I don't have a problem with the rule, I think it was just a bad call. Vilma tackled the guy by his shoulder but I don't think it's a penalty unless a player grabs inside the runners shoulder pads. Vilma didn't yank the shoulder pads.
He grabbed the collar but he didnt pull him down backwards. The front part of the ballcarrier hit the ground, not the back. The only reason the ref called it was because it was a big hit and the fans overreacted to vilma being the monster that he is. All because of T.O. getting injured. Is he really that important?
I disagree with you guys. That was a good call. That's only supported by Vilma showing no reaction whatsoever to the flag. He knew it. His arm came around to the opposite side of the ballcarrier. That's as close to a horsecollar as you're going to get. I knew it as it was happening it was going to get flagged. It's a good rule, and it was a good call. No, you will never prevent all injuries, but the ones that you can, you may as well avoid.
The reason that these rules are bullshit is because of the reason they are made. Two high profile players go down and you can't touch the quarterback anywhere but the abdomen, or tackle a guy from behind by grabbing his shoulders? Come on now, this is football not soccer. You can't act to get a penalty. If it's too dangerous don't play the game. It annoys me just like the offensive pass interference call in the Superbowl last year where Chris Hope turn around, yelled at the ref, then he took the flag out. You shouldn't gain yards based on acting like soccer players do.
YEAH! It's FOOTBALL. F the pads, only wussies wear pads! The guys who wore leather helmets were real men! That's FOOTBALL. YEAH! Please.
i agree with the rule, although vilma's didnt really seem like a horsecollar tackle, but its tough to nitpick...it definatly keeps guys safe
It's called acting. The ball carrier knew he was going to get tackled high and so he kicked his own legs out to make it worse than what it was.
It is BULLSHTIEN ... some of these rules are turning the NFL so gay. I mean you have expect in playing certain if not ALL contact sports certain injury and the like the commentator said right after the call what was Vilma supposed to do let the player just run right by him?