NFL passes rule against lowering head to initiate contact with helmet

[Mike135]

The NFL has made a major rule change aimed at player safety, banning all plays on which a player lowers his head to initiate contact with his helmet.

“It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent,” the new rule says, according to the NFL. “The player may be disqualified. Applies to any player anywhere on the field.”

Rich McKay, chair of the league’s Competition Committee, said today that the rule change is a big one that will outlaw a technique that we’ve previously seen often in the game of football.

“This is a pretty significant change,” McKay said. “We felt it was time for a change of this magnitude.”

McKay said the NFL’s research has found that a large number of concussions happen on plays when a player lowers his head, and that banning such techniques will make the game safer.

Until we see the precise wording of the rule, and how strictly the officials enforce it, it’s hard to say how big an impact this change will have. But with the NFL now imposing a 15-yard penalty for a technique that we’ve previously seen often in football, this sounds like it’s going to have a major impact on the sport.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/27/nfl-passes-rule-against-lowering-head-to-initiate-contact-with-helmet/

[Beerfish]

That one is going to be very tough to enforce and will cause many many problems.  You simply cannot keep your head up for a lot of different tackling techniques.  This one will be the next big who knows what is a foul and what is not a foul kind of thing.

[Grandy]

Eh

There comes a point where the game is dulled to the point where it's no longer Football.

[dcJet]

This is an April Fools joke, right?

[IndianaJet]

8 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

That one is going to be very tough to enforce and will cause many many problems.  You simply cannot keep your head up for a lot of different tackling techniques.  This one will be the next big who knows what is a foul and what is not a foul kind of thing.

Just coming to post the same sentiment.  What does lowering your head mean?  It's almost an instinctive motion for both defensive and offensive players when initiating contact.

They say holding can be called on every play...well, add this one to that list.

[dcJet]

Highest guy wins?

[dcJet]

I really like the college targeting rule.  Would love to see that in the NFL.

[JoJoTownsell1]

2 minutes ago, IndianaJet said:

Just coming to post the same sentiment.  What does lowering your head mean?  It's almost an instinctive motion for both defensive and offensive players when initiating contact.

They say holding can be called on every play...well, add this one to that list.

Yup and they'll have to learn not to do it again so we don't have future generations of mentally damaged players. 

You can still lower your helmet, but you just can't lead with your helmet to make the contact. Guys will just have to learn to keep their head up when going in for the tackle. 

[JoJoTownsell1]

1 minute ago, dcJet said:

I really like the college targeting rule.  Would love to see that in the NFL.

100%. Disappointed they opted against it. You see college players pulling up on big hits for fear of getting kicked out.

[Beerfish]

1 minute ago, dcJet said:

I really like the college targeting rule.  Would love to see that in the NFL.

I like the majority of the college rules better than NFL rules.  Sideline catch rules, pass interference penalties, almost all of them.

[dcJet]

I hate seeing those big hits against defenseless players.   It doesn't take any talent as a defender to just slam the receiver and not make a play on the ball. I think it's cowardly.  

[RaoulDuke]

The game is going to change whether  we like it or not. We can expect rule changes like this for the next few years which will go significantly against what we consider football.

[pointman]

So no more running through players. Got it. Sad day, boys. Sad day.

[Mike135]

If we draft the right QB a month from now, he could be our QB for the next 30 years with these rule changes.

[BurnleyJet]

More pussification of the game. 

[NYs Stepchild]

45 minutes ago, Beerfish said:

That one is going to be very tough to enforce and will cause many many problems.  You simply cannot keep your head up for a lot of different tackling techniques.  This one will be the next big who knows what is a foul and what is not a foul kind of thing.

I think they're talking about runners. Next it'll be stiff arms. 

[nycdan]

39 minutes ago, dcJet said:

Highest guy wins?

Then we screwed up trading Sheldon.

[nycdan]

Wait...so just so I'm clear on this rule...is this now a penalty?

 

 

 

[dcJet]

4 minutes ago, NYs Stepchild said:

I think they're talking about runners. Next it'll be stiff arms. 

