NFL Rule Changes: What’s Next, Leather Helmets?
To be expected, these tweaks to the rulebook come with mixed feelings by both present and former players as well as fans and the media. Is the league going soft and being overly protective to avoid future insurance payouts and liability on their end?
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Yesterday the NFL owners voted on four new rule changes to be implemented for the 2013 season at their annual meetings.
To be expected, these tweaks to the rulebook come with mixed feelings by both present and former players as well as fans and the media. Is the league going soft and being overly protective to avoid future insurance payouts and liability on their end? Some say just let these guys play the violent sport that they signed up for and are paid the big bucks to play. Others are of the ilk that one of these days an athlete is going to die on the field. Not that you asked, but my personal feeling is somewhere in the middle.
Rules That Are In
*The Crown-of-the-Helmet Rule
In perhaps the most controversial of the new rules established by the owners, a player will now be penalized 15 yards for initiating contact on another with the crown of his helmet. This only applies to tackle attempts made outside the tackle box and “incidental contact” will not draw a flag.
This should be interesting. Officials are going to have their hands full trying to not only decipher if a player was out of the tackle box, but what their intention was going forward. I have a feeling this one rule will add a significant amount of time to the clock and guys will be opening up the ol’ checkbook more frequently.
* The Peel-back Block Rule
This can also be referred to as the Brian Cushing rule. After Cushing suffered a season-ending knee injury on this type of block, the owners have decided to outlaw it completely.
The block occurs when a player blocks an opponent below the waist after approaching from the side or behind. Until this point, the type of block was only illegal inside the tackle box.
Rules That are Out
*The Tuck Rule
Raiders fan rejoice! The end has come for the one of the most controversial rules in the recent game of football.
Tom Brady’s infamous play against the Raiders in the playoffs in 2001 has had football folks up in arms ever since. Brady lost the ball as he pump-faked and then brought it back to his body. It was called an incompletion and the Patriots retained possession of the football. That same play in 2013 will now be considered a fumble. Well done, NFL owners, finally, the right call.
* The Unnecessary-Challenge Rule
Another ridiculous rule out the window. This one nailed Jim Schwartz and the Lions on Thanksgiving day last season.
Schwartz threw the challenge flag on a Texans touchdown run, however all scoring plays are reviewed making his challenge extraneous.
The previous rule meant that for whatever ridiculous reason, the play could no longer be reviewed. I know, totally absurd. Under the new rule, throwing an illegal challenge flag will result in a loss of timeout or a 15-yard penalty if the team is out of timeouts. Thankfully, the review of the play will still be allowed to occur.
There are certainly people on both sides of the fence on these rule adjustments, especially the crown-of-the-helmet. Some argue that the simple law of physics does not allow a player to lower his shoulders pads without his head. Others find it a necessary rule to keep the athletes safe and healthy for not only their NFL careers but for the rest of their lives as well.
Regardless of where you stand, it should be interesting to see how all of these changes are integrated into the 2013 season.
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