Wrs saw additional protection in 2009 when contact to the head of a defenseless receiver was prohibited. The defenseless player rule is important, as it serves to protect players from catastrophic injuries. Heres the section in the nfl rulebook on unnecessary roughnessrule 12, section 2, article 8 unnecessary roughness. Nfl may extend defenseless player protections for punt and. A receiver is considered a player in a defenseless posture see 1227 throughout the entire process of the catch and until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent. Football games shouldnt have strict defensive rules because players dont have to be as tough, defenses have to play slower, and it changers the result of the game. Dec 27, 2011 after a personal foul penalty on monday night led to a highprofile media tiff, the nfl has stepped in to attempt to clarify what, exactly, the term defenseless player means. Oct 31, 20 the defenseless player rule is important, as it serves to protect players from catastrophic injuries. In this instance, beckham qualified for protection under the nfls defenseless player rule because he was attempting to make a catch but had not yet had a chance to become a runner. But hitting a defenseless play is not an automatic foul.
Per the nfl rulebook, a player must commit one of the following acts on a defenseless player in order to draw a flag prohibited contact. Jon gruden epitomizes the old school idiot camp that never read the new rules and doesnt care about safety thats just a great football play, these players are taught. Aug 21, 2018 so, for clarity, heres a breakdown of what the ncaa law dictates. This edition of the official playing rules of the national football league contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2011 nfl season. Qbs received even more protection in 2006 when the nfl barred hits to the qbs below their knees unless the defensive player was blocked into the qb. In its personalfouls section of the rulebook, the nfl has made it increasingly important that defenseless players be given certain protections. Evolution of the nfl rules the custodians of football not only have protected its integrity, but have also revised its playing rules to protect the players, and to make the games fairer. New catch rule creates defenseless receiver donut hole. Violations of this provision will be enforced after the interception, and the intercepting team will maintain possession. This is the fifth of five capsules explaining the nfls new playersafety rules that were passed at last weeks annual meeting.
After a personal foul penalty on monday night led to a highprofile media tiff, the nfl has stepped in to attempt to clarify what, exactly, the term defenseless player means. Feb 04, 2018 here are a few of the most common cases, with the wording in the nfl rulebook. Aug 03, 2018 its rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2018 nfl rulebook, or rule 1228. The destination for all national football leaguerelated video on the web. Supplemental notes are often used for the same purpose 333. A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass passing posture a receiver attempting to catch a pass who. Nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or. Player safety is a hot topic after several week 6 helmettohelmet incidents. Todays rule involves the ban on hitting defenseless players. Mike pereira born april, 1950 is a former american football official and later vice president of officiating for the national football league nfl. Players have different opinions about how football needs.
The league has expanded its rules to prevent defenseless players. Sep 12, 2011 purpose of video is to facilitate a discussion of the nfl defenseless player rules. All season, ive been semiconfused by commentators responses to personal foul flags for hits on defenseless receivers. Hit on wes welker should have been flagged mile high report. Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is. Well have it back up and running as soon as possible. The player will also be fined and if that player continues to commit the same infraction, he will be suspended. But bostic does lead and strike with the crown of his helmet, which is in violation of rule 12, section 2, article 7 of the nfl rule book. Aug 28, 2017 this offseason, the nfl made it a rule that any running back or wide receiver or tight end running a receiving route would be considered in a defenseless position. How wide receivers have evolved in the nfl the boston globe. The defenseless receiver rule itself is the problem. Since 2008, the committee has implemented rules to prohibit forcible contact using the helmet and target defenseless opponents.
It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make. Defenseless player rule could include receivers running routes. Prohibited acts against a defenseless receiver include. This foul should be enforced on the previous spot, and the offense. A receiver is considered a player in a defenseless posture see rule 12, section 2, article 9 throughout the entire process of the catch and until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent. Dec 09, 2015 in its personalfouls section of the rulebook, the nfl has made it increasingly important that defenseless players be given certain protections. Oct 19, 2010 rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2010 nfl rule book was talked about in length this morning as nfl v.
Nfl rule book 2010 rule 12, section 2, article 8 steelers. Aug 28, 2017 but hitting a defenseless play is not an automatic foul. Why do shazier apologists immediately reference the. The nfl cited the defenseless receiver rule in its explanation, but hill had transitioned from receiver to blocker, as the ball was intercepted a splitsecond before he was struck. In recent years the nfl has done more and more to prevent these hits first prohibiting hits on defenseless.
From the nfl rulebook, the definition of a defenseless receiver. Sep 04, 20 rules defining a defenseless player were expanded to include eight categories. The nfl officiating committee explains the difference between a legal and an illegal hit on a defenseless players. Nfl rules changes and points of emphasis for 2015 nfl. How nfl rules changes created a golden era of quarterback. Aug 10, 2010 a defenseless player will be defined as a qb in the act of passing, a wr in the act of making a catch, a kick or punt returner in the act of making a catch, a runner who is in the grass or whose. Spearing has always been illegal at all levels of football including the nfl and the no spearing rules named above long predate the defenseless receiver rule established in 20 any hard blindside hit qualifies under the defenseless receiver rule, 1227, not just the illegal acts named under the unnecessary roughness rule, 1226. For the nfl to continue allowing such plays to have such a major effect on games is not only a disservice to the fans, but to the game itself. Nfl rule changes and points of emphasis to watch in 2015.
