In the offseason the NFL added several new rules to prevent injuries and to make the game safer.
One of the new rules implemented this offseason has been dubbed the “Aaron Rodgers Rule,” because it was put into place to prevent the injury that occurred when Anthony Barr drove into the Packers QB after a tackle last season.
Here’s the rule via the NFL officiating handbook.
A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating and punishing acts as “stuffing” a passer into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball, even if the rusher makes his initial contact with the passer within the one-step limitation provided for in (a) above. When tackling a passer who is in a defenseless posture (e.g., during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight. Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer with all or most of his body weight.
In the second quarter of tonight’s season opener between the Falcons and the Eagles, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was flagged for the new roughing the passer rule when he was unable to prevent his body weight from falling on top of Eagles QB Nick Foles.
Let’s just say NFL fans aren’t happy with the new rules.
I kept telling you that roughing the passer penalties were going to be worse than the tackling rule penalties come the regular season
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) September 7, 2018
Trash roughing the passer call – What is he supposed to do there? Freeze in mid-air?
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) September 7, 2018
BODY WEIGHT ROUGHING THE PASSER CALL ON GRADY JARRETT IS ONE OF THOSE RULES THAT ONLY SOMEONE WHO NEVER PLAYED COULD MAKE – HOW CAN A 300 POUND MAN CHANGE HIS DIRECTION IN MID STRIDE – CMON MAN?! @SkySportsNFL
— Jeff Reinebold (@Jeff_Reinebold) September 7, 2018
If that roughing the passer penalty was legit, let's all go home now. When is ice dancing on?
— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) September 7, 2018
Okay this roughing the passer shit kinda stupid lol how tf a 310 lb unit gonna stop himself mid fall from hitting the QB. You asking these guys to do the impossible smh
— Brandon_Fleming (@bmanfleming) September 7, 2018
the “body weight” roughing the passer call is garbage
— James Kenney (@2Jamez) September 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/dusteeezzzyyy/status/1037889905442021376
https://twitter.com/49CentBanana/status/1037889795421290496
How do you tackle someone without putting your body weight on them? Why don’t they just have qbs wear flags, the defense doesn’t get lame penalties for roughing the passer and the qb’s don’t get concussions.
— KP (@katrinka_pack) September 7, 2018