If the receiver runner is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player. A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass passing posture a receiver attempting to catch a pass who. The league has expanded its rules to prevent defenseless players. If youre in the air before he hits the threshold for defenseless receiver there isnt a goddamned thing you can do to not hit him, unless we start issuing jetpacks as safety gear. Per the nfl rulebook, a player must commit one of the following acts on a defenseless. With the size and athleticism of receivers and your inability to defend them, thats been a big part of quarterbacks being able to get out of their hand quickly. Aug 10, 2010 a defenseless player will be defined as a qb in the act of passing, a wr in the act of making a catch, a kick or punt returner in the act of making a catch, a runner who is in the grass or whose. According to the nfl rules, these were both correct calls, but the biggest problem was the consistency with which these types of plays were called during the.
The material is also covered in the 2011 league policies for players manual, distributed to all players in training camp. Dec 09, 2015 in its personalfouls section of the rulebook, the nfl has made it increasingly important that defenseless players be given certain protections. It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make. But bostic does lead and strike with the crown of his helmet, which is in violation of rule 12, section 2, article 7 of the nfl rule book.
In recent years the nfl has done more and more to prevent these hits first prohibiting hits on defenseless. Well have it back up and running as soon as possible. The first layer of this call is determining whether or not the receiver was in a defenseless posture. Player safety is a hot topic after several week 6 helmettohelmet incidents. Nfl attempts to clarify the defenseless player rules. Rules defining a defenseless player were expanded to include eight categories. Receivers will be required to wear dresses to remind the defense not to hit the defenseless receiver. Jon gruden epitomizes the old school idiot camp that never read the new rules and doesnt care about safety thats just a great football play, these players are taught to drive through the receiver, but mike. Nfls new helmet rule causes confusion, outrage during cardinalschargers game.
But rules such as illegal contact beyond 5 yards, openpalmed pass blocking, and defenseless receiver prohibitions that limit intimidating hits have paved the way for a reimagining and a. Nov 30, 2010 nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or shoulder. The destination for all national football league related video on the web. This receiver has always been protected under the defenseless player rule. How wide receivers have evolved in the nfl the boston globe. Oct 19, 2010 rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2010 nfl rule book was talked about in length this morning as nfl v. Aug 29, 2015 the nfl implemented a new rule this offseason protecting receivers from being hit in the head immediately following an interception. Nfl admits ref wrongly applied new rule on defenseless. For the nfl to continue allowing such plays to have such a major effect on games is not only a disservice to the fans, but to the game itself.
How nfl rules changes created a golden era of quarterback. It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. A receiver who has completed a catch is a defenseless player until he has had time to protect himself or has clearly become a runner. The nfl officiating committee explains the difference between a legal and an illegal hit on a defenseless players. A receiver is considered a player in a defenseless posture see 1227 throughout the entire process of the catch and until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent. Nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or. Violations of this provision will be enforced after the interception, and the intercepting team will maintain possession. A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass. New catch rule creates defenseless receiver donut hole. Nfl rule changes and points of emphasis to watch in 2015. Aug 28, 2017 this offseason, the nfl made it a rule that any running back or wide receiver or tight end running a receiving route would be considered in a defenseless position. In its personalfouls section of the rulebook, the nfl has made it increasingly important that defenseless players be given certain protections. Prohibited acts against a defenseless receiver include. Wrs saw additional protection in 2009 when contact to the head of a defenseless receiver was prohibited.
But when a referee applied that rule this offseason, it was not. In this instance, beckham qualified for protection under the nfls defenseless player rule because he was attempting to make a catch but had not yet had a chance to become a runner. Nfl admits ref wrongly applied new rule on defenseless receivers. Aug 03, 2018 its rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2018 nfl rulebook, or rule 1228. Qbs received even more protection in 2006 when the nfl barred hits to the qbs below their knees unless the defensive player was blocked into the qb. Dec 27, 2011 after a personal foul penalty on monday night led to a highprofile media tiff, the nfl has stepped in to attempt to clarify what, exactly, the term defenseless player means.
The following is taken from the 2011 nfl rule book pages 7374 and defines players who are in a defenseless posture. Todays rule involves the ban on hitting defenseless players. Nfl referees will take on more responsibility this season to protect players from helmetfirst hits to their heads and necks. Per the nfl rulebook, a player must commit one of the following acts on a defenseless player in order to draw a flag prohibited contact. Mike pereira born april, 1950 is a former american football official and later vice president of officiating for the national football league nfl. Evolution of the nfl rules the custodians of football not only have protected its integrity, but have also revised its playing rules to protect the players, and to make the games fairer. Vontaze burfict may be dirty, but the hit that got him. Making sense of the nfls explanation of legal and illegal. Aug 21, 2018 so, for clarity, heres a breakdown of what the ncaa law dictates.
All season, ive been semiconfused by commentators responses to personal foul flags for hits on defenseless receivers. A receiver runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Purpose of video is to facilitate a discussion of the nfl defenseless player rules. Defenseless player rule could include receivers running routes. The nfl needs to reconsider the rootcause, and application of rules, related to defenseless players, combined with the reality of what is possible for adherence of rules. And while the seahawks played a good game overall, in my admittedly biased eyes, this was a personal foul on a defenseless receiver. Heres the section in the nfl rulebook on unnecessary roughnessrule 12, section 2, article 8 unnecessary roughness. Rule 12, article 9, a, 2, defines a defenseless receiver as a receiver attempting to catch a pass. Aug 26, 2014 the nfl needs to reconsider the rootcause, and application of rules, related to defenseless players, combined with the reality of what is possible for adherence of rules by defensive players. The nfl rulebook prohibits hits against any defenseless. The brief excerpt is of the texanscolts game held on september 11, 2011.
