The NFL is Considering Pranking Everyone

The Monday Tee-Off

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If the newly proposed rule that would require a penalty to be called on running backs that lead with their head isn't a joke, it should be.  Good one NFL, very funny.

It is true though, the NFL is considering the addition of a rule that proposes the following: any ball carrier lowering their head and leading with the crown of their helmet and is outside of the tackle box will be called for a 15 yard penalty.  As Matt Forte puts it:

"The proposed rule change for running backs might be the most absurd suggestion of a rule change I've ever heard of"

I completely agree with Forte's statement.  When I played football in middle school and high school, the first thing I was told while running the ball was to lower the shoulder, lean in to the hit, drive your legs, and keep your head up.  I realize "keeping your head up" may sound different than what this rule is proposing.  In reality, it's really the same thing.  If you think about how low some guys run (which is how a back is supposed to run) you will be able to see that even if you do "keep your head up" the chances are slim that you are not going to make contact with the crown of your helmet.

To me, this is going to defeat the chances of a team wanting to run the ball.  If a runner can't get low and drive himself into a defensive player without fear of penalty, there will be some major issues.

I know the league has been transforming itself into a "pass happy" league, but don't take away a whole aspect of the game.  That is just wrong.

The NFL has recently undergone a major adjustment when they decided to start heavily penalizing for head to head contact.  Just last season, I saw players called for head to head hits, in which were completely wrong calls (as there was no contact to the head), and possibly changed the outcome of those games.  Think about how referees are going to have to keep an eye on this proposed rule and the chances that come along with them making the wrong call.

Here we go again.