What is
wrong with the NFL?
What is wrong with the NFL? Technically, I do not think anything’s
wrong with the league of all leagues. Ratings is up from last year, the anthem drama
seems to have died down but something is missing from years past.
I will start with this, I was watching the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. It was a heck of
a game. WOW! This is what made the NFL so damn special in the first place nonstop
violent action.
This is what I have noticed.
The Refs.
There is too many flags/ so called penalties. I counted;
there was 9 or 10 flags in one game, some called back etc. However, it feels to
me like the refs wants the spotlight or something. Yes, I am being petty but every
play there seems to be a flag thrown. DeSean Jackson had an 84-yard punt return
for a TD and the crowd went bananas. Everyone was excited only to have it
called back in regards to a stupid flag, losing all the momentum. For every big
play there seems to be a penalty flag. Do they want this turning
into the No
Fun League? For Pete’s sake let the players play…
The new roughing the passer rule among other rule
changes.
What is this new rule? It is freaking ridiculous! You cannot
lay a finger on the QB or risk being penalized.
Check out some of the outrageous rule changes – courtesy of
PROTECTION OF QUARTERBACKS
The Committee reviewed hits on quarterbacks inside and
outside the pocket. In some instances, the defender used all or part of his
body weight to land on the quarterback immediately after the ball was thrown.
These actions put the quarterback at risk for injury. The Officiating
Department will emphasize that the defender is responsible for avoiding landing
on the quarterback when taking him to the ground.
PROTECTION OF RUNNERS WHO GIVE THEMSELVES UP
If a runner (including a quarterback) gives himself up,
then he is down where the first body part touches the ground. The runner should
not benefit from additional yardage after the first body part touches.
Defenders do not have to go down to initiate contact to stop a runner from
gaining more yards after he contacts the ground.
USE OF HELMET
The most significant change for 2018 is the new Use of
Helmet rule. The rule states that it is a foul if a player lowers his head to
initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent. This rule
pertains to all players on the field, and to all areas of the field.
Lowering the head (not to include bracing for contact)
Initiating contact with the helmet to any part of an
opponent. Contact does not have to be to an opponent’s head or neck area —
lowering the head and initiating contact to an opponent’s torso, hips, and
lower body, is also a foul.
Making contact on an opponent (both offense and defense)
Players can be ejected for use of helmet fouls — and all
ejections will be reviewed by senior officials in Art McNally GameDay Central
in New York.
All right, let us cut the BS. The NFL game on the field is
not the same as they are making the game soft. Why ruin such a great thing, I
knew this was going to happen. Check this. The more popular the NFL got the
more eyes were placed on the sport by people who have no idea what they’re
watching. All they see is the violence and lose their minds. Well I guess that
is the causality of something becoming too popular.
I wonder how the NFL legends back in the 80’s and 90’s
would play in today’s NFL. These rules are not only changing the game but it is
making it unwatchable sometimes. With the 20 flags per game followed by the 50 commercials.
Do not get me wrong I still love this game and watch it every minute I can but
these new rules will cause more harm than good. My question is what is going to
happen around playoff time when the stakes are higher and some flag is thrown
costing a team a chance to move on because a D-Lineman fell on a QB. The Monday
Night Football game Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Pittsburgh Steelers was insane! They
were calling flags for a defense accidentally falling on a QB!
Anyways I read today that the NFL eyeing a temporary
solution for its roughing the passer rule nightmare. So hopefully that is true
and we can fix a few things. The NFL did not need to do a complete 180 on the
rules change they just needed to tweak a few things for the greater good.
I had to add this tidbit that just came in a few hours ago.... Courtesy of Jason Witten from ESPN
“It’s just gone too far with that rule,” ESPN’s Jason Witten said regarding the NFL’s enhanced emphasis on roughing the passer. “I knew they wanted to make it about the health and safety and protect these quarterbacks. It just seems like we just went a little bit to the left wing.
Very interesting comments.
Well that is all for today folks. This was a touchy
subject for me. Until next time.
QB or not QB that’s the question.
Peace
Joe Jeremiah
Rule changes used courtesy of https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2018-rules-changes-and-points-of-emphasis/
