There’s probably not a more contentious subject this offseason than the NFL’s new helmet rule, which is being lambasted left and right by fans, players, and to some extent, by head coaches.
At least one NFL team sideline boss in the form of Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots is not concerned about the negative impact of the rule on his team. After all, he said that the Pats have never subscribed to the technique the new rule is trying to eliminate, per John Tomase of WEEI Sports Radio Network.
“From my standpoint, there's really . . . it's not a change for us, for our coaching staff,” Belichick said. “We've never taught tackling with the crown of your helmet, putting your head down, leaning your body forward in that type of position. I don't think fundamentally that's a good position to be in. It's not effective.
A true student of the game and a stern master of his team, Belichick must have drilled into his players’ heads the importance of abiding by the new rule even though his system has made it easier for the Patriots to adapt to it in the first place.
Article Continues Below“It doesn't matter whether I like the rule or don't like the rule,” Belichick said. “My job is to understand the rule and coach it.”
Belichick’s take about the matter varies greatly from others in the league who have vehemently loathed the rule.
There seems to be no sign that the NFL will pull back the implementation of the rule, so embracing it as early as now just like that Belichick is doing, seems to be the practical way to approach it.