New safety rule proposal for NFL RBs. Emmitt Smith says NFL has lost its mind

[Deberg_1990]

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/14/e...lost-its-mind/



The NFL is changing its rules to prevent ball-carriers from initiating contact with the crown of the helmet.

It’s an attempt to make the game safer – but the league’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, thinks the NFL should have its own head examined.

“If I’m a running back and I’m running into a linebacker, you’re telling me I have to keep my head up so he can take my chin off?’’ Smith said Thursday in an exclusive interview with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan. “You’ve absolutely lost your mind.’’

The NFL’s rules-making competition committee will propose this change to NFL owners at league meetings next week. At least 24 votes from 32 owners are required for passage.

“As a running back, it’s almost impossible (to not lower your head),’’ said the Dallas Cowboys legend. “The first thing you do is get behind your shoulder pads. That means you’re leaning forward and the first part of contact that’s going to take place is your head, regardless.

“I disagree with the rule altogether. It doesn’t make any sense for that position. It sounds like it’s been made up by people who have never played the game of football.’’

It is the league’s view that the crown of the helmet is dangerous for both the defender (who isn’t allowed to use the technique against ball-carriers) and the player with the ball. The competition committee is clearly seeking extra protection for defenders.

“That’s part of the game,’’ Smith said of “the violent part of the game … I don’t know how you’re going to be able to enforce that rule without really jeopardizing the integrity of the game itself. ‘’

Smith, who helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles and in his 15 NFL seasons amassed a record 18,355 rushing yards, believes the league’s effort “makes the ref’s job, that’s already hard, even tougher. There’s no way in the world a running back is not going to be able to avoid contact without leading with his head first. … If this is truly what the NFL is trying to get after and they’re calling that ‘defenseless’, it’s so subjective that it doesn’t make any sense. That’s one rule that absolutely does not make sense. ‘’

[TrebMaxx]

WTF! Just switch to flag football then.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-pas...8227--nfl.html

NFL passes helmet rule, boots tuck rule
By Terry McCormick | National Football Post – 1 hour 12 minutes ago

Multiple reports from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix indicate that the new rule that will outlaw running backs leading their their helmet has passed by a vote of 31-1.

The change was done in regard to player safety and recommended by the NFL's competition committee.

Meanwhile, the abolishment of the controversial tuck rule that once helped cost the Oakland Raiders a playoff game, is complete with the vote being 30-0-2. The New England Patriots, who benefited from the rule in that game against Oakland, abstained as did the Washington Redskins, according to reports.

Also, the rule has been changed to still allow for replay to take place when a coach tosses the challenge flag on an already reviewable play like a touchdown or turnover. Last Thanksgiving, the old rule that prevented a replay from being used if a coach threw the flag gave the Houston Texans a free touchdown against the Detroit Lions when Lions coach Jim Schwartz tossed the flag out to challenge a down by contact that was not called.

Coaches will now be charged a timeout for an illegal challenge, even if it is successful.

[ghak99]

This is a sad slippery slope.

[Beef Supreme]

Goodell is the worst thing that's ever happened to this league

[jd1020]

So RB's cant defend themselves now?

[Chief Gump]

What does Emmitt have to say about this?

[Easy 6]

This is simply awful news, i want to go off on some furious, wild rant, but in the end all i can come up with is genuine sadness.

I cant imagine how ****ed games are going to look this year, its going to be the mother****ing ugliest penalty fest you've ever witnessed now, as backs try to TOTALLY, COMPLETELY relearn the game.

Man, i just hate this so much, its not football anymore... much more of this and i swear on my Grandfather i'll quit supporting and watching the NFL, they are killing something i dearly love with this nonsense.

[Iowanian]

Might as well mandate passing on 3 and 1 and inside the 10 yard line.

The history channel should have made Satan look like Goodell.

[BlackHelicopters]

Waiting on the Emmitt Smith statement on this new development.

[kcxiv]

The way they explained it on nfl 32 right now it's not that bad only in the open field. Still not a fan of it though