Orangeyes
R.I.P Dan
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But though officials generally had a bad game, they were correct on the call many football followers are likely to object to, unnecessary roughness against San Diego safety Steve Gregory. Le'Ron McClain of Kansas City caught a pass; Gregory hammered him an instant later; Gregory did not lead with his helmet, making clean contact with the chest; McClain had the ball and was a runner; yet Gregory was flagged. How can this be? Monday Night Football's Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski objected strenuously to the call, saying such brutal hits were just football. Mike Tirico said, but didn't really explain, that a new rule was involved.
Here's the new rule: A pass receiver "who has not had time to protect himself" is considered defenseless, even if he caught the ball, until he re-establishes by getting his feet on the ground and getting out of the exposed position receivers use when stretching for a pass. The hard blow Gregory delivered in the instant after McClain made a catch but had not yet "re-established" was legal as recently as last season. In the offseason, the rule was changed. Teams were warned about enforcement. Riveron and Tirico knew the new rule, Jaws and Gruden didn't.
It's not that defenders cannot hit receivers who catch passes. Gregory could legally have wrapped up McClain and tackled him beginning the instant McClain touched the ball. What Gregory, or any defender, cannot do under the new rule is use unnecessary roughness against a receiver who had not yet re-established. "Unnecessary" is the key part of the new rule, and of the new emphasis on reducing injuries. Tackling a runner is necessary, delivering a hammer blow is unnecessary. A hit can be clean yet also unnecessary roughness under the new rule.
Think this stricture will be hard to enforce? It's modeled on the rule that, for decades, has protected long snappers. When a long snapper puts his head down, he is considered defenseless until he re-establishes by raising his head and resetting his feet. The rule on long snappers works well and is widely accepted by the football establishment. Extending this concept to receivers is simply a new rule, which the football establishment must learn to accept. Enforcement of the new rule will make the game less dangerous, but no less exciting.
From Page 2
Here's the new rule: A pass receiver "who has not had time to protect himself" is considered defenseless, even if he caught the ball, until he re-establishes by getting his feet on the ground and getting out of the exposed position receivers use when stretching for a pass. The hard blow Gregory delivered in the instant after McClain made a catch but had not yet "re-established" was legal as recently as last season. In the offseason, the rule was changed. Teams were warned about enforcement. Riveron and Tirico knew the new rule, Jaws and Gruden didn't.
It's not that defenders cannot hit receivers who catch passes. Gregory could legally have wrapped up McClain and tackled him beginning the instant McClain touched the ball. What Gregory, or any defender, cannot do under the new rule is use unnecessary roughness against a receiver who had not yet re-established. "Unnecessary" is the key part of the new rule, and of the new emphasis on reducing injuries. Tackling a runner is necessary, delivering a hammer blow is unnecessary. A hit can be clean yet also unnecessary roughness under the new rule.
Think this stricture will be hard to enforce? It's modeled on the rule that, for decades, has protected long snappers. When a long snapper puts his head down, he is considered defenseless until he re-establishes by raising his head and resetting his feet. The rule on long snappers works well and is widely accepted by the football establishment. Extending this concept to receivers is simply a new rule, which the football establishment must learn to accept. Enforcement of the new rule will make the game less dangerous, but no less exciting.
From Page 2
