He drove his shoulder into him as he was driving him into the ground.

 

Again, I hate the rules as they are regarding the QB. In my personal opinion, I don't think what he did today was a flag, at all. But the changes this season put emphasis on not landing your weight on the QB when you tackle him. Matthews not only did that, but drove his shoulder into the QB as they hit the ground. I hate it, but that's a flag.

 

He now has a target on him because he keeps getting these flags. He'll either find a way to adapt, or he'll keep getting penalized.

 

He tackled him. It was as clean as it gets.

He tackled him. It was as clean as it gets.

By rule he landed with his body weight on Smith. By the definition it’s a penalty. It goes against all common sense and logic regarding how the game of football should be played, but the refs are just doing their job. It’s just a really bad rule.

For those who think football will be “unwatchable” in 10 years, it’s pretty unwatchable right now when 2nd and 3rd string QB’s are in the game. Pretty much all the entertainment value revolves around the QB. While I agree this rule makes it difficult on defenders, the league will adjust. Just like they did when spearing was taken out of the game, and other rule changes that have occurred over the years. If the league doesn’t get safer, and protect its players better, there won’t be a league to complain about.

He tackled him. It was as clean as it gets.

 

Are you reading what I said? I agree, it was clean. It's still against the rules.

I don't like watching backup QBs just as much as the next guy, but those plays being penalties is ridiculous.

For those who think football will be “unwatchable” in 10 years, it’s pretty unwatchable right now when 2nd and 3rd string QB’s are in the game. Pretty much all the entertainment value revolves around the QB. While I agree this rule makes it difficult on defenders, the league will adjust. Just like they did when spearing was taken out of the game, and other rule changes that have occurred over the years. If the league doesn’t get safer, and protect its players better, there won’t be a league to complain about.

 

As long as they pay these guys the kind of money they are making they will be willing to take the risk. There are a lot more people in this world working jobs for much less money and higher risk than NFL football players.

For those who think football will be “unwatchable” in 10 years, it’s pretty unwatchable right now when 2nd and 3rd string QB’s are in the game. Pretty much all the entertainment value revolves around the QB. While I agree this rule makes it difficult on defenders, the league will adjust. Just like they did when spearing was taken out of the game, and other rule changes that have occurred over the years. If the league doesn’t get safer, and protect its players better, there won’t be a league to complain about.

 

The nfl has seemed to do just fine and became the most popular sport even when qbs were allowed to get hit.

 

Shoot injuries to qbs have also led to some of the best qbs of all time getting chances that they may not have ever got it the starting qb didnt get hurt. An injury to star QB at the time Drew Bledsoe. Led to the eventual best QB of all time Tom Brady getting a chance. If it wasnt for that who knows it Brady ever gets a chance with the Patriots. Same with Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, etc.

 

The changing of the game is hurting this league more than qbs getting hurt.

The nfl has seemed to do just fine and became the most popular sport even when qbs were allowed to get hit.

 

Shoot injuries to qbs have also led to some of the best qbs of all time getting chances that they may not have ever got it the starting qb didnt get hurt. An injury to star QB at the time Drew Bledsoe. Led to the eventual best QB of all time Tom Brady getting a chance. If it wasnt for that who knows it Brady ever gets a chance with the Patriots. Same with Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, etc.

 

The changing of the game is hurting this league more than qbs getting hurt.

Agree 100%. Football’s success as a sport isn’t tied to individual players like the NBA is for example.

NFL has to do what's best for business.

 

People may complain the league's getting soft, and some may stop watching because of it, but it pales in comparison to how bad the ratings will tank if the QBs start going down consistently.

Folks, this is all about the money and protecting the league's most valuable assets because second string quarterbacks are unwatchable.

 

Here's the flawed logic. Players - including quarterbacks - get hurt on perfectly legal plays. Witness one Jimmy G today.

 

Exactly and the NFL has written an ambiguous rule based on that flawed logic that puts the Officials in a situation where they feel compelled to penalize anything that doesn't pass the new "ambiguous look test" and we are seeing the results.

 

For the record here is the rule:

 

A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating and punishing acts as “stuffing” a passer into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball ... When tackling a passer who is in a defenseless posture (e.g., during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight. Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer.

