League Passes New Player Safety Rules

[T-Sizzle55]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='172328' date='Mar 24 2009, 03:19 PM']Let's see Hines Ward do what he "does best" now:


Source: [url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-nfl324,0,7737834.story"]BaltimoreSun.com[/url]

I guess we can call it the Hines Ward Rule.

There's also three other new rules, mostly special teams-related.[/quote]

Funny how they passed it after the Steelers used it all season long. They got to the Superbowl by abusing the very same rules the league is now enforcing. It wasn't just Ward, but all of their players were guily of it at one time or another and people just pawned it off as just saying, "They are just really physical". They left a pile of wounded players in their wake. Keith River's broken jaw, McGahee's concussion and bruised neck, among a laundry list of other injuries and illegal contact that was happening, but as long as it helped the Steelers win, non of them were called. The officials fined Ward once maybe twice an entire week after the penalty occured. But Ward and the rest of them got bonuses for winning a certain amount of games and for getting into and winning games in playoffs. The acts more than paid for themselves as long as it was only a fine and not a game changing penalty.

The league probably changed it to protect the Steeler's players because now every team that they faced last season is thinking payback.

I value sportsmanship and I'm all for playing fair, but when someone tries to send a message to you through endangering the health of one of your best players (after you just lost the game), then you have to redefine your definition of "Fair". If we're winning, I would take an "appropriate" penalty on Ward or Clark.

[Nevermore52]

[quote name='T-Sizzle55' post='172540' date='Mar 25 2009, 06:31 AM']Funny how they passed it after the Steelers used it all season long. They got to the Superbowl by abusing the very same rules the league is now enforcing. It wasn't just Ward, but all of their players were guily of it at one time or another and people just pawned it off as just saying, "They are just really physical". They left a pile of wounded players in their wake. Keith River's broken jaw, McGahee's concussion and bruised neck, among a laundry list of other injuries and illegal contact that was happening, but as long as it helped the Steelers win, non of them were called. The officials fined Ward once maybe twice an entire week after the penalty occured. But Ward and the rest of them got bonuses for winning a certain amount of games and for getting into and winning games in playoffs. The acts more than paid for themselves as long as it was only a fine and not a game changing penalty.

The league probably changed it to protect the Steeler's players because now every team that they faced last season is thinking payback.

I value sportsmanship and I'm all for playing fair, but when someone tries to send a message to you through endangering the health of one of your best players (after you just lost the game), then you have to redefine your definition of "Fair". If we're winning, I would take an "appropriate" penalty on Ward or Clark.[/quote]

I don't understand why people complain about things every team coaches, isn't against the rules and doesn't even draw a penalty flag. If I recall correctly, of all the big hits that get talked about only the Wes Welker hit drew a penalty. Correct me if I am wrong. When playing against the Steelers, you had better keep your head on a swivel because every one is taught to block down field. Certain parts of what you are describing are now against the rules and hopefully will be enforced on every team every time. It's a contact sport. Protecting players from needless injury is important, protecting them from all injury is impossible.

[SUPERBOWLorBUST]

I honestly think they are making to many rules to protect the players...it's football! it's a dangerous sport. the players know that going into it. bottom line......what's next? a 15 yard penalty for looking at a guy the wrong way?

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='SUPERBOWLorBUST' post='172542' date='Mar 25 2009, 07:23 AM']I honestly think they are making to many rules to protect the players...it's football! it's a dangerous sport. the players know that going into it. bottom line......what's next? a 15 yard penalty for looking at a guy the wrong way?[/quote]
+1

Before too long we're gonna be looking at touch football.

