Giants RB blasts 'stupid' rule

The NFL may be unleashing the law of unintended consequences with this rule. Change a ball carrier's running style and it will result in fewer hits to the head, but more hits to other parts of the body, equally as vulnerable (knees, lower spine), and maybe the trend changes from head injuries to a rash of knee injuries. It's a big experiment and it will take a couple of years to see how it turns out.

We will all have to just wait and see how it is enforced. My guess is that unless it is in the open field and flagrant, then it will not be called. Just like offensive holding, happens every play and rarely called.

Agreed. By making backs run holding their heads higher it will also slow them down and make it harder to avoid contact. It's harder to pull through a stride with head and back up and it's harder to move side to side in that same position. I'm sure they had "experts" study the result of changing the natural running position but they were paid by the NFL to agree so yes, we'll see how it shakes out.

Yet another "brilliant" idea from the puddle of Goodells' leadership. I hear they're experimenting with bubble wrap as well.

It is only a rule if someone enforces it, and after the pre season is done it will rarely be called. It will take a hat on hat hit that is obviously intended. A new rule was not necessary, it could have been enforced under the old rule book. Jeesh!

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:55 AM ET  03.22 by 50yearfan

It is only a rule if someone enforces it, and after the pre season is done it will rarely be called. It will take a hat on hat hit that is obviously intended. A new rule was not necessary, it could have been enforced under the old rule book. Jeesh!

Let's hope you're right. The first time a back hits a safety five yards down field for a first down at a key point in the game and the ref calls him for illegal contact there's gonna be a riot in the stands.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:11 AM ET  03.22 by UtahFriday

Let's hope you're right. The first time a back hits a safety five yards down field for a first down at a key point in the game and the ref calls him for illegal contact there's gonna be a riot in the stands.

But, the back would have been called for a penalty under the old rules anyway. I think that's the point.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:21 AM ET  03.22 by brotha68

But, the back would have been called for a penalty under the old rules anyway. I think that's the point.

Any penalty for such plays was already there. I don't think it will be a big deal, besides, most of these guys run out of bounds anyways. We shall see.

Yes it is a stupid rule but the only people to blame for this are the players and former players. Their own stupidity is coming to bite them in the rear end.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  03.22 by 50yearfan

Any penalty for such plays was already there. I don't think it will be a big deal, besides, most of these guys run out of bounds anyways. We shall see.

they can go to the Earl Campbell School of Stiffarm

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:37 AM ET  03.22 by 50yearfan

We will all have to just wait and see how it is enforced. My guess is that unless it is in the open field and flagrant, then it will not be called. Just like offensive holding, happens every play and rarely called.

I disagree. I think it will be called like the "defenseless" WR rule where it seems like every hit on a WR results in a first down and is part of the reason all the offeenses are almost impoosible to stop. The NFL is on the road to irrelevancy with these rule changes.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:44 AM ET  03.22 by LL Cool AJ

they can go to the Earl Campbell School of Stiffarm

They cant do like Big Earl because theres only one Earl Campbell.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:55 AM ET  03.22 by Heywood Jeblowme

They cant do like Big Earl because theres only one Earl Campbell.

This would be penalized now

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:44 AM ET  03.22 by LL Cool AJ

they can go to the Earl Campbell School of Stiffarm

That looked more like shoulder and brute strength to me than stiffarm.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:07 AM ET  03.22 by LL Cool AJ

This would be penalized now

There isn't any penalty on that play. It's just Earl running over Isiah Robertson. In that same game he also knocked the safety Bill Simpson out the game with a chest bruise.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:55 AM ET  03.22 by Heywood Jeblowme

They cant do like Big Earl because theres only one Earl Campbell.

EXACTLY!!!

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:08 AM ET  03.22 by brotha68

That looked more like shoulder and brute strength to me than stiffarm.

WORD!! He threw the guy back five yards! DAMN!

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:07 AM ET  03.22 by LL Cool AJ

This would be penalized now

Nice. Otis Anderson had no problem with it either. good vid. Thanks.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:44 AM ET  03.22 by LL Cool AJ

they can go to the Earl Campbell School of Stiffarm

Earl was a BEAST....

Games are going to take longer and longer because now they'll replay to see if the runner lowered his head or the defender dropped down.......it's a giant cluster****. Why can't all players just sign a waiver that says they won't ever sue the NFL for allowing them to play football the way it's supposed to be played?