NFL Owners Just Passed the "RB Ducking Rule"

[GamecockSuperFan]

They teach you in little league not to lead with the crown of your helmet. So it's not like this is something new to the game of football. Players don't just put themselves in those kind of situations. If those type of injuries happen, it's because it's an accident. You signed a contract knowing the chances of injury are higher in this particular profession. No one wants to see a guy get hurt, but no one wants to see a guy get flagged or fined for playing football the way it's always been played either. Hopefully refs will make the correct call when the time comes.

[JAYBEZ]

Originally Posted by b381l

Only the Chiefs voted against it. From now on, RB will no longer be able to duck their heads into oncoming defenders to protect themselves. Football will never be the same again. I just can't believe they did this. It's absolutely bullshit. Thank you Roger.....you prick. The owners are going to pay a price for this.

Pay the price? Over dramatic much?

Take the safety issue out of it. Why should the offense be able to do something that the defense is forbidden from?

[b381l]

Originally Posted by usc90grad

So how does your second sentence level the playing field? To me, this rule is going to hurt the RB and allow defenders to knock their lights out easier.

Emmitt Smith said on the radio, many times RB will instinctively duck their heads trying to protect themselves. So now the RB will have to keep his head up basically all the time, and defenders will deliver a blow to the RB chin. Will they get flagged for it, perhaps, but that will be the end of the RB for the day.

[b381l]

Originally Posted by JAYBEZ

Pay the price? Over dramatic much?

Take the safety issue out of it. Why should the offense be able to do something that the defense is forbidden from?

My point, although it was probably over your head, if the NFL continues down this road it will become less popular......which will make the league less valuable. You just can't create rules to try to take away from a game that is inherently violent.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by JAYBEZ

Pay the price? Over dramatic much?

Take the safety issue out of it. Why should the offense be able to do something that the defense is forbidden from?

They have rules that offensive players can't tackle the defensive players don't they? Where is the fairness in that? Maybe they should just ban tackling just for "fairness." That is the way it it appears to be going anyway. Not everything is about fairness, safety, and avoiding paying lawsuits and medical expenses for millionaires. They are sucking all the entertainment value out of the sport. If they start actually calling this play, I will not watch another damn NFL game. It barely resembles the sport I used to love now. This will be the final straw.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by GamecockSuperFan

They teach you in little league not to lead with the crown of your helmet. So it's not like this is something new to the game of football. Players don't just put themselves in those kind of situations. If those type of injuries happen, it's because it's an accident. You signed a contract knowing the chances of injury are higher in this particular profession. No one wants to see a guy get hurt, but no one wants to see a guy get flagged or fined for playing football the way it's always been played either. Hopefully refs will make the correct call when the time comes.

I don't care what "they teach in little league" they do it because it's instinctual when you are fighting for yards or trying to break through a wall of dudes waiting for you at the goal line.

[GamecockSuperFan]

Originally Posted by ReadR00ster

They have rules that offensive players can't tackle the defensive players don't they? Where is the fairness in that? Maybe they should just ban tackling just for "fairness." That is the way it it appears to be going anyway. Not everything is about fairness, safety, and avoiding paying lawsuits and medical expenses for millionaires. They are sucking all the entertainment value out of the sport. If they start actually calling this play, I will not watch another damn NFL game. It barely resembles the sport I used to love now. This will be the final straw.

I mean.. as an offensive player you wouldn't need to tackle a defensive player soo? i think that's pretty fair.

This ruling on the other hand is only fair if your an NFL player who has been getting hit with fines and penalties and wants an even playing field for both sides of the ball.

[GamecockSuperFan]

Originally Posted by ReadR00ster

I don't care what "they teach in little league" they do it because it's instinctual when you are fighting for yards or trying to break through a wall of dudes waiting for you at the goal line.

Chill buddy.. I guess my posts didn't come off correctly, or wasn't read in its entirety. I'm on the side that strongly disagrees with this ruling from the NFL.

[qcgamecock]

Originally Posted by b381l

My point, although it was probably over your head, if the NFL continues down this road it will become less popular......which will make the league less valuable. You just can't create rules to try to take away from a game that is inherently violent.

I understand your point but the NFL has done exactly what you describe since it was started and has become the most popular pro sports league. My father was upset when D Linemen could not slap the helmet anymore, players will adapt and other than some contoversial calls that will just create publicity the game will change very little in my opinion.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by GamecockSuperFan

I mean.. as an offensive player you wouldn't need to tackle a defensive player soo? i think that's pretty fair.

This ruling on the other hand is only fair if your an NFL player who has been getting hit with fines and penalties and wants an even playing field for both sides of the ball.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[GamecockSuperFan]

No one is saying it does.

[klempsux]

Originally Posted by GamecockSuperFan

No one wants to see a guy get hurt, but no one wants to see a guy get flagged or fined for playing football the way it's always been played either. Hopefully refs will make the correct call when the time comes.

