NFLPA asks NFL to not outlaw controversial tackle, citing further confusion for players

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The NFLPA does not want the league’s owners to vote in favor of penalizing the “hip-drop” tackle during the next week’s annual league meeting. The “hip-drop” tackle is one of six proposals that NFL owners will vote on next week. 

During last year’s league meeting, NFL executive Jeff Miller said that “hip-drop” tackles increase the rate of injury by 25%, which is why the league wants it outlawed. 

“While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.” 

Here’s what would warrant a 15-yard penalty regarding the use of a “hip-drop” tackle, according to the league’s competition committee: 

If the defender “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”

The “hip-drop” tackle became more prevalent after rules were put in place to protect against concussions. Defenders, instead of hitting high, have instead focused on making tackles by wrapping up players around the midsection. While concussions have declined over the past decade, lower extremity strains have become the most significant injury in the NFL in terms of time lost. The NFLPA will likely point to the fact that lower extremity injuries reached a four-year low in 2023. 

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was among the notable players who suffered a serious injury as a result of the “hip-drop” tackle in 2023. He missed Baltimore’s final six…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nflpa-asks-nfl-to-not-outlaw-controversial-tackle-citing-further-confusion-for-players/

Author : Bryan DeArdo

Publish date : 2024-03-20 23:02:28

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