The NFL competition committee is proposing a new safety rule change that would outlaw any contact initiated with the crown of the helmet. The rule would apply to players on both sides of the ball outside of the tackle boxes and will be voted on at the owners meetings in Phoenix next week.
While the league is saying this proposed rule is for player safety, running backs aren’t buying in to it.
Running backs generally lower their shoulders when running to protect the ball and brace for impact. Often times, if a player gets their shoulders low enough, they can break through tackles and gain a few extra yards. This would be prohibited under the league’s new proposed rule.
NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith was one of the first to speak out about the proposed rule change by saying, “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? You’ve absolutely lost your mind.’’
We’d have to agree.
Now, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte took to Twitter to give his opinion on the idiocy of the proposed rule:
The proposed rule change for running backs might be the most absurd suggestion of a rule change I've ever heard of.
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 17, 2013
In order to lower ur shoulder u obviously have to lower ur head. It's a way of protecting ur self from a tackler and a way to break tackles
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 17, 2013
U can't change the instinctive nature of running the football.
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) March 17, 2013
Honestly, Matt Forte was being nice. He could have gone off a lot more on the competition committee for the proposed rule change.
If you want to protect the players, you can find ways that will not change the way the game is played. The league should know that if they go through with their proposed rule change, running backs will be getting knocked out cold and fumbles will become more common. If you want to risk the quality of play, then by all means, vote through an asinine rule.
But for those of us who are reasonable and understand the nature of the game, contact with the crown of the helmet will happen. Outlawing it will do nothing but hurt the game.