Sports

What Major Rule Changes Is the NFL Proposing Now That Has Some Fuming?

  • The NFL Competition Committee announced several potential rule changes Thursday.
  • Among them are the controversial tuck rule and a ban against lowering of helmets by ball carriers to knock into a defensive player. 
  • “You’ve absolutely lost your mind.” — Emmitt Smith
  • Changes will be decided upon by team owners next week at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix. 
NFL Proposes Changes to Tuck Rule and Lowering of Helmets Among Others Ahead of Annual Meeting

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (52) tackles Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) during the first half of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. (Photo: AP/Ben Margot)

Changes to how the game of American football is played by the National Football League have been traditionally met with discontent from fans. With six new proposed rule changes on the table, it seems the reaction this time around will be a mixed bag.

One of the most notable proposed changes would be a rule banning running backs — or whomever is carrying the ball — from lowering their helmets to go head-first into a defender while outside the immediate tackle box. The rule would make it a 15-yard penalty if the crown of the helmet is used in contact outside the tackle box. Incidental contact with the crown of the helmet though would not be a penalty.

NFL Proposes Changes to Tuck Rule and Lowering of Helmets Among Others Ahead of Annual Meeting

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore is seen during the Super Bowl putting the crown of his helmet into a Baltimore Ravens playing in what would an incidental move. Under the proposed rule, purposefully doing this would result in a penalty.

“This is pure and simple a player safety rule,” Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay, who is president of the Atlanta Falcons, said according to the Associated Press. “The time has come we need to address the situation. You can’t duck your head and deliver a forcible blow with your helmet.”

But, as with other safety changes the NFL has instituted in recent years, there are those who are not happy. The radio station 105.3 The Fan reported retired running back Emmitt Smith saying “you’ve absolutely lost your mind,” over the proposed change. Here’s more on what Smith told The Fan (via CBS Local DFW)

“If I’m a running back and I’m running into a linebacker, you’re telling me I have to keep my head up so he can take my chin off?’’ Smith said.

[...]

“As a running back, it’s almost impossible [to not lower your head],’’ said the Dallas Cowboys legend. “The first thing you do is get behind your shoulder pads. That means you’re leaning forward and the first part of contact that’s going to take place is your head, regardless.

“I disagree with the rule altogether. It doesn’t make any sense for that position. It sounds like it’s been made up by people who have never played the game of football.’’

Marco Rubio, who attended Tarkio College for one year on a football scholarship, weighed in on the rule change as well on Twitter:

 

In addition, the controversial tuck rule could be completely dumped if the team owners vote it so in their Phoenix meeting next week.

Under the tuck rule, if a passer is in the act of bringing the ball down into his body rather than throwing it and loses control, it is ruled an incomplete pass. The proposal under consideration would make it a fumble.

The rule was among the NFL’s most obscure until it became infamous during the 2001 playoffs in New England, when Tom Brady apparently lost a fumble late in a game against Oakland. Initially ruled a fumble, it was reversed under the tuck rule, the Patriots kept the ball and eventually beat the Raiders.

“What is happening is a great majority of these plays are appropriately called fumbles,” McKay said on a conference call. “Then officials go into replay and look at it, and under the rule if the tuck had not been completed (the call) has to be reversed from … a fumble. They think they can call it and can understand when a passer has lost control of the ball, so we felt more comfortable proposing the rule.”

USA Today’s sports columnist Jarrett Bell said with this proposed rule change the NFL “finally got it right.” Bell also pointed out the Raider’s reaction to the proposal:

 

Replay also plays a key role in another potential rule change.

Last Thanksgiving, Detroit coach Jim Schwartz challenged what officials ruled was an 81-yard scoring run by Houston’s Justin Forsett. Because all scoring plays are reviewed, Schwartz was not allowed to throw the red flag, and by doing so he negated use of replay. Forsett clearly had been down by contact earlier in the run, but the touchdown stood and the Texans went on to win in overtime.

McKay called the way the rule stood “an anomaly.”

