NFL attempts to alter its DNA with hip-drop tackle ban
So long to the NFL you once knew.
On Monday, the league approved a controversial rule change to ban hip-drop tackles. The move will almost certainly adversely affect defensive players, making it harder for them to do their job while also further removing the "tackle" from "tackle football."
Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero, here are some plays that are no longer acceptable in the NFL.
Using a red-zone play involving Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson and Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, ESPN's Robert Griffin III raised the question of how a defender is supposed to stop a ball-carrier when tackling from behind.
"He's not. He's just supposed to let them score and cost his team," wrote Amazon Prime analyst Richard Sherman in response.
Of course, in a situation like that, a 15-yard penalty (which would be half the distance to the goal and an automatic first down) would be favorable to allowing a touchdown, so we can probably expect defenders to use the hip-drop if the alternative is to allow a score.
Vikings safety Harrison Smith shared a measured, level-headed take, laying out his perspective from three vantage points.
One thing Smith failed to account for is the rule's impact on officiating. With referees already responsible for multiple controversies, a hip-drop tackle personal foul penalty will likely impact games this fall.
Unfortunately, there will also come a time when an offensive playmaker suffers an injury on a perfectly legal hit. What happens then? Football is an inherently violent sport, and banning one form of tackle won't change that. If the league really wants to keep its players safe, it probably shouldn't let them play football at all.
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