New helmet conatct rule/proposal...I agree with Emmit Smith.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

No he can't turn himself into a missile and use his helmet as a battering ram. He may use his shoulder or torso or whatever...just not his helmet....just like defenders can't either. Never made sense to me that defenders would get flagged repeatedly for it when ball-carriers didn't.

Again, you can't do that w/out lowering your head.

[MTK]

I'm guessing this is the type of play they want to get rid of



It's possible to lower your shoulder while slightly turning your body in order to avoid your head being involved.

[Alvin Walton]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I'm guessing this is the type of play they want to get rid of



It's possible to lower your shoulder while slightly turning your body in order to avoid your head being involved.

No doubt those type of hits are dangerous.
In a one on one open field situation like in the picture I could see the rule being of some use but in traffic it will sap the game.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Again, you can't do that w/out lowering your head.

As we can tell from Fisher's quote, the issue is not the lowering of the head. The issue is using the helmet as a weapon. My reading is that you can lower your head as long as you don't do so to create a weapon.

[skinsfan69]

The refs are going to have a real hard time w/ this. They can't even call the games now and throw enough flags as it is. As I said before, the league is trying to make a Hyena a house pet. It just can't be done.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I'm guessing this is the type of play they want to get rid of



It's possible to lower your shoulder while slightly turning your body in order to avoid your head being involved.

I'm not sure I see any RB's dip their heads to this level. This is flat out dangerous on Duane Thomas' part....and even more dangerous on the defender. Both heads should be up where the face masks can be seen. But even then, the helmets will still colide.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Again, you can't do that w/out lowering your head.

Again...you're allowed to do so.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

The refs are going to have a real hard time w/ this. They can't even call the games now and throw enough flags as it is. As I said before, the league is trying to make a Hyena a house pet. It just can't be done.

I don't disagree with you here. The the constant increase in complexity to the rules has to make it harder on the officials to do their job in general.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I'm not sure I see any RB's dip their heads to this level. This is flat out dangerous on Duane Thomas' part....and even more dangerous on the defender. Both heads should be up where the face masks can be seen. But even then, the helmets will still colide.

LeSean McCoy of the Eagles in week 11 vs. Redskins last season got a bad concussion and missed 4 weeks when he lowered his head in a very similar move.

As soon as I saw this topic I thought about that play and wonder if it had anything to do with the creating of this rule. The LeSean McCoy Rule.
That was an ugly play and both players were lucky to not have a career ending injury.

LeSean McCoy injury: Eagles RB carted off after concussion - Bleeding Green Nation

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

The refs are going to have a real hard time w/ this. They can't even call the games now and throw enough flags as it is. As I said before, the league is trying to make a Hyena a house pet. It just can't be done.

With FRPLG, I agree with you on this. Judging intent is always dicey and difficult.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

The refs are going to have a real hard time w/ this. They can't even call the games now and throw enough flags as it is. As I said before, the league is trying to make a Hyena a house pet. It just can't be done.

not that I want to extend the game, but if they are going to have these type of calls, there ought to be an expanded review system where you can challenge bang-bang type plays.

[FRPLG]

Just to be clear...I think it is a terribly imperfect rule but in any case it should go both ways.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

not that I want to extend the game, but if they are going to have these type of calls, there ought to be an expanded review system where you can challenge bang-bang type plays.

No way can they do this. The games are already getting to be too long w/ too much starting and stopping. We'll be watching 4 hour games.

[HailGreen28]

Do it. Players shouldn't lead WITH THE CROWN of their helmets on offense or defense. With the exception that if a ball carrier dives forward, he's fair game to helmet-to-helmet contact like today (no spearing/late hits/etc.). If he slides like a QB, he gets the same protection a QB does (maybe he does already).

And make "stiff arms" illegal too. In an era where defenders ability to tackle, or even interfere with a WR making a catch, are being nitpicked to death: RBs shouldn't have the right to facemask and punch defenders at will.

edit: Tried to clarify what I meant about when the ball carrier dives forward.

[CultBrennan59]

I remember hearing on one of those sports shows years ago, that playing in the nfl ever sunday is pretty much the equivalent to getting into a 35-40 mph accident every sunday.