I can't say this with any degree of certainty, but it wouldn't surprise me if we end up seeing some more QB's hurt BECAUSE of this ruling. Follow me here...if defenders are doing these (what everyone except the NFL believes are) clean hits and getting flagged for it...why not get your money's worth and put your helmet under the QB's chin? Knock him out. Use the concussion protocol to take him off the field for a series, a half, or, if you're lucky enough, the rest of the game. And it doesn't have to necessarily be the head...take out his knees or ankles. Make him hobble. Eliminate some of the playbook (bootlegs, etc.)

 

No one will say this publicly because of what happened with bounty gate. But, you're pushing defenders to the point where they've got nothing to lose. Sooner or later they're going to start "feeling" this, regardless of what's said. And then you'll end up with Rodgers out with a knee injury, Brady out because of a concussion, or Big Ben on a pair of hobbled ankles. All because the NFL tried to over-protect.

NFL has to do what's best for business.

 

People may complain the league's getting soft, and some may stop watching because of it, but it pales in comparison to how bad the ratings will tank if the QBs start going down consistently.

 

People don't watch for the QB's. People watch for the game of football, and they know injuries is part of it. The popularity of the NFL didn't go down the year Tom Brady tore his ACL and missed the season. The same when Peyton Manning had his neck injury while still with the Colts. The NFL was still king of the sports world by far even when their star QB's got hurt.

I can't say this with any degree of certainty, but it wouldn't surprise me if we end up seeing some more QB's hurt BECAUSE of this ruling. Follow me here...if defenders are doing these (what everyone except the NFL believes are) clean hits and getting flagged for it...why not get your money's worth and put your helmet under the QB's chin? Knock him out. Use the concussion protocol to take him off the field for a series, a half, or, if you're lucky enough, the rest of the game. And it doesn't have to necessarily be the head...take out his knees or ankles. Make him hobble. Eliminate some of the playbook (bootlegs, etc.)

 

No one will say this publicly because of what happened with bounty gate. But, you're pushing defenders to the point where they've got nothing to lose. Sooner or later they're going to start "feeling" this, regardless of what's said. And then you'll end up with Rodgers out with a knee injury, Brady out because of a concussion, or Big Ben on a pair of hobbled ankles. All because the NFL tried to over-protect.

 

I thought through the same thing last night on this topic.

 

Great post!

People don't watch for the QB's. People watch for the game of football, and they know injuries is part of it. The popularity of the NFL didn't go down the year Tom Brady tore his ACL and missed the season. The same when Peyton Manning had his neck injury while still with the Colts. The NFL was still king of the sports world by far even when their star QB's got hurt.

 

I think you're giving the die-hard football fans way too big a piece of the NFL pie. Fact is, diehards like yourself make up a very small portion of the NFL fan base.

 

Here's what they're trying to protect against. They're trying to avoid a season where a GB vs. NE game is Kizer vs. Hoyer.

 

They're trying to protect against a Saints/Falcons game of Bridgewater vs. Schaub.

 

A Panthers/Seahawks game of Heinicke vs. Hundley.

 

A Colts/Steelers game of Brissett vs. Dobbs.

 

A Chargers/Titans matchup of Geno Smith vs. Blaine Gabbert.

I can't say this with any degree of certainty, but it wouldn't surprise me if we end up seeing some more QB's hurt BECAUSE of this ruling. Follow me here...if defenders are doing these (what everyone except the NFL believes are) clean hits and getting flagged for it...why not get your money's worth and put your helmet under the QB's chin? Knock him out. Use the concussion protocol to take him off the field for a series, a half, or, if you're lucky enough, the rest of the game. And it doesn't have to necessarily be the head...take out his knees or ankles. Make him hobble. Eliminate some of the playbook (bootlegs, etc.)

 

No one will say this publicly because of what happened with bounty gate. But, you're pushing defenders to the point where they've got nothing to lose. Sooner or later they're going to start "feeling" this, regardless of what's said. And then you'll end up with Rodgers out with a knee injury, Brady out because of a concussion, or Big Ben on a pair of hobbled ankles. All because the NFL tried to over-protect.

 

I don’t think this is such a crazy idea to think about... I mean if you’re going to get flagged for what 99.9% of people consider routine tackles, take his freakin’ head off and put him out of the game. They are both penalties, at least one of them may help you win the game.