The New NFL - all offense

Loved Clark's comments yesterday about how am I supposed to tackle anyone without getting a penalty??? You can't hit them high and now they are going to look at shots low, especially around the knee. Goodell might as well put flags on them and turn this into a 7 on 7 game. And don't kid yourself this has nothing to do with player safety but everything to do with the potential lawsuits...

 

I think Clark's right that the hitting rules are getting a bit silly. But really you could trace this back to the Blount rule in the '70s. I don't think it's that new.

The problem for me is more that, just like last season, it seems that the refs are having changes brought in which are dependent on the kind of view that can only really come from replay. In the heat of the moment, the rules on hitting are basically asking the refs to make a call on something that is virtually impossible to judge without the benefit of looking at it from several angles. And in the absence of those angles, I tihnk that refs will call the penalty rather than not call it.

 

Well, I agree that the new rules of hitting are subjective, definitely don't think you should hit a player around the knees. The strike zone should be between below the neck and thighs. And this includes the chop block on linemen. Unless you make contact with the front of thigh.

Plus everyone is trying to make the "big hit" instead of just wrapping up the ball carrier with your arms.

I believe that the refs call these penalties based on the severity of the hit not within the rules that are laid out. When ever you see a big hit regardless of where the contact is it usually results in a penalty.

 

Well, Of course it is!

That reminds me, I have to go study for my Fantasy Football Draft.

And don't think that I'm wrong here. It probably has more influence than one might think.

 

What kills me is that the Clowney hit last year in the bowl game would now be called a penalty. Could you imagine the outrage if there is a big situation in which a RB/QB/WR gets hit hard legally, fumbles and changes momentum in a playoff or Superbowl game only to have it called back because of a subjective penalty call? This is a violent game played by only the top athletes in the world. There are going to be big hits and they get paid well because they are doing something more dangerous than being an accountant. These guys know what the risks are when they are becoming professional football players. Get rid of the cut blocks and the illegal hits but football is about stopping or separating the person with or from the ball. Until that rule changes it is going to result in hard tackles etc.

I would get it if RG was really doing this for player safety but I have to believe this is about the potential lawsuits and his and the owners fear of that lawsuit. But there are too many things that he would have to remove to make it a truly safe game.

 

I hear ya, Hawkeye, but I think you`re preaching to the choir!
I mean, really, complainin about limiting big defensive hits, on a STEELERS message board?!?!
LOL, just messin with ya.
Of course the majority of us agree with you! We`re STEELER fans fer cryin out loud!!
I do think you`re completely right, tho.
Esp, the part about making contact to seperate the player from the ball... That`s as basic a concept as there is, and always has been, in the game!
I also agree that it`s way too subjective.
Basically the ref`s call ANY devastating hit a penalty, and ask questions later... What a crock!
Happened to Ryan Clark 2 years ago, where Tomlin showed his hit as a perfect example of how to make a clean, hard hit, when reviewing the tape with the team after the game...
Then Clark got fined for the hit... What a joke!
I also agree with what Silverback pointed out while he was the "posterchild" for the helmet to helmet rule...
If I can`t hit `em high, I`m gonna aim for the knees.
Where do ya think a player would prefer I aim?!?, While adding he would pay another playr`s fine for hitting him high, so his knees didn`t get targeted.
(Not that he was being targeted to tackle, too often, just after interceptions or fumble recoveries, but still, his point was made.)
Now, their is one area, where I can agree with an opposing viewpoint.
That`s when it is brought up that players are too consumed with looking for the "knockout hit", as opposed to a textbook tackle.
As much as I like to see Troy, or Ryan, just LIGHT up an opponent, it still bothers me a bit, that most NFL players just do NOT tackle fundamentally properly.
I believe there would be far fewer missed tackles, if they just lowered a shoulder(not the head), into the belt buckle, and wrapped both arms behind the knees, and DROVE the player into the ground from there.
It`s still a hard hit, and has a punishing effect on the ballcarrier, but it doesn`t make the "highlight reel"...
I`ve heard a lot of former players say they were coached to put their facemask between the numbers on the chest, and wrap from there, but that`s not what I was taught...
Head up, yes, so you can see what your tackling, but I was taught to put the shoulder into the midsection, less chance of neck injury there, and still quite effective.
Oh well, minor quibble.
Point is, yes Goodell is trying to legislate the violence out of a violent game...
Not gonna happen, and result in the same sport...
Like ya said, they know what they are signing up for.
Let `em play, and let us watch!!!
Ya ain`t gonna sell all those tickets to a "flag football" game!
GO STEELERS!!!