The proposal will ensure the play is reviewed and the right call is made, but the coach making the illegal challenge will draw a 15-yard penalty. Forbidden challenges occur when a team is out of timeouts; has used up its challenges; in the final two minutes of a half; in overtime; or on scoring plays or turnovers.

Should a coach challenge in the final two minutes of halves or in OT, he will lose a timeout as well as have his team penalized 15 yards.

In addition to the lowering of helmets rule, two others were proposed to enhance player safety.

One would ban offensive players from making a low block when facing their own end zone and they are inside the tackle box. That will prohibit so-called peel-back blocks anywhere on the field.

The other would offer more protection for snappers. The rule would prevent teams from lining up more than six players on either side of the snapper for field goals and extra points. And teammates couldn’t be pushed through gaps in the protection on those kicks.

“Teams will still have opportunities to overload and affect a kick and still potentially block those kicks,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, another co-chairman of the committee.

Among new features that have already been decided upon is required attire that will add protection.

Next season, players will be required to wear knee and thigh pads. Ray Anderson, who as the league’s executive vice president of football operations will oversee enforcement, said the NFL will be vigorous in ensuring players use them, beginning in the preseason.

Many players, particularly in skill positions, have fought the extra padding, saying it slows them down.

Related:

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (98)

  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:31pm

    “Among them are the controversial tuck rule and a ban against lowering of helmets by ball carriers to knock into a defensive player. ”
    ============================

    Point #1: The tuck rule is simply a farce anyway. I like to think of that as a politically correct way to describe a fumble…..

    Point #2: “a ban against lowering of helmets by ball carriers”………Remember what happened to Coca-Cola back in the mid-1980′s when they decided to scrap the original formula for “New Coke” instead?

    I rest my case.

    Report this comment

    KidCharlemagne  
    • The_Jerk
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:58pm

      This all fits in with the feminization of America.

      Report this comment

      The_Jerk  
    • naughtycal
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:48pm

      Well treat the NFL like new coke and they’ll get the message. The problem is too many morons will watch whatever tripe the NFL airs. Hell sports fans will watch games that are 99% of time unwatchable like Basketball a sport where 95% of the time the team with the ball scores. Or Nascar where people drive left for a couple hundred miles.
      American football was the crown jewel of sports now it will be nannied into something that will be as unwatchable as basketball.

      Report this comment

      naughtycal  
    • WATER-THE-TREE
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:59pm

      It is silly to make such rules when the playing of the game REQUIRES ARMOUR. Think about it, the players are literally wearing armour, helmets, plastic shoulder guards, padding of all sorts. It is a violent game and the players know the risks. I say take away all of the armour, bring back the leather helmets and see how the game changes.

      Report this comment

      WATER-THE-TREE  
    • RabidPatriot
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:12pm

      This is how life works. Managers, supervisors, mayors, presidents, and kings, making decisions about a job that they have never done and know very little about. Of course they think they know everything about the subject, but they don’t.

      Report this comment

      RabidPatriot  
    • grimjack3791
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:33pm

      Asking a running back not to put his head down is like asking a wide receiver to keep his hands below shoulder level to catch passes.

      Report this comment

      grimjack3791  
    • dwilco77
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 6:33pm

      Why stop there? They need to change the ball to a Nerf ball because sometimes you can jam your finger catching a leather ball. Only allow the players to try to knock each other down with pillows. Make the field out of high density foam so no one gets hurt when they fall down. Outlaw booing at the games because someone might get their feelings hurt. Have the players wear big pillow suits in case they run into each other, they won’t get hurt. Oh, and can’t forget, only serve “healthy food” at the concession stands so no one dies of a heart attack.And change the name of the sport to Bloomberg ball.

      Report this comment

      dwilco77  
    • Quagmir
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:54pm

      Im sorry were people talking smack about soccer in an earlier article?
      At this rate Soccer will be more of a contact(yes there is contact) sport then football in just a few years.

