They are trying to regulate the tackle out of tackle football, and it’s appalling.
Rules designed to increase player safety have been a growing part of football for years now. Research has proven concussions are a serious issue and steps needed to be taken, but a series of penalties called in college and NFL games last weekend proves that it has been taken too far.
The first occurred Saturday afternoon in College Station, as time had to be taken away from the brilliant rematch of Nick Saban and Johnny Manziel to deal with a laughable penalty called against Alabama.
Tide safety HaHa Clinton-Dix attempted to intercept a Johnny Football pass down the left sideline. When he jumped to catch the ball, he made contact with Aggie wide receiver Derel Walker and the pass fell incomplete.
Flags flew, Texas A&M was awarded a 15-yard penalty and Clinton-Dix was ejected under the NCAA’s brand new targeting rule. Instant replay allowed Clinton-Dix to re-enter the game, but the 15-yard penalty stood.
Put aside how illogical it is that part of a penalty can be overturned while another part stands, the fact that the flag was ever thrown is nonsense. Clinton-Dix was making a play on the ball — you know, like a defensive back is supposed to do, and happened to make contact with the receiver.
Referees have been told to err on the side of caution when it comes to player safety, but if knocking over a receiver while making a play on the ball is interpreted as “targeting,” then they have gone too far.
How exactly are players supposed to defend a pass? Perhaps ask the receiver politely to “please not catch the ball?”
The targeting rule is flawed, but I understand the NCAA’s concern for its amateur athletes. It’s nowhere near as absurd as the overprotection of NFL quarterbacks who make
millions.
On the first play of the second quarter of Sunday’s Saints-Buccaneers game, New Orleans’ quarterback Drew Brees was sacked by Tampa Bay defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Brees fumbled while the Bucs recovered and took possession of the football.
Well, they would have.
A flag for unnecessary roughness against Clayborn gave the ball back to Brees and the Saints.
Utter insanity. A defender made a clean hit on a ball-carrier and was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
The blow was around the head, but since it’s now illegal to hit a
quarterback high or low in the NFL, this hit was not even close to unnecessary roughness. The sole reason the flag was thrown was because of the $100 million Pro Bowl name on the back of the jersey.
After he throws a ball, a quarterback is a defenseless player and should get some level of protection from the officials. But if a defender can be flagged for a clean sack, then the NFL might as well send quarterbacks out there in a green jersey and make defenders start playing two-hand touch.
Star players getting calls is as old a phenomenon as professional athletics itself, but even the most die-hard Saints fan would tell you Brees getting that call is an embarrassment to tackle football.
And this isn’t meant to pick on Brees — Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and other elite quarterbacks get the same ridiculous calls all the time and it’s not any less disgraceful. The call Sunday just happens to be the most egregious so far this season.
Again, the league has told referees to be cautious with these things, but there is a difference between player safety and not letting defenders play the game.
James Moran is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Beacon, N.Y.