[griever]

[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343[/url]

another rule to protect pretty boy tom brady...slowly but surely this is turning into two hand touch/flag football

these rules will severely impede those rush heavy heavy, hard hitting, dominate defenses (ravens, steelers and others)

looks like the league wants the patsies to win it all next year

[PSL541]

[quote name='Nevermore52' post='172541' date='Mar 25 2009, 07:06 AM']I don't understand why people complain about things every team coaches, isn't against the rules and doesn't even draw a penalty flag. If I recall correctly, of all the big hits that get talked about only the Wes Welker hit drew a penalty. Correct me if I am wrong. When playing against the Steelers, you had better keep your head on a swivel because every one is taught to block down field. Certain parts of what you are describing are now against the rules and hopefully will be enforced on every team every time. It's a contact sport. Protecting players from needless injury is important, protecting them from all injury is impossible.[/quote]

Exactly. Crying about the Pittsburgh WR's blocking down field is like complaining that the Pats use the fade route in the end zone with Moss. It's LEGAL. Now these blocks are NOT legal. You can't retro-actively say all Pittsburgh has done is tainted. You don't take old DB's out of the hall of fame NOW when all the rules against contact with a WR weren't in place THEN. Get over it. They win, we don't. Now that these rules are in place we better start winning or we will have to come up with ANOTHER excuse.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Nevermore52' post='172538' date='Mar 25 2009, 06:00 AM'][url="http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/teams.html"]The official HoF site[/url] lists the Bears with 26 entries, 5 of which were not Bears for the bulk of their careers. The Packers with 21 entries also 5 of which were not Packers for the bulk of their careers. Both of those clubs are beating the Steelers who only have 18 and 5.

Currently we have one partial (Woodson who went in as a Steeler) and[b] two sure fire picks in J.O. and Ray.[/b]

That being said, I am looking forward to the new safety rules. When players get hurt it lessens the product on the field to some degree. I think you will still see plenty of big hits and blindsides at times too. There can still be huge hits that aren't up high or spears. See what you hit and don't aim high.[/quote]

its 3, you forgot ed reed

[3Zach21]

These rules are horrible.
It's another case of Goodell trying to make football, playground football.

A player on the ground cannot lunge at the QB now. This is the worst rule i've seen in my life, all because it was Tom Brady it happened to. What is a player that is right in front of the QB supposed to do that is on the ground. Is he supposed to take 1, 2, or 3 seconds to get up, and then sack the QB? This rule is hilarious. Only 5 players in a group on an onside kick? Are you kidding me? Next rule is any tackle above the abdomen is going to be a 15 yard penalty.

These players are getting paid millions of dollars every year. Making that much, they should have to take a little bit of risk. Soon they are going to be paid even more to play flag football. Way to go Goodell!

[Devastat1on]

[quote name='3Zach21' post='172679' date='Mar 25 2009, 02:53 PM']These rules are horrible.
It's another case of Goodell trying to make football, playground football.

A player on the ground cannot lunge at the QB now. This is the worst rule i've seen in my life, all because it was Tom Brady it happened to. What is a player that is right in front of the QB supposed to do that is on the ground. Is he supposed to take 1, 2, or 3 seconds to get up, and then sack the QB? This rule is hilarious. Only 5 players in a group on an onside kick? Are you kidding me? Next rule is any tackle above the abdomen is going to be a 15 yard penalty.

These players are getting paid millions of dollars every year. Making that much, they should have to take a little bit of risk. Soon they are going to be paid even more to play flag football. Way to go Goodell![/quote]

I dont think you could be any more right.. How can a player on the ground not lunge at the quarterback? I mean, you are supposed to tackle the person with the ball right? As hes trying to get up, he'll just get thrown back to the ground by a lineman.. I agree this rule wouldnt have been put into place if it werent for Tom Brady's injury.. The NFL probably lost millions due to Tom Brady's injury so now they're making this ridiculous rule to protect their investments so they dont lose money.. C'mon, its football, we might as well give the quarterback a skirt!

[plesiosaur]

[quote name='3Zach21' post='172679' date='Mar 25 2009, 02:53 PM']These rules are horrible.
It's another case of Goodell trying to make football, playground football.

