(NEXSTAR) – NFL workforce homeowners voted to approve a number of new guidelines this week, together with one which bans the hip-drop deal with, a maneuver acknowledged as “extremely injurious” by the chairman of the league’s Competitors Committee.
Any such deal with, the place a defender grabs a runner across the physique and makes use of his personal weight to convey the runner down, has been blamed for quite a few accidents to gamers’ ankles and knees. Jeff Miller, the chief vice chairman of communications on the NFL and the league’s lead government for Well being and Security Initiatives, as soon as described the transfer raised the speed of harm over an everyday deal with by 25 occasions.
“It’s an unforgiving habits and one which we have to attempt to outline and get out of the sport,” Miller mentioned in October 2023, in keeping with the Related Press. “To quantify it for you, we see an harm kind of each week within the common season on the hip-drop.”
The NFL has been flirting with the thought of outlawing the hip-drop deal with (typically also called the “swivel hip-drop deal with”) for a while, with renewed requires a ban after Baltimore Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews suffered a cracked fibula and ankle ligament harm in November 2023. Throughout that recreation, Andrews had been in possession of the ball, operating for the tip zone, when a Bengals defender caught Andrews from behind and fell on the again of his left ankle.
Instantly after the play, Andrews might be seen writhing in agony on the bottom.
“It doesn’t get used fairly often, however when it’s used, it’s extremely injurious to the runner,” NFL Competitors Committee chairman Wealthy McKay mentioned Monday, throughout a gathering during which workforce homeowners unanimously voted to approve a rule banning the hip-drop deal with. “The runner is only defenseless.”
Miller, at Monday’s assembly, added that hip-drop tackles have been used 230 occasions final season, leading to 15 gamers lacking time with accidents.
Not everyone seems to be thrilled with the brand new rule, nevertheless. The NFL Gamers Affiliation — the union representing NFL gamers — has opposed it, arguing that it restricts the defensive capabilities of gamers, and would “trigger confusion” for everybody on and off the sector.
“I really feel like this explicit rule change, I don’t perceive how one can police it the appropriate means and permit us to do our job,” Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell mentioned earlier this yr.
A number of present and former athletes spoke out towards Monday’s determination on social media, together with former Houston Texans defensive finish J.J. Watt.
“Simply quick ahead to the belts with flags on them,” Watt wrote.
Former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Lengthy, however, applauded the choice.
“I’m joyful the hip drop deal with is outta the sport. I’m all for the league making an attempt to reduce the potential for critical harm,” Lengthy wrote on X. “The league has a one hundred pc fee of harm however the hip drop tends to be the reason for accidents which are more durable to return again from.”
Other than the rule regarding the hip-drop deal with, two different proposals have been permitted by homeowners Monday: one would enable a workforce to obtain a 3rd problem following one profitable problem, whereas groups beforehand wanted to achieve success on two challenges to obtain a 3rd; and one other regarding possession of the ball after a double-foul.
However probably the most important rule modifications have been reportedly adopted Tuesday morning, when NFL homeowners permitted an overhaul to the kickoff.
A supply for the Related Press described the brand new kickoff guidelines as follows:
Starting in 2024 video games, the ball will probably be kicked from the 35-yard line with the ten kick protection gamers lined up on the opposing 40, with 5 on both sides of the sector. The return workforce would have at the very least 9 blockers lined up within the “arrange zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with at the very least seven of these gamers touching the 35. There could be as much as two returners allowed contained in the 20.
Solely the kicker and two returners could be allowed to maneuver till the ball hits the bottom or was touched by a returner contained in the 20.
Any kick that reaches the tip zone within the air may be returned, or the receiving workforce can go for a touchback and possession on the 30. Any kick that reaches the tip zone within the air and goes out of bounds or out of the tip zone additionally would lead to a touchback on the 30.
If a ball hits a returner or the bottom earlier than the tip zone and goes into the tip zone, a touchback could be on the 20 or the play might be returned. Any kick obtained within the discipline of play must be returned.
“I’m all for it,” Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “You’ve 2,000 useless performs. No person desires to see that. It’ll add pleasure and newness.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.