NFL bans controversial hip-drop tackle

[cigaretteman]

The NFL’s owners on Monday ratified a proposal by the league’s competition committee to prohibit hip-drop tackles. Such tackles now will be subject to 15-yard penalties during games and potential fines afterward.

The NFL is enacting the ban over the objection of the NFL Players Association. League leaders said they respected the players’ opinion on the matter but they could not, they said, ignore an injury rate for the technique that is 20 to 25 times higher than that for standard tackles. Members of the NFL’s health and safety staff said they studied 20,000 tackles over recent seasons to make that determination.

The new rule defines a hip-drop tackle as occurring when a tackler grabs a ballcarrier, swivels and leaves the ground, then falls on the back of the ballcarrier’s lower leg. The technique resulted in high-profile injuries last season to Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, among others.

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[QChawks]

NFL = flag football

 

[Bonerfarts]

Well this will be fun to officiate. I already can't tell what a catch is anymore (even after a replay), same with pass interference. Why not have refs second question all tackles then?

 

[OrlandNole]

The new rule defines a hip-drop tackle as occurring when a tackler grabs a ballcarrier, swivels and leaves the ground, then falls on the back of the ballcarrier’s lower leg. The technique resulted in high-profile injuries last season to Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, among others.

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Good. The Ravens and Dolphins would have made the playoffs if those injuries didn't happen.

 

[beanerhawk]

I love the NFL but their over reaction to this type of stuff is just dumb. Can't hit high, can't hit low, horse collar tackle, now the hip drop tackle. My god they make it so hard on the defense.

 

[B1GDeal]

These tackles resulting in the leg injuries are flukes. Thousands of tackles each season and a few result in this. I understand trying to eliminate injuries, but this one seems really hard to legislate. How the hell are they going to consistently rule this? How is the hell is a player to know in the process of a tackle... "i think I'm starting to fall near his legs so I better let go?"

 

[onlyTheObvious]

Not even sure what a hip tackle is or isn’t.

Some of the videos I have seen make them look a lot safer that somebody launching into the knees.

Is it basically wrapping them up at the waist and the tackler falling down with them? If so, how do you tackle ?

 

[BioHawk]

I'm not sure how you are supposed to tackle anyone bigger than you now. Ron Dayne would run for 300 yards a game under these rules.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Good. The Ravens and Dolphins would have made the playoffs if those injuries didn't happen.

This is the same type of tackle that ended Jordan Travis' season. It should be an immediate ejection penalty.

 

[BelemNole]

good

 

[BubsFinn]

Horsecollar
Pass interference
Roughing the passer
Catch
Offsides


Add it to the list of thing the NFL can’t clearly define.

 

[beanerhawk]

I'm not sure how you are supposed to tackle anyone bigger than you now. Ron Dayne would run for 300 yards a game under these rules.

This, can you imagine being a 185 pound corner trying to run down Derrick Henry, good luck.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Not even sure what a hip tackle is or isn’t.

Some of the videos I have seen make them look a lot safer that somebody launching into the knees.

Is it basically wrapping them up at the waist and the tackler falling down with them? If so, how do you tackle ?

Go watch Jordan Travis' injury video.

 

[B1GDeal]

Go watch Jordan Travis' injury video.

I've seen it. He's running in the open field when a tackler wraps him up around the waist and his leg gets caught underneath. How many thousands of tackles are made each year with a few resulting in this. Now, in the future the tackler is forced to keep with tackle or say I feel him buckling I better let go in case his leg is underneath. All while in the process of making an open field tackle. It's wild. Used to be taught to hit and wrap up. Now it's hit and don't wrap up unless you are big enough or have enough momentum to knock someone over vs having to hang on for the tackle.

 

[QChawks]

 

[TC Nole OX]

Shannon Sharpe points out that this type of tackle wasn’t a thing when he played


Reacting to NFL owners approving a ban on the swivel hip-drop tackle | First Take

 

[BelemNole]

Rugby has banned it. They're pussies too right? Right....