A player on the ground cannot lunge at the QB now. This is the worst rule i've seen in my life, all because it was Tom Brady it happened to. What is a player that is right in front of the QB supposed to do that is on the ground. Is he supposed to take 1, 2, or 3 seconds to get up, and then sack the QB? This rule is hilarious. Only 5 players in a group on an onside kick? Are you kidding me? Next rule is any tackle above the abdomen is going to be a 15 yard penalty.

These players are getting paid millions of dollars every year. Making that much, they should have to take a little bit of risk. Soon they are going to be paid even more to play flag football. Way to go Goodell![/quote]

This compunds the dumbness of the roughing the QB rules. These are not small men (mostly) and all the momentum of a linebacker coming in for a sack can't simply be stopped the second a QB releases the ball. I see some frustrating 15 yard penalties coming this season.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Devastat1on' post='172682' date='Mar 25 2009, 03:01 PM']I dont think you could be any more right.. How can a player on the ground not lunge at the quarterback? I mean, you are supposed to tackle the person with the ball right? As hes trying to get up, he'll just get thrown back to the ground by a lineman.. I agree this rule wouldnt have been put into place if it werent for Tom Brady's injury.. The NFL probably lost millions due to Tom Brady's injury so now they're making this ridiculous rule to protect their investments so they dont lose money.. C'mon, its football, we might as well give the quarterback a skirt![/quote]
.. next thing you know kickers and QB's will be look alike cross dressers jk lol

[macbrak]

Welcome to the National Flag Football League.

[Devastat1on]

[quote name='Reddawn36' post='172698' date='Mar 25 2009, 03:24 PM'].. next thing you know kickers and QB's will be look alike cross dressers jk lol[/quote]

Mitch Berger might as well be one.. It should be mandatory for him to wear a skirt after that play in the playoffs..

EDIT: After 5 minutes of photoshop..

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/xjunkxyardxdoggx/Mitch-Berger-1.gif[/img]

Hows that look for Mitch? I think its the perfect way to avoid roughing the kicker and passer penalties.. I wouldnt want to tackle a guy to the floor thats wearing that..

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='griever' post='172636' date='Mar 25 2009, 01:16 PM'][url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343[/url]

another rule to protect pretty boy tom brady...slowly but surely this is turning into two hand touch/flag football

these rules will severely impede those rush heavy heavy, hard hitting, dominate defenses (ravens, steelers and others)

looks like the league wants the patsies to win it all next year[/quote]

soon the phrase will go, "defenses WON championships"


not to mention if it did become flag football, it would be very hard to tell when there was a penalty.....

FLAG ON THE PLAY.... you pulled his flag too hard

[griever]

i mean yeah, protect the players, but this is ridiculous...QBs play football too

[AlaskanRavensFan]

The fact that there is a penalty for those type of hits won't take them out of the game, it will just mean that the play gets flagged. Remember when the NFL put in that rule because of Kimo Von Oelhoffen landing on Carson Palmer's knee. Well, sure enough Tom Brady had the same thing happen to him. The rule itself really doesn't change a whole lot, other than how that play will be percieved during the game.

There will always be room for hard legal hits, look at Ray's hit on Ahmard Hall in the divisional round against the Titans.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='griever' post='172636' date='Mar 25 2009, 12:16 PM'][url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11543343[/url]

another rule to protect pretty boy tom brady...slowly but surely this is turning into two hand touch/flag football

these rules will severely impede those rush heavy heavy, hard hitting, dominate defenses (ravens, steelers and others)

looks like the league wants the patsies to win it all next year[/quote]
U all are over exaggerating.... this is a good rule... I play football and someone diving into your shin as hard as they can to make a tackle hurt... I had it happen to me but i was stepping forward like Brady

was so it wasnt as serious. I was playing dline and I threw the guy down and the linemen decided to throw a cheap shot after the play had passed.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='3Zach21' post='172679' date='Mar 25 2009, 01:53 PM']These rules are horrible.
It's another case of Goodell trying to make football, playground football.