I think the real fear on top of all the lawsuits, is that some retired player is going to go Chris Benoit on his family due to the repeated head trauma.

[crowcutta]

i dont think the rule is that big of a deal. i take it as a rb lowering his head intentionally to deliver a blow with the crown of his helmet. we'll see how its officiated because im sure everybody is concerned about the onus being completely on the rb.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by klempsux

I think the real fear on top of all the lawsuits, is that some retired player is going to go Chris Benoit on his family due to the repeated head trauma.

More men will probably go Chris Benoit on their families because The NFL decided to screw up football with pansy rule changes.

[ReadR00ster]

Originally Posted by GamecockMomSC

Obviously I've never played football, so I have a question about the no leading with the helmet thing. It's natural to lean forward when you are trying to run fast. It seems to me it will be a judgement call on the ref's part as to if the player is just trying to go faster, or leading with the crown of the helmet. Furthermore, if you can't stick your neck out and fall forward, how can the ball carrier try to get extra yards?

You've got the gist of it. And I think it was said that they are making it a 15 yard penalty on top of it, ridiculous. It's just too many rules for players to have to keep track of and officials to apply and enforce correctly. Just let the players play football. If you want to make it "more fair toward defenders" just don't penalize the defender when the defender goes low and the ball carrier ducks down. Only penalize when the defender aims high. That is pretty easy to see. I hate rules that requires an official to try to determine a player's intent. They aren't mind readers. They should make it a rule where the officials can see an overt action without trying to judge subjective intent. And don't make more rules when you can accomplish the objective with less rules. Narrowly tailor your rules, and just eliminated the high hits FAIRLY since that is the real objective. And don't give garbage about it being to violent, because they still allow boxers to punch people in the face with no helmets. There is no reason why football players should be treated any differently. They are trying to do this the appease defenders complaining about fines, but all this is going to do is to lead to more fines and more complaining.

[klempsux]

Originally Posted by ReadR00ster

More men will probably go Chris Benoit on their families because The NFL decided to screw up football with pansy rule changes.

I know you're joking, but wanted to follow up. I'm on the fence on the whole thing. I also remember when football was more violent and loved it. I just have a hard time arguing with changes when you see all of these ex players who just have screwed up lives years after the game. I think its one thing for a guy to have a hard time getting out of bed because of the game, but to suffer from psychosis and whatever else seemingly healthy guys do, I dunno. Also is it fair for people to say "Hey they signed up for it" when we are just now learning about the long term effects of the head trauma?

[JAYBEZ]

Originally Posted by b381l

My point, although it was probably over your head, if the NFL continues down this road it will become less popular......which will make the league less valuable. You just can't create rules to try to take away from a game that is inherently violent.

Ah, nice form. No solid argument can be made on the Internet without insulting someone's intelligence.

But because I obviously am unable to understand your vastly superior logic, I will continue to ask questions.( I will let you decide if that was facetious or not)

This is not the first year the NFL has made "controversial" rule changes. And each year people say this is killing the game. Last time I checked, however, the league is now vastly more popular than ever before and vastly more profitable.

This league will continue on this track even with this rule. The only impact it have on the game is that it will protect the players. Which is what the fans want to see. They watch and go to games to see playmakers, not their backups that are playing in place of a concussed player.

[rioninusc]

Another rule that needs changing is the offensive player facemasking the defenders. That always boggles my mind. You see a defender scratch the offenders face and it's 5 15 yards. Then you have offensive players practically breaking the defenders neck and it's ok.

[CaptainCock91]

Nothing the players union does surprises me any more.

You get paid millions of dollars per year to play a damn game, just shut up already. I understand people get hurt and they are trying to prevent it, but if you didn't have this skill, you would probably have a real job, and many (especially construction, manufacturing, etc.) just as much risk of injury and you get paid a whole lot less.

Maybe when people stop spending their money on the NFL because the quality of play has decreased, there won't be enough revenue to go around, and they will realize that their rules are ruining football.

[klempsux]

Originally Posted by CaptainCock91

Nothing the players union does surprises me any more.

You get paid millions of dollars per year to play a damn game, just shut up already. I understand people get hurt and they are trying to prevent it, but if you didn't have this skill, you would probably have a real job, and many (especially construction, manufacturing, etc.) just as much risk of injury and you get paid a whole lot less.

Maybe when people stop spending their money on the NFL because the quality of play has decreased, there won't be enough revenue to go around, and they will realize that their rules are ruining football.

The risk in those jobs would be from accidents, not routine to the job. We're just now starting to see what happens when players from the modern era get older, and we're just now seeing what the unseen effects of repeated blows to the head are. Is it still fair to say "They signed up for it" when they had no idea this could be an issue when they started playing?