      Report this comment

      Quagmir  
    • sillyfreshness
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 12:08am

      Many of the “dirty” playing like using your helmet like a weapon began when the NFL started letting in more minorities. As a result, grand standing used to be the exception, now it’s the norm. Basically what I’m saying is the NFL has become “ghetto ball” where there are few rules and lots of dirty tricks played as long as they don’t get caught.

      Report this comment

      sillyfreshness  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 11:57am

      The NFL commissioner is the Obama of the NFL. He is dead set on destroying the NFL just as Obama is dead set on destroying our country. I am so glad I stopped watching this sport. One that used to be fun to watch. It really all started when they reinstated the instant replay and has gone down hill since. It won’t be long and they will be wearing flags. I would put money on it that the first openly gay active player will come out this season. Any takers?

      Report this comment

      jcldwl  
    • IndyNWguy
      Posted on March 17, 2013 at 12:04am

      @sillyfreshness – After reading your post, I believe I speak for most of us when I ask if there is anything we might be able to offer you in exchange for a guarantee that you’ll never speak publicly again?

      Report this comment

      IndyNWguy  
  • The Silversmith
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:24pm

    Bye Bye NFl. I love football but not going to witness this descent into madness. I’ll miss it but if these rules are implemented, I am gone. On to rugby. I know the NFL but enough people turn their backs the situation will correct itself. All about the $$$$

    Report this comment

    The Silversmith  
    • A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:07pm

      As much as I love the NFL, this is really starting to push me towards not watching it. I’m not jumping ship yet, but it seems it’s getting closer.

      Report this comment

      A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE  
    • RLTW
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:27pm

      They’ll have to change player pay, can’t make the money they do playing touch football

      Report this comment

      RLTW  
    • PASSIONFORCHRIST
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 3:53pm

      Yup! it’s all about the money NOT the game anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report this comment

      PASSIONFORCHRIST  
    • formidable_foe
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 2:55am

      The next thing for the NFL will be banning blowout games. If a team is winning by more than two touchdowns, the losing team will be given extra possessions to have a chance to catch up. It’s just not fair that a team be beaten so badly. It’s not good sportsmanship, and someone’s feelings may be hurt. Actually, all games should end in a tie because everyone is a winner, right? After the game, they can all be given a ribbon they can proudly display to show how much they care for one another.

      Report this comment

      formidable_foe  
    • PubliusScipio
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 10:08pm

      @The Silversmith

      Consider rooting for the New Zealand All Blacks! Check out some of their hakas on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y

      Does it get any manlier?

      Report this comment

      PubliusScipio  
    • mrspeedwagon
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 11:04pm

      Amen…The femenization of the NFL. It has been taken over by Northeastern Arch Liberals. They will do to the NFL what they have done to the Education system, all the major cities, and the Country

      Report this comment

      mrspeedwagon  
  • Despiser25
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:13pm

    The Libs are coming for football and racing. It will start in Pee Wee football soon followed by HS football and quickly after College football. By the time the Libs try to outlaw Pro football we will be in a full on French Revolution…

    Report this comment

    Despiser25  
    • seek.the.truth
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:31pm

      Rush has been predicting this for quite some time. Won’t be long now. The stupid new rules have been coming hard and fast.

      Report this comment

      seek.the.truth  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:50pm

      I am really concerned that NASCAR has let the camel under the tent with some of their PC crap. I caN quit watching it too. Getting real close because of some of the PC BS they are bringing in. Danika is a JOKE too…

      Report this comment

      Baddoggy  
  • pap pap
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:13pm

    What are they trying to do ? We don’t want to watch flag football on Sundays. Heck can you run with a ball in traffic without putting your head down ? I don’t even know if it’s possible.

    Report this comment

    pap pap  
    • Beachmastermax
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:19pm

      They do what liberals do. Inccessantly try to control you and everybody and everything else.

      Report this comment

      Beachmastermax  
  • chadred
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:09pm

    Grow a pair, you liberal pansies. If the RB helmet rule goes into affect, the game will last 4 hours not the average 3 hours, because of penalties. They use to want the game to speed up, not it will slow down. Stupid people.

