During March the NFL expanded the helmet hit rule to include any player who leads with the crown of his helmet to initiate contact on any play. This new rule and the preseason calling of it has been the biggest story of the off-season. Many people are concerned with the NFL as we know it completely changing. I'm not one of them and here is why.
The year was 2013 and the NFL introduced a new rule: A ban on a ball carrier initiating contact with the crown of his helmet in the open field or by a defender while making a tackle.
If you type 2013 NFL helmet rule into your search engine, you are guaranteed to find an abundance of articles which look like they were written this summer. The only difference between then and now is that officials now have the freedom to call it on any play regardless of where players are on the field. While the adjustment of the rule may expand the ability of the officials to blow their whistles, I highly doubt the game will look much different than it did last season.
Below is a look at the number of 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalties (not including special teams) called throughout the past 6 seasons. Although there was a bit of a jump from 2012 to 2013, it doesn't appear that the previous leading with the crown rule changed the game as we know it.
Below is a look at the number of 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalties (not including special teams) called throughout the past 6 seasons. Although there was a bit of a jump from 2012 to 2013, it doesn't appear that the previous leading with the crown rule changed the game as we know it.
RSS Feed
