Helmet off, play blown down is dumbest rule ever

[redseat]

I think that was the biggest dick move by a coach in the NFL in years.

Let's hear Steelers fans defend that move. I think most of them will have no problem with it. but if this was a Patriots player or coach who did it... oh boy watch out!

 

[redseat]

Y! SPORTS

 

[redseat]

Well the link above ^^^ shows the play in question and doing solely by the rule book Bell had not crossed the goal-line yet. clearly his momentum brought him into the end-zone but he did not cross. Kudos to the Ravens defender for immediately stopping as soon as he saw the helmet come off!

This is a perfect example of why the play is immediately blown DEAD when the helmet comes off! it is to prevent a defender lunging or diving at said player without having his helmet on!

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

It is called deterrence.

A hard and fast rule like this motivates players to strap it up tight. Even if Bell usually has it strapped up And this was incidental, it got into the news and more players will pay attention.

 

[Money]

I think that was the biggest dick move by a coach in the NFL in years.

I actually really like Tomlin, but he clearly lost his head that moment. The Ravens won, so I'm a bit more forgiving. He should be fined though and I'm sure he will be. I love how the Ravens replayed it on the big screen like 4-5 times. It really got the crowd fired up. I wish I was there, but family and turkey day trumped attending the game.

 

[pumpkinhead33793]

It was a dick move by Tomlin, but I am not sure it actually mattered. I think the defender catches him anyway. Looked like he had the angle.

 

[Money]

It was a dick move by Tomlin, but I am not sure it actually mattered. I think the defender catches him anyway. Looked like he had the angle.

I think so too. He may have gotten further, but given the fact the Ravens couldn't get in the endzone and the Ravens getting the 3 points anyway...it really didn't impact the game.

 

[Midnightangel]

The rule was inacted because a players helmet came off mid-play and he continued to play and gain yards while he was running. Players didn't want to tackle him since he was without a helmet. He took advantage of the situation.

What happened last night was a joke.

 

[Wazmankg]

And just think if its fourth down. The defense NOW has an incentive to try and knock the helmet off without getting a flag.

What are you talking about ? So the D, instead of trying to stop a 4th down play, is going to try to rip the ball carrier's helmet off risking 1) not knocking it off or knocking it off too late and having him score/make the 1st down. 2) intentionally knocking it off and getting called for unnecessary roughness, giving the offense a 1st down anyway. That would be a pretty stupid tactic dontcha think ? You may want to re-assess that one.

 

[Jims_Doors]

And just think if its fourth down. The defense NOW has an incentive to try and knock the helmet off without getting a flag.

Defensive player spreads word to teammates on the field:

"next play, use those certain tackle techniques that gives us a better chance of knocking his helmet off"

 

[dkmightyhammer]

I think the players themselves are largely to blame when their own helmets come off. Seems like some of the skill positions (especially) never like to cinch up their chin straps tight. It's almost like its "not cool" to cinch your strap. Or maybe it's just a comfort thing. Check out some player next time you get a chance and see how loose those chin straps are. Sometimes they aren't done up at all. I know on the Seahawks one guy who always loses his helmet is Breno Giacomini and his chin strap always looks loose. If they don't want the play to stop because of a loose helmet then they ought to tighten up their straps.

 

[Jims_Doors]

The rule was inacted because a players helmet came off mid-play and he continued to play and gain yards while he was running. Players didn't want to tackle him since he was without a helmet. He took advantage of the situation.

What happened last night was a joke.

You should be referring to Sanders dropping the 2pt conversion as being the joke......not the Bell play.

Besides, if Bell had fumbled after the helmet come off, you would be praising the rule.

 

[anotheridiot]

Not to me such as the case tonight. Bell was clearly on his way to the ground when his helmet came off. Blowing it dead was stupid and it would've been a major controversy if the Steelers didn't punch it in on that 4th down. Thankfully it did not have any impact on the outcome

It really was not the case that the steelers still punched it in, they used up 3 plays right in a row and still had the two point conversion play. There are only so many plays they run on short yardage and the raven defense saw them all.

I get the rule, if a ball carrier is running with the ball without a helmet, it is blown dead. They should have allowed the play to finish, he was not advancing the ball more than where he would have crossed the goal line.

The message, faceguard a receiver in the end zone that would be a penalty anywhere else on the field, or rip helmets off.

 

[Wazmankg]

It really was not the case that the steelers still punched it in, they used up 3 plays right in a row and still had the two point conversion play. There are only so many plays they run on short yardage and the raven defense saw them all.

I get the rule, if a ball carrier is running with the ball without a helmet, it is blown dead. They should have allowed the play to finish, he was not advancing the ball more than where he would have crossed the goal line.

The message, faceguard a receiver in the end zone that would be a penalty anywhere else on the field, or rip helmets off.

Face guarding is not against the rules anywhere on the field unless contact is made with the receiver... not sure where you're going with the "rip helmets off" thing.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Why should face guarding be a penalty if there is no contact? That is just silly & asking the impossible of DB(s) to cover a receiver when more than half the time DB(s) have there back to the ball while in coverage.

 

[JDM]

Let them keep going if they don't get tackled, helmet or not.

 

[Wazmankg]

Let them keep going if they don't get tackled, helmet or not.

The guys who just doled out $765 million to former players for a concussion settlement decided maybe that's not such a good idea.

 

[cdumler7]

There is no such rule anymore in the NFL about face guarding. Now if the Baltimore defender on the 2-point conversion had made contact with the Pittsburgh player before the ball arrived without looking back then yes that is pass interference and they will call it every time. Honestly that play was completely idiotic by the Pittsburgh receiver. Obviously the play calls for that back shoulder almost come back route kind of throw and he made no effort to try and set his body either drawing the foul or catching the ball. Either way if he plays it like it should have been it would have been a win win for the Steelers.

Now as to the Helmet off rule I agree in this situation in Pittsburgh it is idiotic that if a player is falling to the turf that they would blow it dead just because the helmet comes off. I understand not letting a player run down the field without a helmet on but when a player is just falling forward and it is obvious that his momentum is going to cause him to be down then why whistle the play dead on the spot. But according to the rules the refs did play it the right way I guess you could say. Just from a logical look at it though it makes no sense.

 

[JDM]

The guys who just doled out $765 million to former players for a concussion settlement decided maybe that's not such a good idea.

Fuck 'em.

Just make it very clear that football brings an inherent risk of head trauma and that playing is at your risk. Tobacco companies don't get sued for lung cancer.

 

[jdwills126]

I get and understand the rule.

It was put in to provide safety to a player and hard to fault rules designed for safety. DO I think the NFL has gone overboard with all the new rules for safety yes….but it's not my ass get kicked out there.