NFL to study hits to knees

[Sportsguy9695]

The NFL will keep a close eye on hits to the knees of defenseless players this season, with the possibility of extending the rules protecting such players.

If the league's competition committee finds enough evidence this season that hits to the knees are "becoming a problem," it could take action, chief of football operations Ray Anderson told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The committee could make a recommendation to the owners next March to prohibit direct hits to the knees of defenseless players. The owners would then vote on such a change.

Source: ESPN

 

[BOTSLAYER]

This is the beginning of the end of the NFL.

They protect players from being hit up high so players hit low, pretty soon you will only be able to wrap up around the waist but keeping your head in a non weapon position, then it will be flag football.

All this is sad because all they need to do is take blood samples to test for current and future PEDs with life bans and very hefty fines to ensure a clean playing environment so you do not have 290lbs guys running 4.5 40s and slamming into each other with the force of a horrific car accident.

 

[Golden Spur]

The NFL will keep a close eye on hits to the knees of defenseless players this season, with the possibility of extending the rules protecting such players.

If the league's competition committee finds enough evidence this season that hits to the knees are "becoming a problem," it could take action, chief of football operations Ray Anderson told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The committee could make a recommendation to the owners next March to prohibit direct hits to the knees of defenseless players. The owners would then vote on such a change.

Source: ESPN

When you can't go high, you go low. DJ Swearinger put a low hit on a Dolphins TE for that reason, and guy got his knee torn out. It's a bad situation.

 

[#1BostonFan]

I mean I get why there doing this, but jesus you gotta draw the line somewhere. Hits to the head can mess a person up for life, a knee sucks but you can still live a normal life. It's football you can't make it safe. I'm all for getting rid of helmet to helmet on a WR/TE, but that's it.

 

[iowajerms]

I am not a fan of chop blocks. I just think it is a cheap move to do, especially if the victim of it is not paying attention. I would be willing to bet most injuries in the trench happen on chop blocks. IMO, I think any blocks at the knee or lower should be banned. This is only for those that are blocking (offensively and defensively).

I think tackling the ball carrier from the knee or lower is fine (unless it's like the Joe Theismann situation with a high and low). I also think tackling QB in pocket at the knee or lower is fine, since the OL's job is to prevent that.

 

[eric5577x]

If you are not looking the person in the eyes, then you cannot go low. Its simple. If he can't see you, you can't hit him in the knees. That Swearinger hit is a perfect example. He could have wrapped him up at the waist and took him down, no need to go for the knees. Same thing in the Vikes game this week, dude was not even looking. Its cheap and needs to go away. It is not hard to correct this, and there is nothing to study!

 

[fordman84]

hits to knees are bad.


Where do I collect my check for that study?

 

[eric5577x]

hits to knees are bad.


Where do I collect my check for that study?

 

[RonBorges]

Not trying to bash Peyton Manning... honest, but I noticed something in recent Broncos/Rams game that I wonder if anyone else noticed, or maybe noticed at some point during Peyton's career.

The Bronco receivers ran more slants than I remember seeing other teams run. This means, the receiver is in full gallop when the ball is delivered across the middle.

Rams defenders were tackling these route receptions by choppping the legs out from under the receiver, at or near the knees. I thought to myself, man some is going to get hurt, and sure enough, Demarius Thomas got chopped, hurt his knee and was out of the game.

When I contrast this with the Pats... I see more come-back routes where the receiver has two feet planted when he takes the hit. These routes seem much more safe for the receivers.

Did this register with anyone else?

 

[BritishDolfan]

I stand by my point that they should play with softer pads and without helmets.

 

[NinerSickness]

I stand by my point that they should play with softer pads and without helmets.

Without helmets??? Softer pads maybe, but no helmets? Not a good idea IMO.

 

[BritishDolfan]

Without helmets??? Softer pads maybe, but no helmets? Not a good idea IMO.

It sounds ludicrous, but if you play without helmets players will very quickly learn not to lead with their heads. Not because of concussions necessarily, but because of broken jaws, broken noses, etc. It's a similar reason bare knuckle boxing is technically safer, because without gloves punching someone in the head fucks your hands up fairly quickly so they didn't do it much. You got a lot of broken ribs and things, but not many severe head injuries.

