Contact can be made with the helmet, forearm, fist, hand, elbow or shoulder. Targeting and making forcible contact with the crown of the helmet rule 9 no player shall. Bills coach says no room in football for patriots hit. Like train in vain as the hidden caboose on london calling, the nfl deftly slipped the new helmet rule into the list of proposed 2018 rule changes, item no. Why nfls new running back rule is heading in the wrong. When jones lunged forward, his helmet made contact with that of allen. The national football league has a new controversy. Rule 223 players helmet helmet must be worn both during the game and during the pregame warmup. Lowering the helmet defensive player 15 yard penalty.
The controversy of the nfl helmet rule the day creek howl. The nfls new rule is stronger than the ncaas targeting rule, which penalizes players for targeting the head or neck of defenseless opponents. Although football is a violent sport by nature, helmet to helmet hits can cause devastating injuries for both the deliverer and recipient of the hits. In march 2017, the nfl added a provision that allowed for immediate ejections for dangerous helmettohelmet hits mirroring college footballs targeting rule but it seemingly wasnt.
According to the nfl rule book, an act of unnecessary roughness can result in the players ejection when flagrant. A new nfl rule, penalizing a player 15 yards if he lowers his head and makes contact with an opponent with his helmet, is beneficial. It is now illegal for a player to lower their helmet in the tackle box. Does cowboys garrett or anybody truly get new nfl helmet rule. Must be worn so that lower portion of helmet is not more than one fingerwidth above. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down. Here are a few of the most common cases, with the wording in the nfl rulebook. Baltimores 2nd infraction of the new helmet rule is a. In march 2018, nfl owners voted to approve article 8 of the rulebook, better known as the helmet contact rule, an effort aimed at taking headfirst collisions out of the game. This can cause spinal injuries or paralysis to the. Roughly two months from the start of the regular season, and less than four weeks from the first preseason game, its still not clear how the nfl. Here is the wording from the nfl rulebook, examples and player reaction.
It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. Unsportsmanlike conduct, discussed previously in this section and detailed in rule 12, section 3 of the official playing rules of the national football league nfl rule book, is a foul under. Does cowboys garrett or anybody truly get new nfl helmet. Its an attempt to make the game safer, but refs and teams still struggling to understand the new rule, its resulted in some controversy and lots and lots of confusion. Can nfl players still protect themselves by lowering their helmets. The nfl has adjusted their helmet and spearing rules. The quarterback hit that forced the nfl to consider safety. Confusion continues regarding the two new helmet rules. These phrases have been thrown around for the past few days, and the nfl brass is. College footballs targeting rule prohibits forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless. The nfl implemented a new helmet rule in late march, and league officiating crews are making the rounds visiting team training camps to educate coaches and players on the changes.
Warning letters, not flags 2 related when the rule was announced, many players predicted there would be instances when lowering the helmet was unavoidable. Why nfls new running back rule is heading in the wrong direction. Is the nfls use of helmet rule similar to the targeting rule in college football. The drop in spinalcord injuries in football is mostly attributed to a 1976 rule barring highschool and college players from spearing, hitting another player with the top of the helmet. A new rule designed to make the game safer by minimizing using the helmet as a weapon during tackles has left everybody scratching their head. Calls for a targeting rule in the nfl came after steelers linebacker ryan shazier. Think the nfl rules about hitting quarterbacks are dumb. Spearing in the nfl is when a player drops his head and spears the crown of his helmet into someones chest, stomach, or in the worst case, their head. This rule change is subject to a oneyear trial period. The nfl targeting rule for players helmets changed in 2018.
Ezekiel elliott became the first offensive player to be flagged for violating the leagues new helmet rule when the cowboys running back lowered his head at the end of a 12yard catch and run. The tackle box no longer exists once the ball leaves the tackle box. The nfl institues the davidson rule new, 18 comments the spearing of chiefs quarterback len dawson by raiders defensive end ben davidson in. New helmet rule continues to loom over 2018 season.