A player on the ground cannot lunge at the QB now. This is the worst rule i've seen in my life,[b] all because it was Tom Brady it happened to[/b]. What is a player that is right in front of the QB supposed to do that is on the ground. Is he supposed to take 1, 2, or 3 seconds to get up, and then sack the QB? This rule is hilarious. Only 5 players in a group on an onside kick? Are you kidding me? Next rule is any tackle above the abdomen is going to be a 15 yard penalty.

These players are getting paid millions of dollars every year. Making that much, they should have to take a little bit of risk. Soon they are going to be paid even more to play flag football. Way to go Goodell![/quote]
And Palmer.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='Devastat1on' post='172705' date='Mar 25 2009, 02:36 PM']Mitch Berger might as well be one.. It should be mandatory for him to wear a skirt after that play in the playoffs..

EDIT: After 5 minutes of photoshop..

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/xjunkxyardxdoggx/Mitch-Berger-1.gif[/img]

Hows that look for Mitch? I think its the perfect way to avoid roughing the kicker and passer penalties.. I wouldnt want to tackle a guy to the floor thats wearing that..[/quote]
NICE!!! hahaahahahaha. If someone threw a flag on me for roughing the kicker like the ones he got last year, I would just get up and really throw a hit on him

[AlaskanRavensFan]

The wedge rules were harder to understand though. So you can still form a wedge, but only a two-man wedge is allowed. i suppose that will prevent some injuries. I have to admit that i attribute most special teams injuries on the fact that both sides are running full speed toward each other, rather than on wedges. I could just be ignorant, but I think that the wedge rule is not going to solve that problem.

[Moderator 3]

A two-man wedge is just a couple of guys holding hands. It takes at least three to form a "wedge". Weird rule.

[jfc13]

[quote name='Moderator 3' post='172748' date='Mar 25 2009, 04:46 PM']A two-man wedge is just a couple of guys holding hands... Weird rule.[/quote]

[Marc2k6]

i think they are making to many crazy rules myself. Pretty soon NFL player will not even have to wear helmets and pads. Yeah, flag football people!

[SUPERBOWLorBUST]

[quote name='Devastat1on' post='172705' date='Mar 25 2009, 03:36 PM']Mitch Berger might as well be one.. It should be mandatory for him to wear a skirt after that play in the playoffs..

EDIT: After 5 minutes of photoshop..

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/xjunkxyardxdoggx/Mitch-Berger-1.gif[/img]

Hows that look for Mitch? I think its the perfect way to avoid roughing the kicker and passer penalties.. I wouldnt want to tackle a guy to the floor thats wearing that..[/quote]


HAHAHAHA - - it looks good on him! you forgot his training bra though!

[Devastat1on]

[quote name='SUPERBOWLorBUST' post='172838' date='Mar 25 2009, 08:21 PM']HAHAHAHA - - it looks good on him! you forgot his training bra though![/quote]

[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/xjunkxyardxdoggx/Mitch-Berger2.gif[/img]

Hows that one?

Hes the only girl i know who cant color coordinate..

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='3Zach21' post='172679' date='Mar 25 2009, 02:53 PM']These rules are horrible.
It's another case of Goodell trying to make football, playground football.[/quote]
Don't pin all the blame on the Commish. Jeff Fisher (yes, that Jeff Fisher) and the Competition Committee are the ones who came up with this -- and most of the committee, I believe, is made up of coaches.

[macbrak]

[quote name='Moderator 3' post='172748' date='Mar 25 2009, 04:46 PM']A two-man wedge is just a couple of guys holding hands. It takes at least three to form a "wedge". Weird rule.[/quote]


Yes how do you make a two man wedge?

--snip--

gives up smiley depiction of wedge...

[darklight1216]

The wedge rule is weird, but other than that I'm cool with them. The Hines Ward rule makes sense to me and though I'm sure the Tom Brady rule will apply to no other qb, I'm basically in support of the rules. We'll just have to hope our team is able adapt and other teams *cough* Steelers *cough* aren't.

[markorad]

love the new "hines ward" rule, that guy is the biggest cheap shot and piece of crap out there. i wish the worst for that guy