Getty Image / Patrick Smith
Think of all the rule changes the NFL has made to keep players safer in the last twenty-or-so years. It has definitely changed the game, but it’s also kept players healthier.
Now, more rule changes designed to help prevent injuries and keep the league’s star players on the field are likely to come. They center around the controversial hip-drop tackle.
What is the hip-drop tackle? This video will do a good job explaining it. It’s resulted in a lot of injuries lately, that’s for sure.
Now, if you think this is just another NFL rule designed to make the sport softer, consider that the hip-drop tackle has been banned in rugby. Are we going to sit here and call rugby players soft? No, of course not.
Frankly, there are too many injuries coming from this kind of tackle. Notably, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was hurt on this kind of tackle.
And, when guys are missing, especially talented skill position players, that makes the product worse for everybody. Nobody wants that, especially the NFL, which relies on high television ratings for their ever-increasing revenue.
According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, the league is likely to outlaw hip-drop tackles very soon.
On hip drop tackles, the committee is still working on getting the right language for a rule, but a source said they are “aligned” on getting it out of the game.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 25, 2024
I think a lot of fans will see a problem with this. They’ll say, if you can’t hit players high, and can’t hit them low, and can’t do this, how are you supposed to make tackles? That’s a valid point. But, NFL players are paid millions of dollars to figure out things like this.