NFL’s new tackling rules making it impossible for defenders.
San Francisco 49ers corner back Richard Sherman is already annoyed with the NFL’s new tackle rules. He’s not happy about it at all.
On Sunday he took to Twitter to lambast the league for tackling new policy they set in place.
Richard Sherman on Twitter
There is no “make adjustment” to the way you tackle. Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head. The rule is idiotic And should be dismissed immediately. When you watch rugby players tackle they are still lead by their head. Will be flag football soon.
This happened after his teammate Rahmeet Mostert was flagged for the tackle he made on a punt return. By everyone’s definition this is a normal, clean football play, instead Mostert was penalized.
Brett Tessler on Twitter
So here’s a play that my 49ers client Raheem Mostert got an unnecessary roughness penalty on last night for leading with his head… Is this really the way we want to affect the outcome of games this season? https://t.co/lotRzIxiue
Lorenzo Reyes at USA Today details what the specifics of the new rules.
“The rule, which intends to promote player safety, was approved in March and penalizes any player offensive or defensive who initiates contact with his helmet to any part of an opposing players body. In egregious cases, officials have the option to eject a player from a game.”
While this rule makes sense in theory and proposing more to be done to protect players is a good thing, the reality of enacting this rule with players going at full speed without changing the game will be tough. And players like Sherman are already vocal about it.
