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. ‘’

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by HMc

eliminate helmets altogether. You don't see this head as a weapon shit in rugby because people tend to be protective of their heads. Give a guy a helmet, whether he's on a bicycle, skiing, playing football or whatever, and he suddenly thinks he's invincible.

This.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by tk13

One of the doctors involved in the Boston U. study that helped get the ball rolling on all of this has already said kids under 14 shouldn't play football.

I was at a summer camp fair today and was going from table to table. I walked by the football league table and started talking to the guy getting information and realized that I wasn't planning on introducing football to my son and had no reason to to talking to him. So I started getting impatient and looking around to see if my son was going to wander over and start asking about it.

I'm genuinely disappointed as a father because I have always planned to coach my son in little league football. But that's not going to happen. Basketball it is.

[acesn8s]

If the NFL really wanted to stop the players from using the crown of their helmet they should have the players wear the same head gear as boxers. It will prevent the jaw from having the side to side action that causes unconsciousness from severe blows. Additionally, the tops are exposed to discourage the players from dropping their head.

[notorious]

Wow, kids are getting concussions in Pop-Warner? WTF?


I have been involved in some fairly massive shots through Jr High and HS, (giving and receiving) and never got a concussion. I guess I am just lucky.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by HMc

eliminate helmets altogether. You don't see this head as a weapon shit in rugby because people tend to be protective of their heads. Give a guy a helmet, whether he's on a bicycle, skiing, playing football or whatever, and he suddenly thinks he's invincible.

But then it would become rugby, and this isn't rugby.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by scott free

But then it would become rugby, and this isn't rugby.

Really? Were we advocating getting rid of passing and all the other aspects? Football here originally used leather, it would be going back to its roots if anything and making the game safer..

[Mav]

Originally Posted by notorious

Wow, kids are getting concussions in Pop-Warner? WTF?


I have been involved in some fairly massive shots through Jr High and HS, (giving and receiving) and never got a concussion. I guess I am just lucky.

Yeah. I thought the same thing. in high school, i was the gunner on punts, i was the wheel on kickoffs, i set crack downs on lbs, i dont ever recall getting a concussion. Saw stars a couple times. shrugs....who knows

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Valiant

Really? Were we advocating getting rid of passing and all the other aspects? Football here originally used leather, it would be going back to its roots if anything and making the game safer..

I bet if you polled all active players, this idea would die a miserable death.

To look at just one aspect of the game, imagine O lines vs D lines... it would look ridiculous, just a big, slow rugby scrum.

It would completely change the game I love most, and i'll never be sold on that idea.

[BlackHelicopters]

Didn't know Smith could put together a complete sentence.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by notorious

Wow, kids are getting concussions in Pop-Warner? WTF?


I have been involved in some fairly massive shots through Jr High and HS, (giving and receiving) and never got a concussion. I guess I am just lucky.

You've never been diagnosed. And as a kid, how would you ever self diagnose. Perhaps it's more likely to happen now than in the past.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith Fan

Yeah. I thought the same thing. in high school, i was the gunner on punts, i was the wheel on kickoffs, i set crack downs on lbs, i dont ever recall getting a concussion. Saw stars a couple times. shrugs....who knows

I remember doing a drill in 7th Grade where each player stood in the center of a circle of other players and the coach would call out a player number who would rush in and try to level the person at the middle. That person would get slammed good each time often without having any idea where the hit was coming from. I guess the point was to develop improved awareness and to learn to take hits.

In the end, it played a role in my choosing not to keep playing football in HS. It also seems like, looking back, exactly the kind of drill the may have left kids with concussions that we never knew about.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by jAZ

I remember doing a drill in 7th Grade where each player stood in the center of a circle of other players and the coach would call out a player number who would rush in and try to level the person at the middle. That person would get slammed good each time often without having any idea where the hit was coming from. I guess the point was to develop improved awareness and to learn to take hits.

In the end, it played a role in my choosing not to keep playing football in HS. It also seems like, looking back, exactly the kind of drill the may have left kids with concussions that we never knew about.

Bull in the ring. Yup. Remember that one.

[TribalElder]

Emmit smith must be suffering the effects of using the crown of his helmet during his career. This sounds like a great idea NFL

Not

This rule fails at life. Keep ****ing with the rules and soon it will be so pussified nobody will be interested anymore.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by jAZ

I remember doing a drill in 7th Grade where each player stood in the center of a circle of other players and the coach would call out a player number who would rush in and try to level the person at the middle. That person would get slammed good each time often without having any idea where the hit was coming from. I guess the point was to develop improved awareness and to learn to take hits.

In the end, it played a role in my choosing not to keep playing football in HS. It also seems like, looking back, exactly the kind of drill the may have left kids with concussions that we never knew about.

what a pussy.

[hometeam]

This change wont happen, they are proposing it so that they can say they did. Anyone can see that it cannot pass and allow the game to remain even closely the same.