The NFL banned the hip-drop tackle by the use of a unanimous vote of group homeowners Monday in a arguable resolution that the league contends will support participant protection.
The guideline alternate right away triggered impassioned responses from gamers occasion and provide.
Detractors of the verdict argue that the guideline will essentially alternate how the sport is performed for the more serious, and additional skews the principles in partiality of offenses because the league protects its maximum marketable gamers.
The NFLPA decried the proposal by the use of a observation latter age forward of the vote, arguing that the alternate “causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans.”
The NFL’s pageant committee government vp Jeff Miller argued in favor of the ban in October, pointing out that hip loose tackles end result “in about a 25 times rate of injury as a typical tackle.” That argument ultimately won out as owners officially voted to ban the technique at league meetings in Orlando on Monday.
J.J. Watt leads critical player response
Players weighed in after Monday’s vote, with many of them joining the NFLPA’s critical stance. Retired three-time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt was among them. He likened the ban to flag football on social media.
Kenyan Drake — injured in ’21 — among rule’s supporters
While the player response was largely critical of the decision, it wasn’t unanimous. A pair of offensive players, including running back Kenyan Drake, were among the supporters of the rule. Drake suffered a fractured ankle on a tackle in 2021 and called for a change to tackling rules then. He came out in support of the rule change on Monday.
i don’t aid about widespread opinion. i misplaced my proper ankle and 1 / 4 of the ‘21 season to this type of tackle. something had to give and im glad it’s now not any one legs/ankles anymore https://t.co/FkXqdW6fKm
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx32) March 25, 2024
Retired Professional Bowl take on Kyle Long additionally supported the alternate and the league’s struggle “to attenuate the opportunity of severe trauma.”
Im happy the hip drop tackle is outta the game. I’m all for the league trying to minimize the potential for serious injury. This league has a 100 percent rate of injury but the hip drop tends to be the cause of injuries that are harder to come back from. Good job NFL
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 25, 2024
Former New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman took a both-sides method.
There are two facets to this. I’m considering participant protection and hip loose tackles are unhealthy, however at the alternative hand, how is a defensive participant meant to take on if we remove each form of tackling? #HealthyDebate https://t.co/38ZTOsxQar
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) March 25, 2024
However the majority of the participant reaction on social media used to be now not in partiality of the alternate, with probably the most vocal detractors together with high-profile defenders occasion and provide.
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…
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 20, 2024
Festival committee doesn’t aid about protection. Each pace they build it tougher for us to be triumphant 🤦🏾♂️
— Joshua Metellus (@NoExcuses_23) March 25, 2024
Why can offensive gamers nonetheless scale down you? I’m positive bunch of nation get harm from that too nevertheless it’s nonetheless within the sport.
— Joshua Metellus (@NoExcuses_23) March 25, 2024
As a human: mostly indifferent
As a business person:
The NFL is protecting the merchandise. National audience tunes in to see offense. Further protect offensive players/potentially weaken tackling attempts(win-win)As Hitman: Dislike, more defensive fines, true sport weakens https://t.co/NL65TPWlFU
— Harrison Smith (@harrismith22) March 25, 2024
Don’t just like the hip loose rule. We will be able to whinge, rightfully. However we can be again within the chow order and so they know that.
— chris long (@JOEL9ONE) March 25, 2024
NFL players know that career ending injuries are a risk of us stepping on the field. We trade our health for $$, so I don’t look it from an injury side because we knowingly make that trade. Let’s get as much money as possibly while playing so when the injuries happen we have $$… https://t.co/otVtBfcq0i
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) March 25, 2024
This rule goes to top to A LOT extra consequences and overlooked tackles. Either one of which goes to build it more straightforward for offenses to attain.
— DK (@DevonKennard) March 25, 2024
You’re gonna see a dozen of ball carriers dressed in DBs like backpacks with out the “hip drop” take on
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) March 25, 2024
Like it or not, there’s no changing the new rule now. At least not for the upcoming season. If implemented as planned, the rule intends to reduce the risk of injury in a violent game. It also projects to change the way the game is played and watched on Sundays.
Get ready for more hotly debated penalty flags as the league, its players and officials adjust to the sea change.