So why isn’t “what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander” — good enough in the NFL? That is the question after some of the rumors of the proposed rule changes at Scottsdale, Arizona in the NFL League meetings.
There have been many rule changes for the defensive players leading with their helmets. Now the NFL is considering a rule change for running backs —and why not?
There are many ex-players —in particular running backs, and now even fans weighing in on the rule change. So what is good for the goose isn’t necessarily “good for the gander” it seems when we are talking NFL offensive players. As many defensive players are being fined left and right, they finally get the same consideration, now of the offensive side of the ball.
Why is this so bad?
In the NFL’s attempt to make the game "safer", they have taken away many plays from the defense. Now the offense will seem to get a taste of that same medicine. While looking around at the many comments regarding this issues, the fans weigh in with exactly the same concerns when the rule changes went in effect for the defense.
Comments like….
Any back who carries a football lowers his head to contact the tackler.”
Sounds familiar.
You are taught to run behind your pads as a child.
Sound very familiar. Just change the words around a little.
We could go one and on with comments like these. The point of this is, these are the same concerns that defensive players, and fans brought up when the defense had the rule changes. “It has to be a fair playing field.” as many defensive players have said — and they are right.
Former running backs including NFL rushing title holder Emmitt Smith are very much against the proposed rule change. However, what running backs are not telling people this rule, is pretty much for open field plays, not when they are running in the holes on the line. That has to be stressed, because in reality, in the open field, that helmet becomes a weapon, just as much as any defender leading with the helmet on a tackle.
Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte goes off on his Twitter page (a platform all major professional sports players should stay off of) says…
The proposed rule change for running backs might be the most absurd suggestion of a rule change I've ever heard of. In order to lower ur shoulder u obviously have to lower ur head. It's a way of protecting ur self from a tackler and a way to break tackles. U can't change the instinctive nature of running the football."
Why not? The NFL did the same thing for defensive players. Just as Teddy Bruschi former linebacker of the New England Patriots and NFL analyst for ESPN said in his commentary…
All of you offensive players have to live in our world now (defensive players along with new rules changes). We had to relearn our rules in terms of defenseless players, now you (offensive players) have to know not to use that helmet as a weapon.
And again, why not? For what ever reason. Roger Goodell has made rule changes in order to “protect the health and safety (and the wallets of the NFL) of all our players”. Why are running backs and offensive players not under the same scrutiny as defensive players?
Now the same treatment is on both sides of the ball. As it is, the NFL has had a long history of protecting the quarterback, now they need to do the same thing for defensive players as well.
As of now, the time of this article, the rule has not passed.
The “tuck rule” for the NFL quarterback is also being looked at as well as far as change. The famous rule that was created for quarterback Tom Brady, in the snow and sleet against the Raiders. That rule also needs to go to the wayside.
It is about time the NFL makes rule changes to protect the defensive players, just as much as they have for the offensive players, and make the game fair and safe for players on both sides of the ball. These rules should get real consideration more-so than just lip service in Scottsdale.
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