Jan 2, 2025
3:30:11am
3:30:11am
That indicator includes an element of intent or purpose
The defender needs to have the intent to "attack with forcible contact the head and neck area."
It's not like the crown of the helmet indicator (where intent is irrelevant). For this indicator, refs can and should consider other factors that are indicative of purpose.
In this case, there are plenty of factors that suggest the DB's intent was not to specifically make contact to the head or neck (WR moving his head down and into the defender as the WR turned upfield; fact that defender's head was up and came even further up through the tackle; fact that the defender wrapped up and made a form tackle as opposed to delivering a blow to the head to bring the WR down).
This rule was put in place to stop headhunting, not to penalize any and all contact to the head/neck by a defender's helmet, shoulder, arm, forearm, hand, elbow, etc. It's there to stop knockout shots to the head, not to eject players who bump foreheads or facemasks in a bang-bang sequence while making a form tackle.
It's not like the crown of the helmet indicator (where intent is irrelevant). For this indicator, refs can and should consider other factors that are indicative of purpose.
In this case, there are plenty of factors that suggest the DB's intent was not to specifically make contact to the head or neck (WR moving his head down and into the defender as the WR turned upfield; fact that defender's head was up and came even further up through the tackle; fact that the defender wrapped up and made a form tackle as opposed to delivering a blow to the head to bring the WR down).
This rule was put in place to stop headhunting, not to penalize any and all contact to the head/neck by a defender's helmet, shoulder, arm, forearm, hand, elbow, etc. It's there to stop knockout shots to the head, not to eject players who bump foreheads or facemasks in a bang-bang sequence while making a form tackle.
Originally posted on Jan 2, 2025 at 3:30:11am
Message modified by reddead on Jan 2, 2025 at 3:32:23am
Message modified by reddead on Jan 2, 2025 at 3:33:24am
Message modified by reddead on Jan 2, 2025 at 3:41:35am
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- reddead
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- Nov 16, 2009
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- Jan 4, 2025
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Messages
Time
Jan 2, 12:30am
In my opinion, the rule is there to protect a player from getting injured. I think the fact that the guy’s laying there
Jan 2, 12:42am
Every time a “defenseless” player gets injured by being hit in the head, yes. Thats the entire purpose of the rule.
Jan 2, 9:06am
Nope, still a penalty even if there’s no injury. Penalty is based on a specific action that is likely to result in
Jan 2, 10:02am
Jan 2, 10:07am
Yup. Thats why I used the language of the rule in my post. Some folks are trying to parse what’s “forcible” contact and
Jan 2, 10:21am
No, a defenseless player being injured by the contact to his head shows that it was plenty “forcible” to fulfill the
Jan 2, 10:40am
Jan 2, 10:44am
Prevention of those exact injuries are 100% the purpose of the rule. Injuries *are* the purpose and justification for
Jan 2, 11:04am
Jan 2, 11:43am
Nope. The purpose isn’t to avoid “worry” by preventing “worrisome” acts. The purpose is 100% to decrease injury and to
Jan 2, 1:14pm
Jan 2, 1:37pm
No I’m not. That’s your strawman of what I’m proposing. You throw the flag if there is “forcible contact” to the head
Jan 2, 1:54pm
Jan 2, 3:08pm
Jan 2, 4:38pm
Indicator is “forcible contact” to head or neck area of a defenseless receiver. Which part of that do you think is in
Jan 2, 5:38pm
Jan 2, 6:03pm
Jan 2, 6:06pm
Jan 2, 9:35am
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Jan 2, 6:27am
Jan 2, 7:58am
Jan 2, 10:09am
Indicators like his head snapping back after helmet to helmet contactsand him laying on the ground with a concussion
Jan 2, 9:56am
Jan 3, 9:16am
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Jan 2, 6:13am
I think if they had an angle clearly showing forcible contact to the head they would have made the call
Jan 2, 7:18am
I don't think that's clear - you can't see through his shoulder to see where his face mask hits first
Jan 2, 7:37am
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