 

A good friend of mine also a Steeler fan said have all incoming players sign a waiver stating they understand the consequences of playing the game and the potential of life shortening or debilitating injuries.

I do agree with the lack of fundamentals in the pro game. Too many guys looking for the big hit vs. just making the tackle. My son who is in first grade and plays pop Warner and tackle, his coaches really focus on fundamentals and head up tackling. So the hope is proper tackling will start to find its way back into the game.

 

Pretty sure you had to sign a "waiver" to let ur kid play in whatever league he`s in...
Why not the same all the way up to the Pro`s?
Get the lawyers out of the game.
NOBODY has a gun put to their head to play the game...
It would be nice, tho, if the league would take care of their own, ..
Fair is fair...After all...
And too many former players have been screwed by the league they helped build.
I ain`t sayin it should be settled in the courts, where common sense goes out the window,...
But If you have a Multi-billlion dollar industry, like the NFL does, wouldn`t it just make sense to take care of the players that got it there?
And have a simple health care plan in place, to take care of the ones who still wanna play, and risk their health, to do it?
I know I am talkin outta both sides of my mouth, but, it seems to me, there has to be a simple solution to sayin..
"Hey, you wanna risk your life to play a game you love, and help us sell ungodly amounts of advertising dollars?... Cool... You sign this form, and we will take care of whatever medical bills you incur, down the road, but you aint allowed to sue us, for said medical bills+ pain and suffering.."...
I just don`t get it.
Yes, it doesn`t make up for the ones who made the game what it is, like Mike Webster, but, we gotta start somewhere, if we wanna keep playin/watchin this game we all love...
Otherwise, The Lawyers, And the Politicians, are just gonna outlaw this "brutal" sport....
Or Goodell is just gonna turn it into somethin that is NOT American Football...
There has to be a common sense compromise somewhere...
Rant Over.
Sorry...
GO STEELERS!!!

 

These guys are aware of the dangers of playing a violent sport and I'm sure each one of them have heard that term at some point in their careers. I never had a coach tell me I was playing a tame sport or a mildy hurtful sport or a could possible make you uncomfortable sport. No, they used things like violent, take your head off, hit hard enough to see snot bubbles etc. These guys know. I have never heard a rookie, just before he signs his contract, say, "Hmm, you know I could be crippled or maimed when I play this game! You know what, I pass on playing in the NFL. I think I will use the degree that football allowed me to get and go do something in that field. Oh the millions I will be missing out on? No, they aren't worth my health!". I can't say I ever heard that come from any player. If you really want to know what the decline of civilization is look no further than what this game is turning into. Little Johnny I know you suck and can't run for crap. I know you came in last place on the run and, honestly, you didn't even finish it but don't worry we are all winners here. Here is your blue ribbon, the same one little Jimmy got for coming in first. I'm sure little Johnny that this life lesson will serve you well when you realize you don't have to work for anything, can't read and get passed from grade to grade, knock-up little Suzie rotten crotch, get some kind of equal opportunity scholarship, gradieate, wonder why no one will hire you and then live off of the rest of the people that had to learn to work for a living. Whoa...had an out of body experience here, sorry, rant is over...nothing to see here!

 

This will be the last time I ever mention this again, the players know what they signed up for. That they could be harmed/maimed for life playing the game they love. Football is a violent game played by violent
people, if you don't like the potential consequences don't sign up. Rookie league min. is what about 400K/yr, avg Pa salary is what about 48K so say you are lucky to stay in the league for 4 years (the league avg),lets see even doing the new math thats about 1.6 million large. So I get my 48 k/yr and 33 years later I make the 1.6 million the football player made in 4years.PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE TO SIGN. Lets face it, these guys live large, they don't give a **** about you and me. They live a totally different life style than Joe Blow.What would they be doing, if they weren't playing football? Only they can answer that question.

 

There's mixed ideas in this thread.

The players signing up to play aren't the people changing the rules - the rule change committee is. So surely "what you sign up for" makes little difference to the extreme technicalities on tackling that seem to be getting more and more complex.

I'm probably oversimplifying things here, though.

 

What I'm getting is that the non-arbitrary fines that are really ticking these guys off.

Once again the players who voted for the agreement have egg on their faces and Clark who was a big opponent of the current set-up is looking like the "I told you so".