All offensive players other than those identified in article 5 above are ineligible to catch a legal or illegal forward pass thrown from behind. The receiver position has evolved greatly over the past 80 years, since the nfl ruled in 1933 that forward passes could be thrown from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. The first layer of this call is determining whether or not the receiver was in a defenseless posture. The nfl video rulebook explains nfl rules with video examples. The material is also covered in the 2011 league policies for players manual, distributed to all players in training camp.
Rule 12, article 9, a, 2, defines a defenseless receiver as a receiver attempting to catch a pass. The nfl expanded the rules for defenseless receivers to include all players in 2010. Making sense of the nfls explanation of legal and illegal. The official 2018 football code of the ncaa football rules committee stresses that players and coaches should emphasize the. But rules such as illegal contact beyond 5 yards, openpalmed pass blocking, and defenseless receiver prohibitions that limit intimidating hits have paved the way for a reimagining and a. Nov 30, 2010 nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or shoulder. Rules defining a defenseless player were expanded to include eight categories. It is an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver if the initial force of the contact by the defenders helmet, forearm, or shoulder is to the head or neck area of the. Vontaze burfict may be dirty, but the hit that got him. Aug 03, 2018 dan patrick and the danettes discuss the hall of fame game and the confusion of the nfl s defenseless receiver policy. If the defenseless receiver rules applied back in the 80s and 90s, guys like marino and montana would have averaged 60 touchdowns a year, easy. Nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or shoulder. I dont understand the defenseless reciever penalty.
The destination for all national football league related video on the web. A receiver runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Aug 26, 2014 the nfl needs to reconsider the rootcause, and application of rules, related to defenseless players, combined with the reality of what is possible for adherence of rules by defensive players. Defenseless playerreceiver rule dallas cowboys forum. But when a referee applied that rule this offseason, it was not. Receivers will be required to wear dresses to remind the defense not to hit the defenseless receiver.
Ravens safety bernard pollard was flagged for shouldertohelmet contact, and linebacker ray lewis was flagged for helmettohelmet contact, both being against defenseless receivers. A receiver runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Nfls new helmet rule causes confusion, outrage during. A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier. The brief excerpt is of the texanscolts game held on september 11, 2011. The nfl needs to reconsider the rootcause, and application of rules, related to defenseless players, combined with the reality of what is possible for adherence of rules. The nfl rulebook prohibits hits against any defenseless. A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.
A receiver who has completed a catch is a defenseless player until he has had time to protect himself or has clearly become a runner. Nfl attempts to clarify the defenseless player rules. This receiver has always been protected under the defenseless player rule. Nfl referees will take on more responsibility this season to protect players from helmetfirst hits to their heads and necks.
If youre in the air before he hits the threshold for defenseless receiver there isnt a goddamned thing you can do to not hit him, unless we start issuing jetpacks as safety gear. Per the nfl rulebook, a player must commit one of the following acts on a defenseless. Nfls new helmet rule causes confusion, outrage during cardinalschargers game. Purpose of video is to facilitate a discussion of the nfl defenseless player rules. Rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2010 nfl rule book was talked about in length this morning as nfl v. It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. With the size and athleticism of receivers and your inability to defend them, thats been a big part of quarterbacks being able to get out of their hand quickly. Nfl admits ref wrongly applied new rule on defenseless. Here are a few of the most common cases, with the wording in the nfl rulebook. The following is taken from the 2011 nfl rule book pages 7374 and defines players who are in a defenseless posture. Nfl admits ref wrongly applied new rule on defenseless receivers. According to the nfl rules, these were both correct calls, but the biggest problem was the consistency with which these types of plays were called during the. In the end zone, the same action is a touchdown, since the receiver completed the catch beyond the goal line prior to the loss of possession, and the ball is dead when the catch is completed.
To that point, the nfl provided data to outside the lines showing that of 61 penalties called for hits on defenseless receivers last season, 14 were deemed incorrect calls a miss rate of 23. If the receiver runner is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player. Dec 08, 2014 defense leads patriots over chargers as new england stays atop afc. Nfl football operations protects the integrity of the game by ensuring that the rules and the officiating are consistent and fair to all competitors. Member clubs of the league may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the nfl constitution and bylaws. Aug 29, 2015 the nfl implemented a new rule this offseason protecting receivers from being hit in the head immediately following an interception. Heres how the rule assesses a defenseless posture, as it applies in this particular play. The player hitting a defenseless player will be penalized 15 yards. Jon gruden epitomizes the old school idiot camp that never read the new rules and doesnt care about safety thats just a great football play, these players are taught to drive through the receiver, but mike. And while the seahawks played a good game overall, in my admittedly biased eyes, this was a personal foul on a defenseless receiver.
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