NFL owners end tuck rule, approve helmet rule

[JonLP24]

PHOENIX -- NFL owners went into a speed voting mode before concluding their winter meeting in Phoenix on Wednesday, voting to eliminate the tuck rule, penalize crown of the helmet hits by players who are outside of the tackle box or at least three yards downfield and change the replay challenge rule so that a bad coaches' challenge doesn't prevent officials from reviewing the play.

The tuck rule change had only one dissenting vote, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New England Patriots and Washington Redskins abstained, but the remaining 29 teams, including the Oakland Raiders, voted to end the rule, a call that cost the Raiders a chance to go to the Super Bowl in 2001.

Tom Brady was the famous beneficiary of the rule in that 2001 playoff game between the Patriots and the Raiders. A ball that appeared to be a Brady fumble was ruled an incomplete pass, and the Patriots went on to win the game.

Now, if a quarterback starts to bring the football back toward his body while trying to throw, it will be ruled a fumble instead of an incomplete pass.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9075058/nfl-owners-end-tuck-rule-approve-helmet-penalty

[Scuba]

1. Charles Woodson: "Oh sure, now."

[Jamaal510]

5. +1

[Upton]

2. Jerry Rice likens helmet rule to “powder puff football”...

“I know the players are going to adjust and it’s all about protecting the players, but football is football,” Rice said. “Now, do you want to turn this into like a powder puff football? Because guys have to be able to protect themselves. You can’t lead with the crown of the helmet, I know that. But when you’re out in the open field, you’ve got to be able to drop your shoulders and deliver a blow.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/20/jerry-rice-likens-helmet-rule-to-powder-puff-football/

It's not a surprise that it passed what with Goodell and the owners willing to do anything when faced with litigation. The game is being ruined, way things are going..pretty soon regular season games will have all the intensity of the Pro Bowl.

[MrSlayer]

3. This helmet rule absolutely sucks.

It's stupid and dangerous. What protection does an RB have from shoulder shots directly to the chin? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I'm close to being done with football.

[many a good man]

4. Should be called the "Richardson Rule"

Trent Richardson's hit last year Week 1 against the Eagles was the evidence presented. Kurt Coleman wasn't even injured except for minor scrape when his chin strap flew off. Rule is preposterous.