Roger Goodell addresses NFL possibly banning controversial tackle

It appears that hip-drop tackles will soon be going the way of the horse-collar tackle and five-yard incidental contact facemask penalties.

During the NFL owners meetings in Irving, Texas, on Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disclosed that the league is looking into outlawing hip-drop tackles, citing the high risk of injury the play poses.

“I think we all should work to get that out of the game,” Goodell said, via Pro Football Talk. “You see it escalated the number of times it occurred this season. The injuries could be very devastating. We saw that also it’s not just happening at the NFL level; it’s happening at other levels. It’s something that we have to work very hard to get that removed this spring.”

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent was in agreement that the play should be banned next season, stating there’s enough tangible evidence that the play is too dangerous.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith were outspoken about wanting the league to ban the move after Smith was the victim of a hip-drop tackle against the New York Giants in early October and was forced to temporarily exit the game.