Unnecessary Roughness Penalties

[pbmax]

This article from last season implies that a helmet-to-helmet hit on a runner is legal. However, leaving your feet is definitely a penalty. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blogs...105720798.html

That is still the rule. However, it doesn't apply to defenseless players and that list was expanded this offseason.

[Guiness]

This article from last season implies that a helmet-to-helmet hit on a runner is legal. However, leaving your feet is definitely a penalty. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blogs...105720798.html

Interesting article, not sure how authoritative it is though. Sure seems like those hits are illegal in the open field. Might get away with them when hitting an RB between the tackles, but not much else it seems.

But if that's the case, McClain was certainly a runner. He has turned, and was heading up field. It was a blind side hit though, I don't think he ever saw Duante coming.

[pbmax]

Have they implemented any rules on equipment standards? It would make sense before changing the entire play of the game that players should be required to wear a mouth guard, have double snapped chinstraps that are always fully snapped, and proper padding.

Can't be because few of the QBs wear them. And given ARod's chinstrap, the double ones cannot be mandatory. Hell, they don't even force veterans to use newer helmets. From a visual standpoint (not the best measure, I know) Rodgers new helmet barely looks different from previous models. And no one outside of the LOS wears knee or thigh pads anymore. Get off my lawn!

However, there would still be new rules about the head even if they were all wearing the new stuff. Vick's concussion was from deceleration and rotation, not from improper protection from his padding. Same with Maclin, had that hit driven him into something hard.

[smuggler]

Anyone know the answer to Smuggler's question? Is helmet to helmet legal on a runner?

Penalties: 15 Yards: Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily.

Which basically means if the officials feel like it, they can flag you for a helmet-to-helmet. I don't know if there's been a language change or if they are just emphasizing it.

Also of interest...

Penalties: 15 Yards: Delay of game at the start of either half, or overtime.

Could you imagine how killer this would be in overtime?

E: Here's the source: http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/penaltysummaries

[Guiness]

Which basically means if the officials feel like it, they can flag you for a helmet-to-helmet. I don't know if there's been a language change or if they are just emphasizing it.

So, it can be a penalty, if the refs want it to be. Got it!

[pbmax]

Originally Posted by NFL.com
Penalties: 15 Yards: Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily.

What if you are Robinson and you hit him with the back corner, does that count?

[Cheesehead Craig]

If Robinson learned to actually tackle he wouldn't have a problem.

Too many DBs just throw themselves at WRs and RBs and hope the collision itself knocks the guys down. It's like they don't want to mess up their manicure or something by using their hands.

[pbmax]

I blame Chuck Cecil.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I blame Chuck Cecil.

I blame Ronnie Lott.

[Joemailman]

I blame Ken Stills.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Essentially, everything is a penalty. Hitting with your helmet, leaving your feet, hitting high, hitting low, tackling anywhere a millisecond after the ball leaves the Prince's hand.

I'm not being sarcastic: I think the QB should wear a red jersey during the game, and the defenders have to touch the QB with two hands while he has the ball. That would make the rules clear and honest.

[vince]

Essentially, everything is a penalty. Hitting with your helmet, leaving your feet, hitting high, hitting low, tackling anywhere a millisecond after the ball leaves the Prince's hand.

I'm not being sarcastic: I think the QB should wear a red jersey during the game, and the defenders have to touch the QB with two hands while he has the ball. That would make the rules clear and honest.

This is absolutely true with QB's. The league has gone too far IMO. That tackle by Bishop on Newton was textbook. Maybe he came down on him some with a bit of a pile drive, but Newton can be tough to bring down, especially if a guy has to ease up on him. That should be a legal tackle if there ever was one.

I'm not sure I'd say the same about the defenseless receiver rules though. Granted it's tough to hold up, but that's where Daryl Stingley stuff can happen. And I used to be a strong safety who loved to hit people hard, especially receivers and quarterbacks. They didn't hit back, and if they tried, that was even better.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I totally agree with the protections for the recievers. A lot of those tough-guy safties, including Chuck Cecil, were just cheap shot artists spearing defenseless players.

I can live with most of the protections for QBs, even if I don't agree 100%. But this business of flagging a legal tackle just because the ball was released is absurd. The NFL has jumped the shark.

[Bossman641]

Roman Harper got flagged for an awful roughing penalty on Cutler yesterday. The reason for the penalty? He "landed on Cutler with his entire body weight." He didn't drive him into the ground at all, simply hit him a split second after Cutler threw the ball. Already this year I have seen 4-5 terrible calls.

[Harlan Huckleby]

simply hit him a split second after Cutler threw the ball. Already this year I have seen 4-5 terrible calls.

Sorry for the broken record, but that is no longer considered a terrible call. Its the new rule, as stupid as it might be.