The Controversy Of The NFL Helmet Rule
Photo credited to Wikimedia Commons.
Is the helmet rule helping or hurting the NFL?
August 30, 2018
The National Football League has a new controversy. The NFL has adjusted their helmet and spearing rules. Spearing in the NFL is when a player drops his head and spears the crown of his helmet into someone’s chest, stomach, or in the worst case, their head. This can cause spinal injuries or paralysis to the person performing the move, because the contact rapidly pushes a player’s head down on his spine. As a result, the NFL is trying to eliminate head-to-head collisions. But is the NFL taking it too far?
According to the 2018 NFL rulebook the “Use Of The Helmet” rule requires a flag to be thrown if a player lowers his helmet to make a tackle. The rule specifically states: “It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. Note: The tackle box no longer exists once the ball leaves the tackle box. Penalty: Loss of 15 yards. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down. The player may be disqualified.”
Three-time All-Pro cornerback, Richard Sherman had a lot to say about this new rule. According to SBNation he tweeted, “There is no ‘make adjustment’ to the way you tackle. Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head. The rule is idiotic and should be dismissed immediately. When you watch rugby players tackle they are still leading by their head. We’ll be flag football soon.” Sherman has a point and the NFL might want to listen.
Buffalo Bills Linebacker, Lorenzo Alexander said, “There are going to be injuries that you can’t avoid. You can’t legislate everything out.” He agreed with Sherman that there are going to be tackles and you can’t just make everything a penalty.
In addition, Nick Kwiatkoski from the Chicago Bears stated, “You don’t really know how you’re supposed to tackle anymore.”
We’ll be flag football soon. — Richard Sherman
In one preseason game, cornerback, Kyle Fuller attempted to tackle Denver Broncos’ fullback, Andy Jankovich. He lowered his shoulder to initiate contact and the flag came. “I didn’t know what it was for,” Fuller said. Just behind Fuller was Bears linebacker, Danny Trevathan. “I thought it was a clean hit. Shoulder right into his chest. I guess the angle I had wasn’t the same one the referee had,” Trevathan said.
All of this controversy and complaining might show the NFL that football is a contact sport and there will be hits and tackles.
Pro Bowl Cornerback, Jalen Ramsey blamed the NFL for his teammate’s season-ending knee injury. In a week three preseason game, Marqise Lee, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver, was hit low and hard in the knee by safety Damontae Kazee. Ramsey said, “You can’t be mad at 27. You have to be mad at the NFL; not mad at them, but that is how the rule is. People are scared to tackle normal because I guess they don’t want to do helmet-to-helmet and get flagged. Game-changing stuff could happen. You don’t really want to blame anyone, but you feel bad for him. I don’t know, man, that’s just tough to see it happen to one of my teammates, period, but you can’t really blame 27 (Kazee).” Unlike these other players, Ramsey blamed the NFL and their “Use Of The Helmet” rule for a teammate’s injury.
On the other hand, some players and coaches aren’t yet affected by the new rule.
New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick, stated his opinion about the rule: “From my standpoint, there’s really — it’s not a change for us, not a change for our coaching staff. We’ve never taught tackling with the crown of our helmet, putting our head down, leaning our body forward in that type of position. We’ve always tackled and blocked with our head up, and our eyes open, and our head back, so we can see what we hit. That’s the only way I’ve ever coached it.” Belichick doesn’t seem bothered by this rule, unlike other players and coaches.
Dallas Cowboys’ safety, Jeff Heath had a positive opinion about the rule. “To my understanding, it’s going to be a lot like the college rule. I like it in that I want the game to be safer. I just hope it doesn’t lead to a bunch of ejections.”
As you can see this rule is causing a lot of controversy throughout the league. In just three weeks of NFL preseason, sixty helmet violations have occurred, and the rule is set to be in place for the entire season. Hopefully NFL referees will stop the excessive calling of this penalty. In the end, football is a full-contact sport. Players are certain to get bumps and bruises.
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