    Report this comment

    chadred  
  • Begbie
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:05pm

    I’m done with American football. The rules for “safety” are out of control. I think I’ll be watching Australian Rules Football from now on. Those guys are warriors and make those pansy-a$$es in the NFL squeemish. American receivers got nothing on the aussies. Very little padding, some blood, and dudes going all out to get that damned ball!! You watch as the popularity of Aussie Rules skyrockets in the USA.

    Report this comment

    Begbie  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:16pm

      Agreed on Aussie Rules.

      I really believe we should just go back to when football was American rugby (which is what it used to be actually). Little to scant padding, and tough guys. A broken arm or leg beats a life changing concussion any day of the week. Plus, aussie rules or rugy are both great to watch and very entertaining.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • Begbie
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:34pm

      Aussie rules reminds me of my childhood….when we’d get off the bus after school and head over to my house (had the biggest back yard). We’d throw down our backpacks and play some tackle football. My mom would be pretty upset about the bloody knees and grass stains but man it was really fun.

      Report this comment

      Begbie  
  • STREBOR
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:02pm

    In 10 years the NFL will be a flag league………

    Report this comment

    STREBOR  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:00pm

    I see a lot of broken necks in the NFL’s future. You try to avoid a penalty by twisting or bending your head at impact reeks of impending doom. I don’t think I can watch any of this candy azz nonsense.
    A hit is a hit. An intentional beat down is usually pretty apparent. If it happens, you call it. Send it to the booth. If you cannot decide, flip a coin. Whatever. Happens twice- out with the player. What kind of candy azz pansies can’t run a football game? Basically – that, chop blocking, clipping and holding are all the rules the game need. If you exceed 10 of those just forfeit the offending team. Play ball!

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:59am

    Let these guys play with the same amount of protection as the girls in the Lingerie League. :)

    If Obama had a son, he would let him play in the Lingerie League.

    And the kid would still get his arse kicked. LOL!

    Report this comment

     
  • Beachmastermax
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:56am

    How about this concept. The NFL is a private organization that can set it’s own rules. Every individual that choses to play does so at their own risk. If you do not like the game, do not watch, go or buy the paraphenalia.

    It is called freedom and MYOB.

    Report this comment

    Beachmastermax  
    • Despiser25
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:15pm

      But but but the Libs keep telling us all that “Freedom” is too hard so they want the opposite. Tyranny is easy…

      Report this comment

      Despiser25  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:56am

    How many fantastic runs will be nullified by this crap? It’s instinct to anyone who has ever carried the ball to lower your head before impact. I was a stinking defensive lineman who never got to carry the ball, but when I picked up a fumble and started to run, I lowered my head when meeting a defender head on. I think it’s human instinct more than even a football instinct.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
  • civilwarcometh
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:49am

    The racist are at it again HATE and change anything American. Remember Moochelle talking about this???

    Report this comment

    civilwarcometh  
  • SocialistSlayer
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:49am

    Quit pushing Rubio – He is just another phony Conservative, in reality he is nothing more than a puppet Republican Traitor – Commie Liberal – Just like all the rest in the Party !

    Report this comment

    SocialistSlayer  
  • VRW Conspirator
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:47am

    Hey…where are all the beer guzzling armchair quarterbacks on this page? Oh, I know, they are all over on the awesome 70 yard soccer goal story crying about how Football is much better than soccer.
    What a bunch of PANZIES!!

    I agree with Ghost…take away their padding and all of this thuggish, bounty system, attempts to hurt the other team permanently will stop…make them pay the consequences of their actions. Make them actually PLAY the game instead of having it stop every 10 seconds. No TV time outs every change of possession. No 30 minute half time. Make the panzies actually PLAY the game without stopping. What the HECK is this 100 man roster crap!!
    The old guys used to play both ways, offense and defense and special teams. You have maybe 15-20 guys and they played HURT with bandages and broken fingers and noses. WARRIORS!! Now we have a bunch of wife/gf beating, thug life, assault and rape charged gangbanging LOSERS that try and pass themselves off as athletes while getting drunk and high during their partying and winding up backrupt and on welfare 5 years after leaving the game.

    where are the Marino’s, the Starbuck’s, the Montana’s, the Smith’s, the Rice’s of today? No we get thugs, wanna-be gangbangers, and attempted murders and rapists… what a joke the NFL and NBA has become…

    Report this comment

    VRW Conspirator  
    • circleDwagons
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:08pm

      VRW. Damn right!, Play the game like men. The game should be faster paced.

