I will have to admit things are getting way to touchy feely in the NFL. What if Boxers filed lawsuits because they got concussions and blamed the associations they fought for unsafe work conditions, or MMA fighters? I always go back to every one of them are aware that injuries happen in football, every one of them have been wearing a helmet since they started playing organized ball with the reason behind it being to "HELP" protect their head. Not guarantee protection.

FargoHawk wrote:

Sturm wrote:I think all the players need to strike until Goodell is fired and thrown out the door on his ass.

Or, all the former players need to stop suing the NFL for their "poor health" after football. It goes both ways.

I agree with FargoHawk just because I think Goodell is a complete joke for an NFL Commissioner. He blew the CBA negotiations with the players and the owners off until it was too late and the season was compromised, then screwed up the start of the next season by blowing off the CBA negotiations with the refs. His unwarranted fining of players for "illegal" hits without oversight from a 3rd party was a major issue. His constant panty-waisting of the sport is sickening. The exclusive rights contract with DirecTV for NFL Sunday Ticket was equivalent to stepping over 10 or 20 one dollar bills in order to pick up a five dollar bill and it put a huge damper on the NFL's market exposure. The mismanagement and misuse of NFL Europe is another good example of his incompetency. Goodell has severely damaged the substance of the game and replaced it with a bunch of smoke, mirrors and fireworks. He's an idiot... pure and simple.

Anybody that plays football knows what they're risking. This is why high school players and college players have to sign forms acknowledging that the possibility of serious injury is a likely possibility, releasing the school from responsibility. Why aren't these players going back and suing their college or their high school for their poor health conditions? Because they know every football program in the country would shut down if athletes started suing the schools for poor health conditions down the road. I'm not going to pay money to watch guys play catch. Hitting is part of the sport. If the players and owners don't want to accept that as a reality and think they're going to eliminate that aspect of the game, eventually they're going to find themselves playing the game for free.

leading with the helmet or leading with the crown?
I think everyone here who has played football has it drilled inside their head to never lead with the crown regardless of position.
if by leading in with the facemask then offensive linemen do this every running play.

http://www.nflevolution.com/article/Hea ... ent_stream

Emmett Smith is right. If this passes, just bring out the flags for flag football.

chris98251 wrote:Well look for a Pete Banazak run, he was a player that was mean running and if I remember used his head. John Riggens as well, there is a reason a running back has a bleeding scar all season from the helmet gashing his face.

Ricky Watters used his head all the time.

What the proposal would change: A 15-yard penalty would be called if a runner or a tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle-to-tackle and from three yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team’s end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or a tackler against an opponent would not be deemed a foul.

http://www.nflevolution.com/article/Hea ... ent_stream

I still contend that this is hardly a big deal and will be called maybe 10 times a season total.

They're not saying it will be a penalty to lower your head when meeting contact. It will be a penalty to intentionally spear opposing tacklers.

Good rule.

brimsalabim wrote:

razgriz737 wrote:Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt62eVLZprc

yep, great find... If this rule passes that's a penalty instead of a first down....

Not a penalty because he leads with his facemask, not the crown of his helmet.

JSeahawks wrote:

What the proposal would change: A 15-yard penalty would be called if a runner or a tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle-to-tackle and from three yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team’s end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or a tackler against an opponent would not be deemed a foul.

http://www.nflevolution.com/article/Hea ... ent_stream

I still contend that this is hardly a big deal and will be called maybe 10 times a season total.

They're not saying it will be a penalty to lower your head when meeting contact. It will be a penalty to intentionally spear opposing tacklers.

Good rule.

if defensive spearing is illegal for neck injuries, then why isn't offensive spearing illegal?
This penalty would have saved us a big run in the ATL game when Jaquizz speared Earl Thomas.

JSeahawks wrote:

What the proposal would change: A 15-yard penalty would be called if a runner or a tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle-to-tackle and from three yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team’s end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or a tackler against an opponent would not be deemed a foul.

http://www.nflevolution.com/article/Hea ... ent_stream

I still contend that this is hardly a big deal and will be called maybe 10 times a season total.

They're not saying it will be a penalty to lower your head when meeting contact. It will be a penalty to intentionally spear opposing tacklers.

Good rule.

This sounds like some ESPN mid-level management talking point.