It does say "Applies to any player anywhere on the field."   I guess they are expanding the helmet to helmet rule to everyone and not just defenseless receivers and pussy QB's like Brady.

 

[Matt39]

Wait what is this

[nico002]

Can a running back lower their head to plow over a defender?

[#27TheDominator]

44 minutes ago, dcJet said:

I hate seeing those big hits against defenseless players.   It doesn't take any talent as a defender to just slam the receiver and not make a play on the ball. I think it's cowardly.  

 

COWARDS!

[Warfish]

Really liked the changes to the catch rules.

Really REALLY hoped Pass Interference was going to the college/15 yard rule, sadly not passed.

This rule?  Meh, gonna make life impossible for running backs tbqh.  If enforced the way it's written (a huge if in this league).

[rangerous]

isn't this the same as spearing?  if they want to see players keeping their heads up they'd get rid of the helmets.

[dcJet]

3 hours ago, #27TheDominator said:

 

COWARDS!

Courageous would be taking them on when you are face to face.  Spearing them in the back when they are jumping to catch a pass is gutless.  Any scrub can do that.

Not these guys you posted, but gutless DB's spear a receiver after getting beat for 20 yards and COWER when an RB turns the corner at them.

[Ken Schroy]

4 hours ago, Mike135 said:

The NFL has made a major rule change aimed at player safety, banning all plays on which a player lowers his head to initiate contact with his helmet.

“It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent,” the new rule says, according to the NFL. “The player may be disqualified. Applies to any player anywhere on the field.”

Rich McKay, chair of the league’s Competition Committee, said today that the rule change is a big one that will outlaw a technique that we’ve previously seen often in the game of football.

“This is a pretty significant change,” McKay said. “We felt it was time for a change of this magnitude.”

McKay said the NFL’s research has found that a large number of concussions happen on plays when a player lowers his head, and that banning such techniques will make the game safer.

Until we see the precise wording of the rule, and how strictly the officials enforce it, it’s hard to say how big an impact this change will have. But with the NFL now imposing a 15-yard penalty for a technique that we’ve previously seen often in football, this sounds like it’s going to have a major impact on the sport.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/27/nfl-passes-rule-against-lowering-head-to-initiate-contact-with-helmet/

It sounds like it includes offense as well. Too many times a RB, TE or WR lowers their helmet and the Def get the penalty.

[dcJet]

Hey I like to see a nice hit, like back in the day when Shade Tree would knock MF'ers out, but that was face to face, man to man. 

A full speed helmet to the head while the receiver has his back turned and is focused on the football, is not heroic.  It takes no talent and it's cowardly.

[HessStation]

4 hours ago, dcJet said:

I hate seeing those big hits against defenseless players.   It doesn't take any talent as a defender to just slam the receiver and not make a play on the ball. I think it's cowardly.  

Definitely never played defensive back^?

[dcJet]

2 minutes ago, HessStation said:

Definitely never played defensive back^?

I was a TE.  

[DMan77]

So... What happens when a running back lowers his head to burst through the line? Or a QB ducking on a sneak?

 

 

 

[Butterfield]

59 minutes ago, DMan77 said:

So... What happens when a running back lowers his head to burst through the line? Or a QB ducking on a sneak?

 

 

It appears that those would be penalties, and I am okay with that.

[ljr]

1 hour ago, DMan77 said:

So... What happens when a running back lowers his head to burst through the line? Or a QB ducking on a sneak?

 

 

 

Hahahahahah .. We all know the call won't go against Brady*

other QB's though ???

[Jack Straw]

This will likely apply to RB's who exclusively lead/spear with their head. It's dangerous and blatant and quite obvious "know it when you see it." I'm guessing more incidental contact will be ignored, but with this league, you never know...

[HessStation]

The NFL is basically a long term relationship. You know it's over. It sucks now. You don't even like it anymore. But you just hold onto it because humans are creatures of habit. 

[jetsons]

2 hand touch here we come.  :/