It’s about time.
It’s about damn time.
On Tuesday, the NFL took a huge step in the right direction when it came to fixing a major rule, or lack thereof, that has haunted the league over the last decade.
If you thought I was talking about how the NFL finally figured out what a freaking catch is, you are dead wrong.
I’m talking about a new targeting rule. Or should I say, the beginning of one.
Playing Rule Article 8, a new guideline announced by the NFL on Tuesday, states that if a player initiates contact with his helmet against an opponent, he will be called for a 15-yard penalty and may be ejected from the game. If the player is on defense, it will also result in an automatic first down.
It has always puzzled me as to why the NFL wouldn’t take that extra step to ensure player safety. Heck, even the NCAA has a targeting penalty that aims to protect defenseless players from hits to the head.
But at least its professional counterpart is starting to make the necessary changes as well.
While it’s not the same as college football’s definition of targeting — you can’t hit a defenseless receiver above the shoulders — the rule will no doubt make a significant impact in the way the game is played.
It will help limit severe injuries, like the one Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier received during the 2017 season.
In a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, Shazier attempted to tackle Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone, leading with the crown of his helmet. When he made contact, his body instantly went limp and his left hand went toward his spine. He suffered a severe spinal injury, one that over four months later still requires him to occasionally use a wheelchair.
With all the pressure the NFL has received over lawsuits dealing with concussions and other head injuries from former players, it’s no surprise the league would want to implement this new rule.
According to NFL injury data, 47 percent of concussions last season came from helmet-to-helmet collisions, a large increase from 33 percent in 2015. Overall, the number of concussions in 2017 was higher than in previous years.
A form of the targeting rule was 100 percent necessary in the NFL. The players hit much harder than in college, and the overall impact of those hits can do a lot more damage to the body.
I know it’s just a start, but I’m hoping this new targeting rule will actually change the way the league views the seriousness of concussions and the risks caused by tackling the wrong way.
It’s about time the NFL did something meaningful to start protecting its players.
Jake Dreilinger is the assistant sports editor at The Alligator. Follow him on Twitter @DreilingerJake and contact him at jdreilinger@alligator.org.
The NFL Rules Committee recently passed a couple of new policies to be instituted during the upcoming season.