      Report this comment

      circleDwagons  
    • TRK
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 6:32pm

      VRW Maybe you are thinking of Roger Staubach, not “Starbuck”. He was one of the toughest qbs to play the game.

      Report this comment

      TRK  
  • RaydocX
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:45am

    the tuck rule was dumb when it was put into place.
    i agree that RB’s have to be able to protect their head…
    personally i have always wondered why RB and WR can stiff arm but the moment a defensive player’s hand gets to a helmet it’s a penalty.

    Report this comment

    RaydocX  
  • Beachmastermax
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:43am

    The NFL better start purging Liberal commentators and journalist from their midst. They better start pushing for Tort Reform instead of Gun Control. They should beg Rush Limbaugh to please become an owner and help with the cause.

    Otherwise, they are on a not so slow path to destruction.

    Their demise will be the class action suits by multitudes of Baby Mamas looking for cash that their Babby Dadies blew using injury lawyers.

    Report this comment

    Beachmastermax  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:37am

    Yes, get rid of the tuck rule. And people with the football shouldn’t be allowed to do things that defenders cannot do – I am fine with that although a fairer solution would be to allow defenders to use their heads as well

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:36am

    Leftist hate football. Always have. It is too American for them. It is to rough for them and is not ‘a pansy ‘ little game like the left likes. It is too popular right now to simply pass a law to get rid of it so they must make it “safer” to the point that there is no excitement to the game. These are the same people who tried to force all soccer players to wear helmets…(did not work obviously). I predict that if these fools keep listening to the changes the left wants added, the game will lose so much popularity that in ten years it will not have half of the followers that it does now.

    Report this comment

    thegreatcarnac  
  • FlagWavingPatriot
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:35am

    The cancer known as political correctness has eaten away at all American culture, why should football be any different?

    Down the slope we go. It’ll be no time at all before the players are gowned in bubble wrap.

    Report this comment

    FlagWavingPatriot  
    • STREBOR
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:04pm

      Soon the NFL will sport those inflatable fat Sumo Wrestler suits……….you are right PC is turning us into a Country of weenies.

      Report this comment

      STREBOR  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:34am

    How about we just make them wear dresses and play touch football or flag football? I am beginning to think the women’s underwear league will be more macho than these line up of pansies. If they cared about player safety they would have had those POSs in New Orleans charged with conspiracy and criminal battery.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
    • Beachmastermax
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:49am

      They have been practicing this for years now, wearing pink shoes, arm bands and thong underwear.

      Report this comment

      Beachmastermax  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:32am

    NFL .Nancy Flowery Lace…Gee I remember when real men played the game and not overpaid millionaires. Put them back in helments with no facemask and you will see injuries go to nothing. These pretty boy sissies wont risk a face contusion. You can get so aggressive until they take away your gear. Then it will get back to a REAL man’s game and find out who really wants to play and who wants to collect a paycheck.

    Report this comment

    Baddoggy  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:47am

      We’re on exactly the same page on this.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • Beachmastermax
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:00pm

      The only overpaid people in this country are those that use the power of government to confiscate money from private citizens to pay their lavish public salaries, pensions and early retirements.

      All others are only paid what someone in freedom decides they are worth.

      Report this comment

      Beachmastermax  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:07pm

      @Beach

      I meant the “padding” comment only. I could care less what somebody is paid. The more the better I figure.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:46pm

      That was correct Beach…until the unions and the safety freaks got ahold of the game. Now they are overpaid. Way overpaid for what they do and the risks they take now. The REAL men of the NFL are retired, limping, crippled and in business somewhere and not going back to ask the NFL to pay them for a concussion they suffered 30 years ago. These guys today are prima donnas and could care squat about the fans or winning in most case…If they sit out and negotiate a contract for more money, I lose all respect for them.

