Mile High Report: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Sounder At Heart for Seattle Sounders Fans!

NFL Owners approve four rules changes regarding player safety

NFL Owners today approved 4 rules changes and adjustments that directly affect player safety. 

The first change is in regards to onside kicks.  The NFL has been concerned about the violent collisions that take place and wanted to find a way to make onside kicks safer.  Under the new Onside Kick Rule, players on the kickoff team will be spaced accordingly. First, at least four players of the kicking team must be on each side of the kicker. Second, at least three players must be lined up outside each inbounds line, including one who must be outside the yard-line number.

The second change involves down-field blocks on "defenseless defenders", known as the Hines Ward Rule.  For our purposes, think Eddie McCaffrey in Super Bowl XXXII.  A 15-yard penalty will be enforced if a player delivers a blindside block to the head of a defender using his helmet, forearm or shoulder. The penalty will be enforced if a helmet, shoulder or forearm strikes the head or neck of the defender.

The third change involves receiver saftey and is an enhancement to the 'defensless receiver' rule that has become so prominnent in the past.  We'll call this one the Anquan Boldin Rule.  In the past, officials gave an unnecessary roughness penalty to a defender if he delivered a helmet hit to a receiver going across the middle of the field or any spot on the field in which he appeared to be defenseless. Starting this fall, the penalty will also apply if the defender hits the defenseless receiver in the head or neck with his forearm or shoulder.

Lastly, in what we will unfortunately call the Kevin Everett Rule, the 'Wedge' on kickoff returns has been disallowed.  The wedge is simply three players lined up in a blocking triangle that a returner follows as it plows up the field against kickoff coverage. After watching years of tape, the Competition Committee felt the wedge was causing too many injuries. Starting this fall, no more than two receiver team players may intentionally form a wedge to help the returner. The penalty is 15 yards and will be enforced from the spot of the wedge. It will be called if three or more players line up shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other to lead the blocking.

1 recs  |  Comment 25 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Interesting Rule Changes

I didn’t realize there had been many injuries associated with onside kicks – this seems like a lot of rules for a questionable problem, but perhaps I’m mistaken. And not to quibble, but the the Hines Ward rule should actually be named the Warren Sapp-Chad Clifton rule.

It's "just" football

by Donkhead on Mar 24, 2009 12:54 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm all for player safety,

but hit seems like you are making defenders think way too much about placement that is happening at speeds that are real difficult to control anyway. The vast majority of roughing penalties called on DBs for hits against defenders and the ones that will be called on peel back blocks are unintentional.

by jaffe28 on Mar 24, 2009 1:12 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I'll have to go back and review the video,

but I think Eddie McCaffrey’s hit on Brian Williams would still be legal. He got his body in frant of Williams and made sholder to shoulder contact as I recall. It was a near perfect block.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 24, 2009 1:49 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

+ ∞

to you bro. sweet sweet memories

Go Broncos!
13-3 baby (with Jay, the Spleen, or whomever the Jedi has foreseen)!

by Royal With Cheese on Mar 24, 2009 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love the taunt at the end....

and I think that block will still be legal.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 24, 2009 2:09 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

totally legal…that was the beautiful thing about it…the defender wasn’t expecting to get his rear handed to him on a plate by a WR

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Mar 24, 2009 4:24 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Man that is such a textbook hit...

look at the way Eddie Mac loads up before exploding through the defender. I would love to see B-Marsh develop that same technique since he seems to be so willing to block too.

I remember reading an interview with someone who said that was one of the hardest things about stopping Denver’s running games: the WRs were such good blockers it was like having 3 TEs on the field.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 24, 2009 5:07 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

But looking at the clip

and reading the rule that hit was legal. Eddie mac hit that boy square in the shoulders and just re-aligned his center of gravity to WTF Mode!

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Mar 24, 2009 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

In your face!

Average Raider Fan's IQ = 89
Bill Williamson's IQ = 75
Find yours by clicking here.

by kwool79 on Mar 24, 2009 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I could watch that all day

"If you don't know where your going you might find yourself somplace else."

by BroncoJoe87 on Mar 24, 2009 2:56 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I remember it like yesterday...

up till that point in the game I kept waiting for the hammer to drop. When Eddie pancaked Williams and Griffin took it inside the 10, with less than 2 minutes I just knew we were going to win and wipe away 2 decades of frustration.

Thanks Eddie from Bronco fans everywhere!

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 24, 2009 3:23 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only one I really don't like is the 'wedge rule'..........