 

[HawCory]

Rugby has banned it. They're pussies too right? Right....

Rugby is where the NFL coaches and players learned it. I seem to remember the Seahawks LBs and Safeties talking about spending time with rugby guys in the offseason.

 

[noleclone2]

I've seen it. He's running in the open field when a tackler wraps him up around the waist and his leg gets caught underneath. How many thousands of tackles are made each year with a few resulting in this. Now, in the future the tackler is forced to keep with tackle or say I feel him buckling I better let go in case his leg is underneath. All while in the process of making an open field tackle. It's wild. Used to be taught to hit and wrap up. Now it's hit and don't wrap up unless you are big enough or have enough momentum to knock someone over vs having to hang on for the tackle.

Not true at all. His leg got caught underneath because of the nature of the tackle. It is a new, swaggy thing the younger players like to do now on purpose for flash or because it looks cool, not out of necessity. For example, say like a loser FCS linebacker trying to look cool on his national TV appearance when he does it to a 190 pound Heisman contender vs simply tackling him or grabbing his legs.

Go watch the Shannon Sharpe video above...he nails it...this was once a rare thing. It 100% should be banned just like a horse collar or facemask or chop blocks. And it is much easier to define and call than some of the nebulous late hit type calls. Like Porn, you know it when you see it.

 

[B1GDeal]

Not true at all. His leg got caught underneath because of the nature of the tackle. It is a new, swaggy thing the younger players like to do now on purpose for flash or because it looks cool, not out of necessity. For example, say like a loser FCS linebacker trying to look cool on his national TV appearance when he does it to a 190 pound Heisman contender vs simply tackling him or grabbing his legs.

Go watch the Shannon Sharpe video above...he nails it...this was once a rare thing. It 100% should be banned just like a horse collar or facemask or chop blocks. And it is much easier to define and call than some of the nebulous late hit type calls. Like Porn, you know it when you see it.

Yeah, he certainly looked cool. So much swag these kids have.

 

[noleclone2]

Yeah, he certainly looked cool. So much swag these kids have.

That is often why they are doing it, especially if catching a runner from behind.

 

[kkhawk]

Is this what Clay Matthews used to always do?

 

[Bonerfarts]

Is this what Clay Matthews used to always do?

No, that was steroids. Different altogether.

 

[IXHawkeye86]

I guess now it you're trying to catch/tackle a player from behind you have to just kick his foot so he trips? I don't get it. That tackle looks perfectly fine to me. I think for every new rule that restricts defenses from making a play, they need to refine/change a rule that hampers the offense.

Sort of when you buy one t-shirt, you have to get rid of a different t-shirt.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Rugby is where the NFL coaches and players learned it. I seem to remember the Seahawks LBs and Safeties talking about spending time with rugby guys in the offseason.

Did it come from MMA originally? I seem to remember hearing that around the time Jordan Travis had his leg broken by the cheap shot UNA player.

 

[QChawks]

I cannot wait to watch the refs try and police these hip tackles

 

[jberesford]

Imagine going back in time and explaining modern football rules and salaries to an NFL guy wearing a leather hat that doubled as a lunchbox and had a regular job in the off-season, maybe during the season as well.

 

[cigaretteman]

Imagine going back in time and explaining modern football rules and salaries to an NFL guy wearing a leather hat that doubled as a lunchbox and had a regular job in the off-season, maybe during the season as well.

True enough. On the other hand, those guys were a lot smaller, lighter, and slower than today's NFLers, so collisions weren't as violent as todays.

 

[BioHawk]

Shannon Sharpe points out that this type of tackle wasn’t a thing when he played


Reacting to NFL owners approving a ban on the swivel hip-drop tackle | First Take

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Of course it wasn't, because you could hit people up high when he played. Now you might get kicked out of the game. The only method for bringing down a large player now is for corners to just try and hold onto them and keep them from moving forward anymore until a linebacker can get to them to knock the guy over. Not sure teeing up players to get leveled by a linebacker is going to lower injuries but I don't know how else the defense is supposed to bring anyone down.