New rules...

why would any workplace want behavior that can lead to long-term brain damage and why should the NFL be exempt from it? that's a great rule, there simply is no need for a player to lower his head to play the game. the long-term risk to players health is far greater than any perceived benefit of gaining a few extra yards.

 

The new rules are a very wise move for a multi-billion dollar industry facing occupational safety-related litigation. They're also a very wise move given what we know about head impacts and concussions and CTE.

Football is changing and it's doing it right in the nick of time. The NFL (and the fans) are very lucky to have a forward-thinking commissioner on the job at this point. Roger Goodell is going to save football.

 

If the greatest player in NFL history (and one of the most physical) thinks it is a good idea it probably is.

 

Can someone post a link to this rule?

 

It would be pretty irresponsible if the NFL didn't react to the serious legal actions they are facing from ex-players now suffering long term brain damage, wouldn't you say? Both from a business point of view and an ethical point of view?

 

Look no further.than Ahmad Bradshaw/Brodney Pool collision Xmas '11 as to why the new rule is fair. If Bradshaw gets hurt from that collision its a suspension for Pool.

 

tHERE IS A DIFFERENCE WITH LOWERING SHOULDER AND LOWERING HEAD

 

Get ready for penalty city.

The game is already almost unwatchable because of the terrible rules they've put in place on the defensive side of the ball, now we got to counter that with this pathetic
rule on the offensive side

Get ready for a lot of this:
Pass Incomplete
-"personal foul on the defense - 15 yards for defenseless reciever hit"
run up the middle
-"personal foul on the offense - 15 yards for lowering their head"
back and forth all fucking game.

 

I don't like how this is in the hands of the refs. In game, allow refs to whistle any blatant head hunting but have the majority of the penalty for lowering your shoulder be fines. Refs have trouble when to flag defenders, this is just going to add more in game confusion. Let fines on Monday/Tuesday be the primary deterrent for doing this

The game has to get safer, I don't think in game penalties is the best way to do it. Add suspension to the fines for repeat offenders.

 

I agree with this... but deterrant is already in place for the players(brain injuries).

This is just posturing by the NFL... so they can say they've done all they can to protect the players, but the reality is they could do more paying their retired players medical expenses and researching better equipment.

Throwing a 15 yard flag on a play where it's not totally clear whether or not he lowered his head doesn't do anything but destroy the game.. for the players and fans. We are going to see a lot of this, this season

 

A runner lowering his head in the open field and using it as a weapon can have a big impact for the rest of the game if he hits a defender with it right. I have no problem with the rule so long as they don't incorrectly enforce it. They will still be allowed to lower the shoulder and lead with it, just not with the helmet in the open field.

 

Emmit Smith : "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."

 

I think it's smart. They need to avoid players using helmets as a weapon. This is a good first step until you figure out how to fix the helmet and make them more protection and less of a weapon.

I agree, we are going to see a lot of penalties and inconsistent refereeing from this.

Do you trust the refs to correctly enforce it? The game is so fast and even with "Defenseless" receivers or hitting QBs late, it's very inconsistent even though the rules have been established for a couple years no.

 

I think they've become much better at enforcing the defenseless receiver rule even though it's not perfect. It was really bad when they first started the rule ... part of it was players not paying attention to it but part of it was the refs over enforcing it to. Seems they've found a happy medium with it.

I suspect it will take some time to find the same middle ground with this one.

 

Thank god we let Shonn Greene walk.

This is a pretty stupid rule. RBs are taught to lower their head on contact. If you say not their taught to lower their shoulder than look up any RB and see if they can lower their shoulder without their big ass helmet get in the way.

 

The first game of the year this will be called 4-5 times and the rule will be revoked.

 

It's only in the open field when they lead with and hit with the helmet first. A RB can still come through the hole with his head down.

 

Preseason will be a good time to see how the refs handle this rule

 

It will probably be over enforced in the preseason and make take a good year before they get a handle on it.