NFL: Linemen Who Lower Helmet to Make Contact out of Stance Will Be Penalized

Bleacher Report ^

[Java4Jay]

NFL linemen will need to make an effort to avoid head contact as they come out of their stances if they don't want to be penalized during the 2018 season. This could be the first step toward the league eventually eliminating the three-point stance

[rjsimmon]

Next step: Flag Football...

[wbarmy]

Not being an expert football aficionado, I have no idea how that works.

[EEGator]

They’ll either be rainbow flags or pink flags.

[Java4Jay]

What are they going to do when it is third and inches at the goal line? They will have to penalize every offensive and defensive lineman.

[Java4Jay]

No more QB sneaks?

[wbarmy]

Maybe they should go back to leather helmets. Anybody doing that would be more likely to hurt themselves and Darwin themselves out of the game.

[HonkyTonkMan]

I gave up on NFL and life has been better. Don’t miss it one bit.

This new rule would add to the myriad of other rules that make NFL’s product hard to watch. Subjective penalty like this will frustrate players, slow down the game, and create even more replays.

[freedomson]

The NFL? Is that still around?

[OttawaFreeper]

I wonder if the NFL of a year like 1955 or 1960 or even 1970 was that more tough and hard hitting, but that good deal more polite? Kind of like what the NHL was back in those days.

[mewzilla]

Leather helmets and weight limits. No more 300 pounders.

[mewzilla]

From 2015...

NFL lineman weren't always so enormous — see how much they've grown over the years

Last I checked, f still equals m(a).

[Dr. Sivana]

but that good deal more polite?

I read Art Donovan's "Fatso" which covers the era. They were NOT more polite. They WERE tough.

My favorite story was about Donovan playing defensive line for the Baltimore Colts against the Los Angeles Rams. Donovan got in the backfield on first down and made LA HoF QB Bob Waterfield angry. After Waterfield called the next play, the offensive lineman moved out of Donovan's way, and Waterfield drilled the ball right into Donovan's face. No faceguards then.

In the book, Donovan had to respect a man who would burn a down just to get even. They were also popping pills (amphetamines?) in those days ... greenies he called them.

[nitzy]

They’ll either be rainbow flags or pink flags.

....or Mexican flags or La Raza flags or Antifa flags or ISIS flags

There is one particular flag I am certain they WON'T use though....

[uncbob]

Helmet problems can be eliminated with one easy step

TAKE Off the Face Masks

[dsrtsage]

Liberals long term goal of making football as faggy as soccer is nearly complete

[Donkey Odious]

Next up: NASCAR goes all electric with a 60 mph speed limit...

[Caipirabob]

Just give the 10 yard penalty for tackling someone and get it over with already.

[Moonman62]

From Art Donovan Wiki:

Art attended Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx. He received a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in 1942 but left after one semester to join the United States Marine Corps, enlisting in April 1943. He served four years, to include service in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He took part in some of the conflict’s fiercest engagements, such as the Battle of Luzon and the Battle of Iwo Jima. He also served as an ammo-loader on a 40mm gun on the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto and as member of 3rd Marine Division. His earned citations, which included the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal, and would later earn him a place in the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame, the first pro football player so honored. After the war, he completed his college career at Boston College.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I continue my boycott of the NFL. For those that will watch, bring lots of beer and snacks! There’ll be a flag on every play!