Nfl rule book 2010 rule 12, section 2, article 8 steelers. The nfl expanded the rules for defenseless receivers to include all players in 2010. A receiver attempting to catch a forward pass or in position to receive a backward pass, or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier. Sep 12, 2011 purpose of video is to facilitate a discussion of the nfl defenseless player rules. Heres how the rule assesses a defenseless posture, as it applies in this particular play. Instead receivers run around the football field freely, paying no attention to the defenders because they arent allowed to hit a defenseless receiver. From the nfl rulebook, the definition of a defenseless receiver. After a personal foul penalty on monday night led to a highprofile media tiff, the nfl has stepped in to attempt to clarify what, exactly, the term defenseless player means. Why do shazier apologists immediately reference the. Football games shouldnt have strict defensive rules because players dont have to be as tough, defenses have to play slower, and it changers the result of the game. A receiver is considered a player in a defenseless posture see rule 12, section 2, article 9 throughout the entire process of the catch and until the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent. Hit on wes welker should have been flagged mile high report. Ravens safety bernard pollard was flagged for shouldertohelmet contact, and linebacker ray lewis was flagged for helmettohelmet contact, both being against defenseless receivers. Defenseless playerreceiver rule dallas cowboys forum.
I dont understand the defenseless reciever penalty. A receiver runner is no longer defenseless if he is able to avoid or ward off the impending contact of an opponent. Nfl football operations protects the integrity of the game by ensuring that the rules and the officiating are consistent and fair to all competitors. Aug 28, 2017 but hitting a defenseless play is not an automatic foul. Since 2008, the committee has implemented rules to prohibit forcible contact using the helmet and target defenseless opponents. Member clubs of the league may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the nfl constitution and bylaws. All offensive players other than those identified in article 5 above are ineligible to catch a legal or illegal forward pass thrown from behind. Oct 31, 20 the defenseless player rule is important, as it serves to protect players from catastrophic injuries.
In the end zone, the same action is a touchdown, since the receiver completed the catch beyond the goal line prior to the loss of possession, and the ball is dead when the catch is completed. But hitting a defenseless play is not an automatic foul. The nfl video rulebook explains nfl rules with video examples. Feb 04, 2018 here are a few of the most common cases, with the wording in the nfl rulebook.
Dec 08, 2014 defense leads patriots over chargers as new england stays atop afc. The receiver position has evolved greatly over the past 80 years, since the nfl ruled in 1933 that forward passes could be thrown from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. This foul should be enforced on the previous spot, and the offense. Jon gruden epitomizes the old school idiot camp that never read the new rules and doesnt care about safety thats just a great football play, these players are taught. Nfl rules provide special protection to defenseless players, by prohibiting a hits delivered to their head or neck area by an opponent with his helmet including facemask, forearm, or shoulder. Jan 06, 2019 prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is. Nfls new helmet rule causes confusion, outrage during. It is an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver if the initial force of the contact by the defenders helmet, forearm, or shoulder is to the head or neck area of the. To that point, the nfl provided data to outside the lines showing that of 61 penalties called for hits on defenseless receivers last season, 14 were deemed incorrect calls a miss rate of 23.
Nov 18, 2015 the rules surrounding a defenseless receiver falls under rule 12, section 2, article 7. This is the fifth of five capsules explaining the nfls new playersafety rules that were passed at last weeks annual meeting. This edition of the official playing rules of the national football league contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2011 nfl season. The defenseless player rule is important, as it serves to protect players from catastrophic injuries. Spearing has always been illegal at all levels of football including the nfl and the no spearing rules named above long predate the defenseless receiver rule established in 20 any hard blindside hit qualifies under the defenseless receiver rule, 1227, not just the illegal acts named under the unnecessary roughness rule, 1226. Rule 12, section 2, article 8 in the 2010 nfl rule book was talked about in length this morning as nfl v. The nfl has changed several rules in recent offseasons in an effort to classify more players as defenseless and therefore give them protections against being hit.
If the defenseless receiver rules applied back in the 80s and 90s, guys like marino and montana would have averaged 60 touchdowns a year, easy. Aug 03, 2018 dan patrick and the danettes discuss the hall of fame game and the confusion of the nfl s defenseless receiver policy. Nfl may extend defenseless player protections for punt and. The nfl cited the defenseless receiver rule in its explanation, but hill had transitioned from receiver to blocker, as the ball was intercepted a splitsecond before he was struck. The player will also be fined and if that player continues to commit the same infraction, he will be suspended. Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is. The player hitting a defenseless player will be penalized 15 yards. Jan 04, 2012 all season, ive been semiconfused by commentators responses to personal foul flags for hits on defenseless receivers. The official 2018 football code of the ncaa football rules committee stresses that players and coaches should emphasize the. Here are a few of the most common cases, with the wording in the nfl rulebook. Jan 24, 20 we have seen defenses make big stops on third downs countless times this year, only to have a penalty flag thrown for a questionable hit on a defenseless receiver that keeps the drive alive for the offense. Players have different opinions about how football needs.