#DIRTY LAND DIRTY STICK TV#

On replay, one can see that clearly didn't happen. He was flagged here for a hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who allegedly received a forearm to the head. Suh is known as a dirty player on the field. Take this play by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for example: It also contains a whole lot of fine lines which can enrage both the players on the field and the fans at home. It is, if nothing else, a whole lot of verbiage for the general rule that we already know 'don't hit a quarterback in the head, or hard.like, at all. This rule does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or non-crown parts of the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle on a passer. OK, we all understand 'roughing the passer,' correct? But, did you know that roughing the passer accounts for an entire page in the NFL rulebook? In addition to hitting the quarterback after he has already thrown the ball, the rule encompasses: lunging at his knees, clubbing at his throwing hand and unnecessarily throwing him down with excess force.Īlso from the rulebook under roughing the passer:Ī defensive player must not use his helmet against a passer who is in a defenseless posture-for example, (1) forcibly hitting the passer’s head or neck area with the helmet or facemask, even if the initial contact of the defender’s helmet or facemask is lower than the passer’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the passer by encircling or grasping him or (2) lowering the head and making forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/'hairline' parts of the helmet against any part of the passer’s body. Fans, on the other hand, rarely see the black and white of that matter, preferring to see the world in shades of gray with highlights of their favorite team's colors.Īs Week 1 starts and the season begins, here is what illegal hits look like in the NFL rulebook. Rules are rules, and the players know the rules-or, at least, they should. Quibble with the intent and necessity of the rules all you'd like (there's a great comment section below), but this column is intended to fix one of my pet peeves. A purist might try to argue that the integrity and passion of the game is more important than money, but I don't think the NFL owners are listening.

#DIRTY LAND DIRTY STICK TV#

It may make some die-hards pine for 'better' days, but it's also coincided with the best TV ratings and fastest-rising TV dollars in the sport's history. Yet, it's more than a little quixotic to pretend as if the NFL is losing any followers as a result of its attempt to protect its players. This year, the NFL is adding yet another wrinkle to the rulebook, outlawing offensive players from lowering the crowns of their helmets to ward off defensive players.įor someone who grew up in the 'golden era' of football, watching guys like San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott or Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary dishing out hits, it's easy to question whether the 'good ol' days' have come and gone. A receiver who receives a blind-side block.A quarterback at any time after change of possession.A runner already in the grasp of tacklers and having his forward progress stopped.Rules defining a defenseless player were expanded to include eight categories: when it comes to illegal hits to the head and neck area and to defenseless players. Everyone will be very clearly on notice now that a suspension is very viable for us and we will exercise it. At that time, Ray Anderson-who serves as the NFL's executive vice president of football operations- told CBS Sports:įrankly, now that the notice has been given, players and coaches and clubs are very aware of what the emphasis is and we won't have that hesitation.

The 'new' rules stem from before the 2011 season, when the NFL decided to protect what it considers defenseless players. If nothing else, the renewed focus on safety has given the league something to highlight on the legal telestrator.

Dirty land dirty stick