National Flag League

Posted on | March 28, 2009 | No Comments | by BigSnakeMan

At the annual owners meeting this last week in Dana Point, CA, the National Football League instituted a number of new rules aimed at increasing player safety.  Now drawing a 15 yard penalty will be blindside hits to a player’s head or neck by using the helmet, forearm, or shoulder.  Helmet to helmet contact on a “defenseless” receiver will draw a 15 yard flag.  According to NFL director of officiating Mike Pereira, the new rules are intended to limit blows to a player’s head.  New rules were also enacted on kickoffs regarding the number of players allowed in a blocking wedge and bunched together in pursuing onside kicks.  In addition, there will supposedly be an increased officiating point of emphasis on holding penalties, horsecollar tackles, and lunging at players legs, a.k.a.-yet another ”Brady rule”.

I can certainly understand the NFL’s concern in this area.  The league and it’s teams have a major vested interest in protecting it’s marquee players.  But in doing so, they need to be careful about changing the nature of the game.  Professional football is a fast-paced and often violent collision sport which makes it almost a certainty that injuries will occur on a regular basis.  The NFL itself and it’s media partners have frequently celebrated this aspect of the game with highlight videos and segments like ESPN’s “Jacked-Up” on the Monday night pre-game shows.  Indeed, that characterization is largely responsible for much of the popularity of the game.  This dichotomy makes it difficult for the NFL to protect it’s participants without risking it’s business model.

Then there is also the matter of the pace and flow of the game.  Instant replay has removed much of the spontaneity from the game.  And far too many games are disrupted by too many flags already, often on calls that have no direct effect on the outcome of a play.  It’s nearly impossible not to have a kick or punt return called back because of a penalty.  Now, NFL officials will have to make even more judgment calls that promise to slow the game further.  For instance, everyone knows that “holding” could be called on virtually any play.  And what constitutes a ‘defenseless’ receiver?  This problem is only exacerbated by the fact that the NFL is the only major professional sports league that doesn’t employ full time officials. 

No one wants to see a player get injured (with the possible exception of T.O.’s vocal cords).  Reportedly, the new rule changes were initiated at the behest of the players.  But injuries are an inevitable part of football.  Any player who has ever snapped up a chin strap has assumed and accepted that risk.  The NFL needs to strike a proportional balance between protecting it’s players and the integrity of the game.

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