      Report this comment

      Baddoggy  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:30am

    Poppycock.

    There’s the GOJ solution to this issue, if anybody is interested.

    Reduce the padding/helmets back to the levels used in the 1940′s. Dead serious here. These guys are hitting hard because they work under the assumption that all of their padding keeps them safe. They hit harder and harder, not realizing what precisely a concussion is. Yet, we never heard about these kinds of things from the 1940′s, when football was MUCH more violent than it is today. Why? Because when they hit somebody too hard, it hurt them *immediately*. You don’t head down smack another guy when you have on a leather helmet. Well, you don’t do it more than once anyway.

    Take away their Uber Armor and suddenly half the things they do start affecting them in a very immediate manner, but well before they cause permanent damage.

    I know nobody is interested in this of course, they’ll simply mutate the game until it becomes flag football and the players will be expected to wear uniforms with kittens on them. Just saying, common sense says do what they did in the past that worked. But right, ain’t happening.

    Report this comment

    GhostOfJefferson  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:42am

      You are on to something
      Instead of hard shell helmets, they should be wearing foam helmets (like American gladiator). That way, there would be ZERO incentive of using your head to hit someone. It uniforms would look as nice and shiny but at least it would solve the problems

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:46am

      Thanks Soy

      I’m actually quite serious. It just makes sense that if I am foolhardy because I think that I’m protected by uber armor, and am causing other damage that armor cannot help (but am unaware of it), it stands to reason that I need a pain feedback in order to help me self regulate my own actions. There would be no need for “no heads down rule” if they had leather helmets on, because every single one of them would figure out that heads down full speed charges hurt *them* immediately.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:05pm

      As we know in other cases, the people who use common sense and reason are always considered the ‘kookiest’

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • Begbie
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:09pm

      Totally agree. Been saying this for years. You don’t lead with the part in your **** and expect to play anymore.

      Report this comment

      Begbie  
    • woodyee
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:18pm

      Going retro is a good thing sometimes, and this is one of those times. Good thoughts, Jefferson! However, let’s look at the repercussion of reducing protection and telling the players to go easy…

      The number of injuries is bound to go up alarmingly, initially, but enouogh to scare the bejeesus out of the owners into turning their players into ballerinas…

      Report this comment

      woodyee  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:42pm

      @woodyee

      The injuries would go up, for about 1/3 of the season. Pain has a way of instructing that simply cannot be rivaled however. But they wouldn’t wimp out, in fact, I strongly suspect that they’d re-learn how to tackle like Rugby players do, who approach tackling from an entirely different angle of the body. Nobody is calling rugby players pansies, quite the opposite.

      As a follow up, I’d also advise (here come the parents to crucify me) that this be extended all the way down to pee wee football. Kids will learn very fast to coordinate and develop different strategies and future pro-football players will come into the game pre-taught.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • woodyee
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:27pm

      @ Jefferson – YASSUH!!*

      *To you needle-nosed Libs, it’s in deference to Jesse Jackson; if saying YASSUH! is good enough for him, then it’s good enough for me!

      Report this comment

      woodyee  
  • DimmuBorgir
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:26am

    More rule changes in the name of safety?? Next you’re going to tell me they cured aids or something

    Report this comment

    DimmuBorgir  
  • AmericanStrega
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:24am

    I clicked on this article and am posting just to say “I DON’T CARE!”

    Report this comment

    AmericanStrega  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:23am

    NFL Flag Football coming soon. Stay tuned!

    Report this comment

    NOBALONEY  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:39am

      We used to play that in nothing more than gym shorts and T shirts. But, you are right. When they finish off the NFL, who will they put in their sites next? Soccer or baseball.

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      RJJinGadsden  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:18pm

      NOBALONEY, LOL, while sitting here listening to Rush discuss this very subject, it hit me after what you had said above. The NFL will have to change their name to the NFFL.

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      RJJinGadsden  

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