The NFL roughing rule might soon be applied differently

The NFL does not seem to want to change its controversial handover policy during the season – but that does not mean it will not change the way the rule will be applied by the end of 2018. For next week we will tackle the issues with the league playbook; concerns regarding the new draft language will be a priority topic.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post said the rule was unlikely to be changed during the call, but several committee members are unhappy with the new and inconsistent insistence on the 15-yard personal foul. It is likely that the group will provide unofficial clarifications on how the rule is applied in the field. The intention would be to keep the fervor around these games to a minimum for the rest of the season.

According to Maske's report:

"I'm not sure we can do anything this year," said one person familiar with the committee's deliberations.

Another person close to the process expressed similar sentiments, saying that no change in the wording of the rule was expected. This person also stated that no formal instructions would likely be given to the field officials, but the crew rule is expected to become different, with the change in focus becoming evident through the official videos distributed by the team. the league. .

"I think you will see a change in the future," said this person.

The NFL must clearly do something

This is great news for Clay Matthews. The Packers Pass smuggler is the player most closely associated with the controversy of the new calls, as he has faced questionable interrogations over the last two weeks. His penalty of Week 2 against the Vikings canceled a match interception and forced Green Bay to settle for a possible draw against his rival.

A week later, he pulled another flag after being charged by Alex Smith of Washington.

Although this penalty did not have significant consequences on the game, it raised Matthews' anger afterwards.

"As soon as I touch the ground, you see me trying to lift my hands. Obviously, when you tackle a front man, you're going to land on him, "Matthews told reporters. "I understand the spirit of the rule, I have said weeks before. But when you have such a blow, it's a football match. I even went to see Alex Smith after the match, asking him, "What do you think?" What can I do differently? Because it's a football game. "

"Of course, as I said last week, the NFL will come back, say I put his body on him, but it's a football match." I hit him from the front, I crossed his head and I wrapped myself. I have never heard of anyone who has attacked anyone without any hand. When he abandons himself as soon as you hit him, your weight will go on him. I think we're looking for the hits that took Aaron [Rodgers] last year, this little extra. If I wanted to hurt him, I could have. I could give him a little more. It's football. "

But Matthews may not be the most screwed player because of the new bodyweight rule. The defensive end of the dolphins, William Hayes, alleges that his ripped ACL happened after he tried not to land on quarterback Derek Carr Raiders in a third week sack. The Browns also failed, giving the Steelers another chance to score in the 21-21 Cleveland meet.

The new breeding rules created a storm comparable to the league's inability to determine what is not a catch. Fortunately, the NFL Competition Committee can make changes without formal rewriting of the rules. All he has to do is communicate how he wants these pieces to be shown.

We saw it earlier in 2018 when the league dropped a new rule that penalized players for lowering their helmets to tackle. It also happened in 2015 when the league changed the way it penalized players for illegal use of hands, and then ordered officials to be less vigilant during the regular season. A similar change could dissolve a new rule that is almost universally disliked – and release Matthews to finally get a bag that does not result in a 15-yard penalty.