely the one initiating contact.

 

[Froob]

Isn’t there supposedly a rule against ball carriers doing this? Never seen it flagged.

 

[maineman209]

Yeah but how’s a defensive player supposed to make a tackle now?

With your head up.

Like the way the vast majority of actual wrap up tackles are performed.

Like I was taught back in junior high back in the early 60s: "Don't lower your head! You can break your damn neck doing it that way!"

 

[Jangles]

This rule sux. But they have to do something to try and protect these brains.

You'd think a minimum salary of $435k would take care of that

 

[RobertWeathers]

Isn’t there supposedly a rule against ball carriers doing this? Never seen it flagged.

It was passed as a rule in which ballcarriers cannot initiate forcible contact on a defensive player but yes- it is rarely called.

Perhaps it'll be a point of emphasis next season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

This rule sux. But they have to do something to try and protect these brains.

If people really gave a **** they'd ban football.

 

[PatriotSpy]

I'm in favor of protecting players but you can't totally screw the defense from being able to play defense. They need to let them contact receivers beyond 5 yards, say 10 yards just to give them a chance.

 

[Deus Irae]

The ball-carrier is rarely the one initiating contact.

Nonsense

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The ball-carrier is rarely the one initiating contact.

If you are a RB running head first across the goal line and you hit a defensive player, is that a penalty?

 

[PWRxWLF]

Yeah but how’s a defensive player supposed to make a tackle now?

You’ve clearly never played football.

 

[maust]

This rule sux. But they have to do something to try and protect these brains.

To be fair the offense shouldn't be allowed to lower their heads either. Otherwise the ball carrier will almost always have leverage.

NFL expands helmet-hit rule, working on targeting rule

"Applies to any player anywhere on the field."

 

[ausbacker]

NFL Makes Significant Rule Change, Banning Players From Lowering Heads To Initiate Contact


Wow, defensive players are getting jobbed. They cannot hit ANYWHERE with the crown of the helmet.

As someone from a country where contact sport players know how to execute a tackle properly, I've never been able to understand why NFL players lead with their helmets.

 

[Arialgg]

The only thing about this rule that bothers me is how it will be applied.. you know you'll have many games where the refs will let it go, and then randomly call it super tight on certain games. (Or against certain teams)
Going to be fascinating to watch. (Said no one ever)

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah but how’s a defensive player supposed to make a tackle now?

Huh? You don’t need to lead with your head to make a tackle

 

[Ring 6]

If you are a RB running head first across the goal line and you hit a defensive player, is that a penalty?

You understand the penalty does mean you have to be upright at contact, it means you can’t LEAD WITH YOUR HEAD don’t you?