To me it reeks of another official abuse rule.

Called when they want to call it, whether its there or not.

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
The best defense is a good offense!

by Mike Clark on Mar 24, 2009 3:50 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

It shuldn't be any worse than

the “illegal block, from behind, above the waist, before the solstice” rule.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Mar 24, 2009 4:05 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess I'm getting to the point where the owners are making rules to prove they can make rules.

It seems to me that the wedge helps protect the return man and helps prevent a direct hit.

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
The best defense is a good offense!

by Mike Clark on Mar 24, 2009 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

guess we will see a new rule when the return man goes blank too

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Mar 24, 2009 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

The sad thing is the only way to make the return game safe is to get rid of it....

as the NFL marches toward mediocrity.

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
The best defense is a good offense!

by Mike Clark on Mar 24, 2009 4:44 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

but then we can play cause I can avoid the tackle err keep my flag

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Mar 24, 2009 5:07 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ick

I’m all about keeping guys safe, but really…in 2042 they’ll be handing out flags for the players to hang from their belts instead of tackling.

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Mar 24, 2009 4:25 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

hey then i could play!

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Mar 24, 2009 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

sadaraine............LOL.......I agree

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
The best defense is a good offense!

by Mike Clark on Mar 24, 2009 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

That seems to be the way things are headed.

NFFL: National Flag Football League.

I understand trying to keep players from getting seriously injured, however the NFL is a fast and intense game, so I think it will be hard for defenders to think about where to hit a player before they hit him. Sounds like a really big grey area to me. It will be interesting to see how the refs handle this.

It wasn’t listed above, however I think I heard a new rule based on the SD @ DEN game and the “fumble” play. I heard it will be reviewable now.

2007-08 MVP: Kobe Bryant

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9

by weazel on Mar 24, 2009 8:55 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Next year Imlooking forward to hearing

‘’15 yards penalty enforced from the spot of the wedge.’’

by RiG on Mar 24, 2009 9:56 PM MDT reply actions   1 recs

It'll be nicknamed

“a wedgie”

Amnesty, the idea that you can forgive transgressions against you, gives as much to one side, as it does the other. It has the noble quality of bestowing mercy to both parties.

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 24, 2009 11:54 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

MileHighReport(MHR) is the ultimate independent resource for the Denver Broncos on the web. Along with MHR Radio, the official podcast of MHR, we look to provide hardcore Denver Broncos fans positive, independent insight about the Broncos, 24/7/365!
Start posting about the Broncos »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Hillis_small
When Things Don't Make Sense
800px-john_brown_painting_small
Out of hiding: Mdierk's take on the season
Kirk_and_allie_small
UPON FURTHER REVIEW - Scouting The Steelers
Hillis_small
The Weekly "I'm Tired..." Rant
Cutlerjersey_small
The Broncos Success - Is it Orton or McDaniels?

Recent FanPosts

Bronco_small
Chalk up 2 more NFC East Very winable games
Eddie-royal_small
Monday Night No-Huddle
Bronco-pride_small
Ranging Quarterbacks, A Comparison
Denver_broncos_small
Jack Williams... My opinion
Broncos-1024x768_small
Holic's Week 9 Predictions...
Turtle2_small
RiG's week 9 picks ATS
Walter_small
THE LEGENDARY SECONDARY
Hillis_small
Is There Value in Losing?
Luff3_small
More Simmons Love...

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Behind the Steel Curtain
BTSC Weekly NFL Musings - Week 9 Edition
Blogging The Boys
Understudy Sunday: the Cowboys Outslug the Eagles 20-16
Blogging The Boys
Cowboys First In East, Beat Philly 20-16

Getting Social With MHR

Facebook_badge_medium_medium
Black_generated_button

Milehighreport_email_medium

MHR Radio

SPONSORS

Web Stuff


iPing-it!

Listed on BlogShares

Sports blogs Sports Blogs
Top NFL Fan Sites
Best Football Sites

Rate Me on BlogHop.com!
the best pretty good okay pretty bad the worst

Top Blogs
Sports Blogs




General Manager/Head Coach

Milehighreport_small John Bena

Aristotle_small Jeremy Bolander

Asst. Head Coach

Mhr_small Steve Nichols

Tahoetim_small Tim Lynch

J_elway_870111_640_small Douglas A. Lee

Plato_bust_small Emmett Smith

Denver-broncos-button_small Ted Bartlett

The-big-lebowski_small TJ Johnson

Quality Control

800px-john_brown_painting_small mdierk