Helmet to Helmet = Ejection

Hmm, I do agree that it is an issue in the league, but I'm not sure that ejection from the game is a fair punishment. I think we could see people sent off who had accidentally made contact with the helmet if a player ducked before getting hit.

It could work, If it was regulated properly.

 

While I thought the Landry hit was with the intent to injure I think it needs to be at the officials discretion. The Landry hit would have been an ejection if this rule was in place last week.

That being said I don't like the idea of making new rules in the middle of the season without the preseason being in place for officials to test out new rules.

 

I guess time will tell how often this rule will require disciplinary action.

 

I really like this rule, but I hate the fact that it's completely up to a referee's discretion. That leaves so much room for error and will be the source of a lot of debate in a critical situation.

Also, although I agree with Rich in that changing rules in midseason isn't the way to go, I think this situation is a little different since it has direct correlations to player safety.

 

I'm worried refs will overcompensate and really affect the outcome of a game by ejecting someone unjustly.

 

I agree on both counts, I personally saw 3 blatant cheap shots from that Landry bitch and if he ends up getting spinal injury himself then it'll be karma, because he goes for the neck. If anybody needs to take some cheaps shots in return it's that a-hole.

I also think that a rule change mid-season resembles the XFL more than the NFL.

 

Colt Brennan and Jake Locker got destroyed tonight by helmet to helmet hits...both players left the game.

 

The Landry hit was dangerous, but some refs will make wrong calls. This should be reviewable if called. I saw one helmet to helmet call, but in the replay it was obviously a pad to helmet. Wouldn't want a Jet tossed for that.

 

This rule will affect the outcome of games, no doubt about it. You will be seeing one of two things;

1. You will see guys getting tossed affecting games. Imagine a Freeney or a Strahan getting ejected on the 2nd play of a game. This is a subjective call and games will turn on the ref's flag. What's wrong with just a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct?

2. This rule will encourage players to hit the legs and knees in an effort to avoid the penalty. If a player has to go, it's gonna be you and not me. I actually think this rule will result in an equal or even greater number of injuries, as players will be hitting low more often.

 

I'm wondering if this rule isn't in response to the Landry hit to some degree. I concur that midseason rule changes are usually a bad idea, but I'm all for this. Send a message to headhunters. This is how people get hurt, badly. Remember these guys have families to take care of.

 

This being a subjective call, I don't see how they can make it reviewable. My concern is that incidental helmet to helmet contact will result in ejections.

I am concerned you will see a lot of Hollywood actors acting like they were knocked out to get players ejected.

I am concerned you will see players knees getting busted up to avoid helmet to helmet contact.

 

Great lets turn the NFL into the World Cup and I love soccer just too many guys faking injury to get free kicks.

I think we may see this rule rescinded once the 1st guy gets tossed for a shoulder pad to helmet hit.

I just don't think you can make a new rule on the fly within a few days and not have the time to research to see if it's a worthwhile rule. I understand this rule is put in for the safety of the player but the official always had theauthority to eject a player for a dirty hit you don't need to change the rule mid season.

 

You're talking about the Jets/Skins game, right? The helmet-to-helmet by Landry was clearly a good call, he hit Clemens in the facemask with his helmet. There was another play where Landry hit Clemens in the face with his shoulderpad but there was no call, and should not have been. Then Landry caught Wallace Wright stretching out for an overthrown pass and nudged Wright in the small of his back with his shoulderpads so Wright landed on his head and neck and Landry kind of stood over him with a smirk on his face hopping around like a true POS. Then later in the game a defender had stopped Brad Smith on a reception and Smith was standing there bent with his head extended straight-out and Landry went full-on and smashed his shoulderpad into his head while he was defenseless. It doesn't sound bad when you read it but if you watch that game again and keep an eye on number 30, you'll see a lot of cheap shit.

 

Seems to me "unnecessary roughness" should cover a lot of this stuff.

Being able to eject a player for an act that may be incidental or unintentional is just too much power for the refs. Games will be won and lost on this. The refs are having a greater and greater impact on the final scores, and this will dramatically increase that impact.

The penalties for taking off the helmet, spiking the ball, and the untucked shirts really irritate me already. This kind of thing will affect wins and losses. This rule will be abused, I gaurantee it.

 

as long as they don't "fuzzy the lines" between flagrant and non-flagrant violations, I think this is a good move.