Lets face it. NFL Quarterbacks are for the owners the most expensive employees on average. But this new rule this season is absurd.
I wouldn't say this problem with protecting the position is anything new though. I can remember decades ago the three step rule. If you were more than three steps away when the QB threw the pass, and still hit him, it would be considered roughing the passer. The intent was that you had the time to divert your motion. That is more reasonable.
But I agree, even in the Redskins game with the one tackle by Green Bay, I saw nothing he did that was intentional to end Smith's Career. Back in the 1980s many teams, including the Redskins had what one could call "head hunter" bonus pay for targeting key players.
It is a contact sport. But I didn't notice until this weekend how absurd this new rule is. It is one thing for a defensive linemen to pull back with enough distance, but some of the sack's and tackles based on this new rule are absurd.
If you are sacking a QB but not pile driving them, and can't pull back, you should not get a penalty. The real reason for this new rule is MONEY. The owners don't want their most expensive investment to get damaged.
I wouldn't say this problem with protecting the position is anything new though. I can remember decades ago the three step rule. If you were more than three steps away when the QB threw the pass, and still hit him, it would be considered roughing the passer. The intent was that you had the time to divert your motion. That is more reasonable.
But I agree, even in the Redskins game with the one tackle by Green Bay, I saw nothing he did that was intentional to end Smith's Career. Back in the 1980s many teams, including the Redskins had what one could call "head hunter" bonus pay for targeting key players.
It is a contact sport. But I didn't notice until this weekend how absurd this new rule is. It is one thing for a defensive linemen to pull back with enough distance, but some of the sack's and tackles based on this new rule are absurd.
If you are sacking a QB but not pile driving them, and can't pull back, you should not get a penalty. The real reason for this new rule is MONEY. The owners don't want their most expensive investment to get damaged.
