Next week, NFL owners are set to vote on a series of proposed rule changes, one of which includes banning the controversial “hip-drop tackle.” This tackle technique has sparked considerable debate within the league, with prominent figures like Richard Sherman expressing strong opposition.
If passed, the proposed rule would levy a 15-yard penalty and result in an automatic first down for teams utilizing the hip-drop tackle.
Sherman, a vocal critic of the idea, was tagged in a social media post by Dez Bryant, who labeled the proposal as “insane.” Sherman echoed Bryant’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for the league to provide alternative, safe tackling methods.
“I’m at a loss for words. Guys going to have to make a decision to either allow them to drag them to the first down or give it by penalty. Ruining the game.”
However, not all former NFL defenders share Sherman’s viewpoint. While ex-linebacker Shawne Merriman sees the hip-drop tackle as problematic, Sherman respectfully disagrees, rejecting Merriman’s characterization of the tackle as akin to a “sucker punch.”
Richard Sherman issued a challenge to the NFL in addition to his disagreement about the proposed rule change.
“I just wish they forced the entire Competition committee to create examples of how they expect a defender to tackle a ball carrier. I want them to act it out at full speed and create a video for the players. At some point during the creation of that video they will realize how insane this is.”
The NFL has defined the hip-drop tackle as a maneuver where a defender “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms, unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”
According to NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller, the injury rate associated with this tackle is notably higher than that of a standard tackle.
The NFL Players Association has also weighed in on the matter, releasing a statement condemning the potential rule change.
“While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”
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