New Rules

[DTro]

Have you all seen the new rules that will be implemented for next season

No lunging at the QB while on the ground, no defensless hits on the WR. No wedges on the kickoff. No more than 5 people (I think that is the numeber) on a side going after an onside kick.

With the ever increasing costs and never ending rule interpretations/changes, one has to think the NFL might have peaked.

[wahoohendoo]

you took the words out of my mouth. the nfl is losing it. always changing the rules maybe they should change the name of the league and save some face for the good ol' nfl. all the stats in one way or another must be affected. how bout WFF or The Commitee of Actors on the Grid Iron.(COAGI) before long acting takes over everything

[KMR85]

more and more money, but less and less pain. in a few years the lingerie football league will have more contact than the NFL.

[gundy89]

Wow, I guess protecting players doesn't really matter anymore. These rule changes are minimal to how the game is played.

No diving at QB legs - I don't think you'll notice this one much. I will gaurantee that every Coach, owner, agent, and qb will definitely agree with this. It's called protecting a multimillion dollar investment. Look at how this has changed the game in just the last couple years. Brady last year, palmer in the playoffs.

Wedges on kickoffs - Goes back to the whole concussion thing. It's a dangerous play becuase if a wedge is used by the returning team, Wedge busters must be used by the kicking team. Their sole job is to go full speed through the wedge. Something has to give. I have personally received a nice little concussion from this and have a friend that broke his neck doing it. Don't quote me on this but wedges aren't really imployed anymore in the nfl anyways. They're loose wedges that split to man blocking.

The no more than 5 guys on a side is up in the air, but again, they're protecting the unprotected players. Player running full speed at another while he's waiting to take the punishment.

Basically it comes down to the NFL starting to protect it's players and itself from lawsuits. Go ask some of the old guys that can't walk anymore because their knees are shot. Different sport, but ask Corey Koskie how Post-concussion syndrome feels.

[crothmeier]

Pretty soon it will be Flag Football.

[fishyguy]

Heads need to be protected. I don't have an issue with the wedge rule but I really wonder if it had been Tavaris Jackson or some other no count who took the hit Brady did would the rule have changed. Probably not. I agree you have to protect the players to some degree but there are million dollar players all over the field. How many shots to the knee does Peterson, Tomlinson, and other RB's take every week? I know they say QB's are in a vunerable position but that you can't tell me that when a RB is taking a hit up high he is not vunerable at the knees. I am not against rules but I am against rules that protect one player and not another. I know it hurts the NFL to lose a player like Brady for the season but it would hurt to lose a player like Peterson, or Moss, or Ed Reed. Isn't this whole on the ground lunging thing the same play that hurt Jared Allen last year? It was legal then and it would be this year only because he is not a QB. Just doesn't make sense to me. Either you are a player in the NFL and live with the dangers or you are not.

[wahoohendoo]

no special rules back in the day. I know the players are bigger and faster but its part the game. its a CONTACT sport or do what crothmeier said and strap on the flags

[greebs]

They do need to be careful about implementing too many rules but I also think that one thing they really need to do is get back to playing the game the way it was meant to be played with good fundamental tackling.

There really isn't a need for players to try to take the heads off the opposing players. For example the hit that that pittsburgh guy put on mcgahee from the ravens in the playoff game where it was a head to head shot should be banned. Defensive players should wrap their arms around the player and take him down rather than trying to become like a missile which you see so many players do. The defense needs to stop the reception from occuring in the first place rather than relying on trying to knock the receiver out in hopes that he fumbles the ball.

These guys do get paid big bucks to play the game but at the same time, they shouldn't have to be subject to some of these injuries that are occuring from these head shots and could very possibly have long term effects on their health.

[slipbobbin]

well said greebs

[MuleShack]

the players go into the draft knowing full well what they are getting into. they do it for the money. Injuries are part of the game and the violent collisions and fast action are what makes the NFL what it is. Lately it is becoming the No Fun League as said by many.

I do agree with greebs that the core should focus on more fundamentals of the sport, instead of the highlight reel stuff.

[PierBridge]

I don't see this effecting the game in anyway shape or form.

As usuall a slight over reaction to some minor rule changes.

No Fun League couldn't be farther from the truth.

Lets see you guys play on Sunday afternoon and then tell us its flag football.

Go Vikes!

[Sandmannd]

I don't see it changing the game to much. On the other hand, I get sick of seeing so many panalties during a game.

[croixflats]

Just more penalties against the vikes when their in cheese town.

[bassNspear]

This is football, a contact sport, buckel up and play the game!

[riverrat56]

This is football, a contact sport, buckel up and play the game!

What he said!

[slipbobbin]

That why girls dont play the game

[Wildabeast]

That why girls dont play the game

My girl does and she enjoys laying a big hit on the guys. I guess she loves to see the expression on a running back's face when he gets up from being flattened by a linebacker who's Nike swoop is pink and wears fingernail polish.

[slipbobbin]

thats awesome we had a girl on a varsity football team when i played in highschool

[zamboni]

They have been calling it the "No Fun League" since 85 and McMahon was wearing headbands that said Rozelle on them. All in all, the rules that have been passed over they years were done so for a reason. That Broncos game last year was a huge example of why they are making new rules every year, and will continue to do so.

[MuleShack]

They should just make the fines stiffer!!

That $10 or $20K for a illegal hit is like me having to buy a new marcum LX5 every year.

Just like the illegal drugs in baseball, if it's in the rules and you break them you should have to pay. I know the drugs and steroids are off the issue here, but the players knowingly violate the rules for an advantage. If they are out of the realm of the "Law", then they should tack on a minimum of $250K for each infraction that is drug related.

And any ILLEGAL hit on another player should be no less than $100K, and depending on if it was totally intentional with intent to harm, then it should be $250K. That might keep them honest.

Why have these rules when money can get you out of it so easy?