In the last several years, the NFL has shifted much of the focus in the league to provide more protection for quarterbacks through the various rules put in place. This has seen this process make it more difficult for defensive players to evaluate and act accordingly to performing the proper technique to tackling that the league is looking for them to adhere to on any given play. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has come to voice that he certainly understands the troubles that defensive players are having in avoiding being penalized for tackles being made, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.

“It’s a violent sport. It’s meant to be that way,” Flacco said Wednesday. “I definitely have feelings for those guys over there because not only are they penalizing people and affecting outcomes of games but they’re also taking paychecks away from people and they’re acting like it’s no big deal. But it is a big deal. That’s a lot of money for anybody. So, there’s a lot of issues with it, I think.”

This issue has been prevalent early in the season with Green Bay Packers star outside linebacker Clay Matthews being involved in a couple of controversial plays over the first two weeks. The latest occurred late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings where he was called for roughing the passer on his tackle on quarterback Kirk Cousins.

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It was a difficult spot that Matthews was put in as he tackled Cousins right after he threw the ball to where his momentum pushed the Pro Bowler to the ground after he grabbed him. This was a critical call that gave the Vikings the chance to tie the game as it kept the drive alive. Situations like this have made it more difficult for defensive players to assess what actions that they can do when the new protection rules are ones that are open to interpretation by the referees.

Nonetheless, it is an issue that if it continues to occur will get addressed by the league at some point in time in order to find the proper resolution.