Spring Break
On 2nd Thought
New rule prevents tackling quarterbacks from ground
State Hornet Staff
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Sports
Andrew McFadden
The almighty National Football League has seen fit to once again amend its holy rule book. In a league that values its quarterbacks higher than the rest, we see yet another rule that is intended to make life easier for the passer, and it's just plain stupid.
The new rule is going to restrict the nature in which a defender can make contact with the passer. Defensive players may no longer attempt to bring down the quarterback while lying down, or even crawling towards him. They must first stand before making contact.
The only exception will be instances in which another offensive player pushes a defender off-balance and he reaches to tackle the QB on his way down. Any violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty.
We have Tom Brady's frail bones to thank for it. We see this rule implemented following a season in which the NFL's pretty-boy Tom Brady sustained a season-ending injury due to a play in which a defender made contact from the ground.
Now, had this rule been in place last season, it would not have spared Brady's leg. He still would have sat out for the season due to injury and the only difference would have been the 15-yard penalty given to the defense.
If you have a chance to stop a play, you stop it as quickly as you can. You don't wait to make a tackle just to get back to your feet while you watch the ball carrier run away and make a play.
In the mind of the pursuer, he is always on his feet. If he gets knocked down, it's only for a split second and the point at which he returns to his feet is going to be so subjective that no one is going to take the time to observe this rule.
I hope the next time a quarterback breaks a leg on an awkward tackle, the league realizes that the 15-yard penalty doesn't make up for the loss.
Michael Mital
The NFL has recently rewritten its rule book to make the game safer and to protect its most important position-the quarterback. Among the changes is a curious rule which has been nicknamed "The Brady Rule," because it instructs referees to penalize any player who lunges to tackle the quarterback if the defender is still on the ground.
The almighty National Football League has seen fit to once again amend its holy rule book. In a league that values its quarterbacks higher than the rest, we see yet another rule that is intended to make life easier for the passer, and it's just plain stupid.
The new rule is going to restrict the nature in which a defender can make contact with the passer. Defensive players may no longer attempt to bring down the quarterback while lying down, or even crawling towards him. They must first stand before making contact.
The only exception will be instances in which another offensive player pushes a defender off-balance and he reaches to tackle the QB on his way down. Any violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty.
We have Tom Brady's frail bones to thank for it. We see this rule implemented following a season in which the NFL's pretty-boy Tom Brady sustained a season-ending injury due to a play in which a defender made contact from the ground.
Now, had this rule been in place last season, it would not have spared Brady's leg. He still would have sat out for the season due to injury and the only difference would have been the 15-yard penalty given to the defense.
If you have a chance to stop a play, you stop it as quickly as you can. You don't wait to make a tackle just to get back to your feet while you watch the ball carrier run away and make a play.
In the mind of the pursuer, he is always on his feet. If he gets knocked down, it's only for a split second and the point at which he returns to his feet is going to be so subjective that no one is going to take the time to observe this rule.
I hope the next time a quarterback breaks a leg on an awkward tackle, the league realizes that the 15-yard penalty doesn't make up for the loss.
Michael Mital
The NFL has recently rewritten its rule book to make the game safer and to protect its most important position-the quarterback. Among the changes is a curious rule which has been nicknamed "The Brady Rule," because it instructs referees to penalize any player who lunges to tackle the quarterback if the defender is still on the ground.
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