The NFL banned the hip-drop sort out by way of a unanimous vote of staff homeowners Monday in a controversial resolution that the league contends will enhance participant security.
The rule change instantly prompted impassioned responses from gamers previous and current.
Detractors of the choice argue that the rule will essentially change how the sport is performed for the more serious, and additional skews the principles in favor of offenses because the league protects its most marketable gamers.
The NFLPA decried the proposal by way of a press release final week forward of the vote, arguing that the change “causes confusion for us as gamers, for coaches, for officers and particularly, for followers.”
The NFL’s competitors committee government vice chairman Jeff Miller argued in favor of the ban in October, declaring that hip drop tackles consequence “in a few 25 occasions fee of damage as a typical sort out.” That argument in the end gained out as homeowners formally voted to ban the method at league conferences in Orlando on Monday.
J.J. Watt leads vital participant response
Gamers weighed in after Monday’s vote, with lots of them becoming a member of the NFLPA’s vital stance. Retired three-time defensive participant of the yr J.J. Watt was amongst them. He likened the ban to flag soccer on social media.
Kenyan Drake — injured in ’21 — amongst rule’s supporters
Whereas the participant response was largely vital of the choice, it wasn’t unanimous. A pair of offensive gamers, together with working again Kenyan Drake, have been among the many supporters of the rule. Drake suffered a fractured ankle on a sort out in 2021 and known as for a change to tackling guidelines then. He got here out in help of the rule change on Monday.
i don’t care about standard opinion. i misplaced my proper ankle and 1 / 4 of the ‘21 season to this kind of sort out. one thing needed to give and im glad it’s not anyone legs/ankles anymore https://t.co/FkXqdW6fKm
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx32) March 25, 2024
Retired Professional Bowl sort out Kyle Lengthy additionally supported the change and the league’s effort “to reduce the potential for critical damage.”
Im joyful the hip drop sort out is outta the sport. I’m all for the league attempting to reduce the potential for critical damage. This league has a one hundred pc fee of damage however the hip drop tends to be the reason for accidents which are more durable to return again from. Good job NFL
— kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 25, 2024
Former New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman took a both-sides method.
There are two sides to this. I am all for participant security and hip drop tackles are harmful, however alternatively, how is a defensive participant imagined to sort out if we take away each methodology of tackling? #HealthyDebate https://t.co/38ZTOsxQar
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) March 25, 2024
However the majority of the participant response on social media was not in favor of the change, with probably the most vocal detractors together with high-profile defenders previous and current.
I simply want they pressured the complete Competitors committee to create examples of how they count on a Defender to sort out a ball service. I would like them to behave it out at full velocity and create a video for the gamers. In some unspecified time in the future through the creation of that video they’ll notice how…
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) March 20, 2024
Competitors committee doesn’t care about protection. Yearly they make it more durable for us to succeed 🤦🏾♂️
— Joshua Metellus (@NoExcuses_23) March 25, 2024
Why can offensive gamers nonetheless reduce you? I’m positive bunch of individuals get harm from that too however it’s nonetheless within the recreation.
— Joshua Metellus (@NoExcuses_23) March 25, 2024
As a human: principally detached
As a enterprise individual:
The NFL is defending the merchandise. Nationwide viewers tunes in to see offense. Additional shield offensive gamers/doubtlessly weaken tackling makes an attempt(win-win)As Hitman: Dislike, extra defensive fines, true sport weakens https://t.co/NL65TPWlFU
— Harrison Smith (@harrismith22) March 25, 2024
Don’t just like the hip drop rule. We are going to complain, rightfully. However we might be again within the chow line and so they know that.
— chris lengthy (@JOEL9ONE) March 25, 2024
NFL gamers know that profession ending accidents are a threat of us stepping on the sector. We commerce our well being for $$, so I do not look it from an damage facet as a result of we knowingly make that commerce. Let’s get as a lot cash as probably whereas enjoying so when the accidents occur we have now $$… https://t.co/otVtBfcq0i
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) March 25, 2024
This rule goes to result in A LOT extra penalties and missed tackles. Each of which goes to make it simpler for offenses to attain.
— DK (@DevonKennard) March 25, 2024
You’re gonna see a variety of ball carriers carrying DBs like backpacks with out the “hip drop” sort out
— Quincy Enunwa (@QuincyEnunwa) March 25, 2024
Prefer it or not, there isn’t any altering the brand new rule now. No less than not for the upcoming season. If carried out as deliberate, the rule intends to scale back the chance of damage in a violent recreation. It additionally initiatives to alter the way in which the sport is performed and watched on Sundays.
Prepare for extra hotly debated penalty flags because the league, its gamers and officers regulate to the ocean change.