Now, it's not something the NFL will ever consider I don't think, but it's an interesting thought experiment.

 

[NinerSickness]

It sounds ludicrous, but if you play without helmets players will very quickly learn not to lead with their heads. Not because of concussions necessarily, but because of broken jaws, broken noses, etc. It's a similar reason bare knuckle boxing is technically safer, because without gloves punching someone in the head fucks your hands up fairly quickly so they didn't do it much. You got a lot of broken ribs and things, but not many severe head injuries.

Now, it's not something the NFL will ever consider I don't think, but it's an interesting thought experiment.

They might not lead with the head, but other players might lead with something else when they hit someone in the head.

And I don't think leading with the helmet is what causes the most injuries anyway. The whole issue about leading with the helmet is silly anyway. Your head doesn't have nearly as much force behind it as your shoulder does anyway, but somehow you're going to hurt people more with a helmet than a shoulder pad?

If anything, they should maybe make helmets out of slightly softer material and not worry about leading with the helmet as much. If you're going low, where the hell else are you going to put your head than right in front of you? By your hip?

 

[RonBorges]

They might not lead with the head, but other players might lead with something else when they hit someone in the head.

And I don't think leading with the helmet is what causes the most injuries anyway. The whole issue about leading with the helmet is silly anyway. Your head doesn't have nearly as much force behind it as your shoulder does anyway, but somehow you're going to hurt people more with a helmet than a shoulder pad?

If anything, they should maybe make helmets out of slightly softer material and not worry about leading with the helmet as much. If you're going low, where the hell else are you going to put your head than right in front of you? By your hip?

Probably a very dumb idea... but what about Giant Nerf Helmets. Everyone can look like Eli Manning

 

[Clayton]

Not trying to bash Peyton Manning... honest, but I noticed something in recent Broncos/Rams game that I wonder if anyone else noticed, or maybe noticed at some point during Peyton's career.

The Bronco receivers ran more slants than I remember seeing other teams run. This means, the receiver is in full gallop when the ball is delivered across the middle.

Rams defenders were tackling these route receptions by choppping the legs out from under the receiver, at or near the knees. I thought to myself, man some is going to get hurt, and sure enough, Demarius Thomas got chopped, hurt his knee and was out of the game.

When I contrast this with the Pats... I see more come-back routes where the receiver has two feet planted when he takes the hit. These routes seem much more safe for the receivers.

Did this register with anyone else?

Not sure if this is a larger trend but the Rams were basically playing 'off' the Broncos receivers in a fairly vanilla package for most of the first half.

Peyton certainly got a couple of his receiver killed in Indy but Wayne, Harrison and Stokley were just fine throughout it all

 

[RonBorges]

Not sure if this is a larger trend but the Rams were basically playing 'off' the Broncos receivers in a fairly vanilla package for most of the first half.

Peyton certainly got a couple of his receiver killed in Indy but Wayne, Harrison and Stokley were just fine throughout it all

Agree with Wayne and Harrison, but didn't Stokely get destroyed?

The next two seasons of Stokley's career were marred by various injuries. After he participated in only four games of the 2006 season, the Colts terminated his contract on March 1, 2007.

 

[#1BostonFan]

Helmet to knee is just a freak accident, also all WR's don't even wear knee pads to soften the blow. It's stupid to think you can get rid of low tackles. Mcgahee type hits are freak accidents, it's happens.

 

[#1BostonFan]

It's funny the NFL thinks low hits to the knees are a problem, yet they don't make WR's make knee pads? I get WR's not wanting them, but don't cry when you take a helmet to straight knee. Helmet will always win.

 

[RonBorges]

Helmet to knee is just a freak accident, also all WR's don't even wear knee pads to soften the blow. It's stupid to think you can get rid of low tackles. Mcgahee type hits are freak accidents, it's happens.

I think the knee pads are REQUIRED this year, as well as thigh, hip, and tailbone

 

[BritishDolfan]

If anything, they should maybe make helmets out of slightly softer material and not worry about leading with the helmet as much. If you're going low, where the hell else are you going to put your head than right in front of you? By your hip?

That would make sense.

As for low tackles or tackling without helmets, see how rugby players tackle.