DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum NFL owners pass 2 rules changes

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By BARRY WILNER, AP

Concerned with how it will be officiated, owners delayed voting Tuesday on a rule change that would ban offensive players from using the crown of their helmets against defenders in the open field.

After approving two other rule changes to enhance player safety, they stalled on the more contentious issue. NFL senior vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said the owners plan to vote on it Wednesday before the meetings end.

The potential change that has drawn the most attention - yes, even more than eliminating the infamous tuck rule, which seems to be a foregone conclusion - is prohibiting ball carriers outside the tackle box from lowering their helmets and making contact with defenders with the crown.

New York Giants owner John Mara, a member of the competition committee that has recommended the change, said there was even ``a chance'' a vote could be tabled until the May meetings in Boston.

``There was a spirited discussion,'' Mara said, adding there was concern of how the rule would be officiated.

Broncos coach John Fox believes passing the rule will not make for a huge challenge for players.

``Right now, the simple equation is they want the helmet used for protection, not as a weapon. I think that message gets across,'' Fox said. ``It's slowly gotten across as far as the passing game. Now there are rules on the table that are going to involve the running game as well.

``They will adapt. They have in the past and (they will) moving forward.''

The owners outlawed peel-back blocks anywhere on the field; previously, they were illegal only inside the tackle box. A player makes a peel-back block when he is moving toward his goal line, approaches an opponent from behind or the side, and makes contact below the waist.

The penalty will be 15 yards.

``... really under no circumstances will you be permitted to block low below the waist when you're blocking back toward your own end line,'' said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the competition committee.

Also banned is overloading a formation while attempting to block a field goal or extra point. Defensive teams can now have only six or less players on each side of the snapper at the line of scrimmage. Players not on the line can't push teammates on the line into blockers, either.

The alignment violation is a 5-yard penalty. The pushing penalty is 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.

``There were injuries, yes,'' Fisher said. ``Talking to coaches and the players, it's just not something they look forward to doing. It's like, `Oh, we scored again? We have to go out there and protect, kick an extra point or try?'''

Protecting tacklers against helmet hits has become more dicey.

The competition committee's examination of one week of play last season found five instances where a ball carrier was not protecting the ball or himself and lowered his helmet to make contact with a defender. Dean Blandino, recently promoted to vice president of officiating, noted that five in 16 games was significant enough to consider banning the act.

``In all fairness, it's going to be tough on the officials, it's going to be tough to make that determination at live speed with one look,'' said coach John Harbaugh of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

Added Fisher:

``We want to make a serious attempt to get the shoulder back into the game. We are not saying the ball carrier cannot get small. We are not saying the ball carrier cannot protect the football, because if he is going to go down to cover the football, if the shoulder goes down, we know the head goes down, we understand that.

``Protecting the football is OK, providing you do not strike with the crown of your helmet, and that is what we are trying to differentiate.''

Blandino said the league wants flags thrown only on the obvious calls. He also said in cases where a player is not penalized, he could still be subject to a fine if video review after the game determines he made contact with the crown.

The penalty will be a spot foul for 15 yards.

New senior director of officiating Alberto Riveron said if the offensive and defensive player are both committing the foul, it would be an offsetting penalty and the down replayed.

Riveron said the key to officiating the play is in showing the officials more plays that are legal.

``That will be a great way to train because as we know it, most of the shots we have seen are legal, most of the contact is legal,'' he said. ``We are trying to get that one individual situation where the head is lowered - and you can see on the field, you can see a player put his head down - and the contact is with the crown and you can see it.''


http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/sports-nfl/20130319/NFL.Meetings/

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Some of the Old Timers have to be laughing ... JMHO

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closer and closer to flag football...

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A running back has to be able to lower his pad level. Now he cant?

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My understanding is the rule applies once outside the tackles...

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yes

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Jim Brown said that he agrees 100% with the new crown of the helmet rule, and said that he never led with the top of his helmet.

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True...he just would PUNCH THEM in their Ribs n CRACK THEM

Here is the difference of this rule n all the others.

QB - he's throwing or looking downfield n defenseless...Ok some rules are put in to help him.

WR - he is exposing his body stretching out catching a pass rendering him Defenseless...ok some rules are put in to help him.

LBs DEs - they are outside the tackles n get engaged by an OLman/TE/WR/FB - the run is to the other side or up the middle the LB or DE goes back inside the box...Rendering him defenseless from backside blocks below the knees...ok some new rules were just put in to help him.

DB is coming up HEAD ON to a RB - MANO ET MANO - NOBODY HERE IS DEFENSELESS. There is a big difference to this rule than any of the others. There is no DEFENSELESS blind side here. There is a Defender n a RB They can either give up yards...or try to stop him cold. They can try to take an angle instead of head on.

This is why I don't like this rule. There is no Surprised victim here. There is no Defenseless DB spread out n gets uexpectedly LAID OUT BY the RB hit.

The other thing I would like to add. There is one other simple solution besides all this Sissifying of the game. Change the Helmet. Once upon a time the best protection was something hard. Now we have a lot of military studies on Explosives and concussion absorbing material. There is no reason why they don't spend R&D into a new Helmet one who can protect the head from concussions but one that is not so hard as to be considered a WEAPON. Not saying to eliminate the helmet all the way making it Rugby like either. Just - we had Leather then we went to a hard shell...n that was like 60 years ago n nothing different since then just improvements on that OLD CONCEPT.

JMHO

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I'm not selfish enough to think my entertainment is more important than 38-year old players with dementia, CTE-related depression or commiting suicidal acts to save themselves.

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Thus continues the pussification of the NFL.

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i completely disagree that. we are not as barbaric as we used to be, but in your eyes, that's bad? can't see how that makes any sense

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

i ask again, how is that bad?

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I would love to hear what Chuck Benarick would have too say ...

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

i ask again, how is that bad?

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

i ask again, how is that bad?

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Is football safer? Really? Got any proof or is this just another ignorant post?

Society is safer? Really? So, you sleep at night with the doors to your home unlocked and left open to allow breezes to come through? Right. I didn't think you did that.

Now, tell me how football has gotten any safer and how society is safer.

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Guess if you want to avoid the penalties, best have a Chris Johnson or Jamaal Charles type of back.

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

i ask again, how is that bad?

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Is football safer? Really? Got any proof or is this just another ignorant post?

Society is safer? Really? So, you sleep at night with the doors to your home unlocked and left open to allow breezes to come through? Right. I didn't think you did that.

Now, tell me how football has gotten any safer and how society is safer.

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

i ask again, how is that bad?

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Is football safer? Really? Got any proof or is this just another ignorant post?

Society is safer? Really? So, you sleep at night with the doors to your home unlocked and left open to allow breezes to come through? Right. I didn't think you did that.

Now, tell me how football has gotten any safer and how society is safer.

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just another ignorant post? i'm sorry, but i'm not the one who just used (made up?) the word "pussification."

since this is pure football, i'll stay within the confines of the NFL.

less leading with helmets - safer

don't know how you could twist that any differently

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Safe for who crtainly not the RB ...

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so football is now safer, and society is now safer.

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