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The competition committee enacted a change on its own to protect quarterbacks against low hits by defenders. As part of an officiating point of emphasis, the committee instructed officials to penalize any defensive player who lunges from the ground, after being knocked down by a blocker, and drives his head or shoulder into the quarterback's lower leg. It remains permissible for a defender to swipe at a quarterback's legs from the ground.
That change does not require a vote by the teams because it is an officiating point of emphasis, not a rule change. That move comes in the offseason after New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury on a low hit in last year's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
If Pollard had hit Jon Kitna and knocked him out for the year this would have never been an issue.
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