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It's the same song and dance, just another version. Each and every offseason, the NFL either implements or ponders another rule change that'll improve offense intentionally or by accident (in looking to take safety precautions).
Like all of us, Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman and San Francisco 49ers veteran Richard Sherman have not only taken notice, but are now contemplating how in the world they can properly get the job done on the field after the NFL's newest rule change that shines light on dipping the crown of the helmet, via Mark Jones of USA Today Sports.
“It’s ridiculous,” Sherman told USA Today. “Like telling a driver if you touch the lane lines, you’re getting a ticket. [It’s] gonna lead to more lower-extremity injuries.”
Norman's words could be best described as a Sherman broken record.
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“I don’t know how you’re going to play the game,” he said. “If your helmet comes in contact? How are you going to avoid that if you’re in the trenches and hit a running back, facemask to facemask and accidentally graze the helmet? It’s obviously going to happen. So, I don’t know even what that definition looks like.”
The new “helmet rule,” as most are calling it, emphasizes helmet-to-helmet contact in all situations now, even open-field tackling.
In essence, it's impossible to tag a team 15-yards and eject players for any and all helmet-to-helmet contact. It's an impossibility in this game. What the rule calls for is a penalty when a player “lowers his helmet” prior to/when tackling a player.
Yes, it's an extremely subjective call which confuses many on how it's actually going to play out. And as we now know, it's extremely concerning to stud corners like Josh Norman and Richard Sherman.
