"Hines Ward Rule" Approved

[Bmore]

I realize there is a Semi-Rule change thread. More toward the kick off change rules. But I think the biggest rule change (for the AFC North at least ) is the "Hines Ward Rule".

The initial force of a blindside block can't be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent's head or neck. An illegal blindside block will bring a 15-yard penalty.

Due to what happened to Bengals LB Keith Rivers, the NFL passed a rule that will not allow blindside block.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWL8CcJjwRk&feature=player_embedded[/media]

He's one of the most feared receivers in the game because of his tenacity. He's a throwback to another era because of his linebacker mentality and now he has a rule to go with his name.

On Tuesday, the NFL adopted four new rules, including the 'Hines Ward' rule.Hines Ward

"As we go into these Competition Committee meetings we have Mike Pereira and his staff draw a number of plays that potentially could have been a foul," Rich McKay of the NFL competition committee said. "Particularly when we have an emphasis on something like these player helmet-to-helmet hits and that's been a big emphasis. So we said both on the defensive side and the offensive side, let's look at a bunch of hits."

A 15-yard penalty will be enforced if a player delivers a blindside block to the head of an opposing player using his helmet, forearm or shoulder.

"There were a lot of blocks that came into this one," McKay said. “We saw special teams hits where people were coming back towards the goal line and hit too high. We saw many blocks of receivers, and I saw the Hines Ward hit, all of which were legal blocks. I don't think we focused on Hines' block at all as the reason to change the rule.

" I think we focused on the fact that we didn't like, in certain situations, the fact that players, and that's why we used the word "blind side," players had no real opportunity to defend themselves and were getting hit helmet to helmet."

Asked if Ward's hit on Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers last year, that caused Rivers to break his jaw would be considered illegal this year, Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations said it was debatable.

"Hines hit was perfectly legal last year, but as Rich said, the results of those types of hits, and there were several of them that we looked at, led to the conclusion that for player safety sake, we have to eliminate those types of blind side hits," Anderson said. "If you will, for the better of our players and our game going forward."

Two other rules that passed deal with kickoffs. One will prevent 'bunching' on onside kicks and another deals with the formation of a wedge by more than two players.

The final one is designed to protect defenseless receivers from all contact to the head area - from a defender's helmet, forearm or shoulder.

Where you at Steeljake? Seems the NFL didn't think Hines Wards blocks were that great either.

 

[dell71]

Looks like blindside blocking is still allowed...just has to below the neck. Good rule.

 

[dope]

blindside hits are my fave, they're like crashes in nascar, painful but fun to watch.

also bmore they even said his block was legal and he wasn't the reason for the change

I don't think we focused on Hines' block at all as the reason to change the rule.

 

[Bmore]

Yea, but with the two blocking rules. (blocking in the back and blind side to the head) Blockers are now practically only allowed to block front to front, face to face.

Which is fine with me, cuz I can't wait for Rivers to put Hines on his ass.

 

[Bmore]

blindside hits are my fave, they're like crashes in nascar, painful but fun to watch.

also bmore they even said his block was legal and he wasn't the reason for the change

Yea and Roy Williams wasn't the reason for the horse collar rule. :headscratch:

 

[Hasselbeck]

This just reaffirms Hines Ward is a chump.

 

[Sven Draconian]

Good rule.

I'm not normally a fan of wussifying the game, but when you are setting up for a blindside block, theres no reason to go for the hread. It's just as easy to aim for the chest.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Im a bit confused.. dont most blocks come from the blind side? I mean if dudes are seeing blocks coming its VERY diffiicult to take out your man with that block. Its the blocks that the opposition dont see coming that most effective, no?

 

[Chrispy]

Pansy League

 

[Primetime]

Hines Ward's block looks like he got him right under the neck in the chest, which would still be legal next year.

 

[NAHSTE]

Yea, but with the two blocking rules. (blocking in the back and blind side to the head) Blockers are now practically only allowed to block front to front, face to face.

Which is fine with me, cuz I can't wait for Rivers to put Hines on his ass.

that has always been the only legal way to block someone lol.

This rule doesn't effect much as long as they don't over enforce it. For instance, if a shorter player is trying to knock down a bigger guy, (like Hines-Rivers for example) he's going to have to aim a little high to even come close to knocking the guy over. There's a real fine line between the chest/shoulder pads and the neck/helmet when you are projecting yourself into a moving target. I hope the NFL doesn't treat this like many of their rules in that grey area always equals a penalty, but it probably will be.

 

[steeljake]

i would have answered you bmore, but PB got it on right already. If Rivers is smart he will go the other way when he sees Hines or he can spend a 2nd year on IR.

 

[Bmore]

Hines Ward's block looks like he got him right under the neck in the chest, which would still be legal next year.

K... so it broke his jaw how?

 

[steeljake]

he hit him in the chest and i am sure he shoulder slid up into his jaw. dont hate the six rings bmore. maybe they should make the ray lewis rule, you know the one that says if you were involved in amurder you can't make millions playing a game.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

I just hope Hines keeps on doing what he does. Rack up some mud pies and dirty sandwiches to go for bitch ass LB's to take back in the locker room for x-rays. Honestly I doubt it's going to stop the crack back or blindside blocks...it's more effective hitting a little lower anyhow...it just doesn't knock 'em out the game as much.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

1. Its damn near impossible and pretty much worthless to limit a WR/TE blocking to "face and front only".

2. Hines Ward has a text book block in that video. His head was level with Bengals shoulderpads. There helmets as WITH 99.999999 % of other blocks and hits make contact which leads to his injury.

3. This is just going to lead to many more knee injuries as WRs continue to chop block instead. No matter what the NFL is going to get WRs to risk injury and go mix it up with guys 20-40 lbs heavier. They either take the Ward route and missile bomb them like a safety or they go for your thighs and knees.


Once again NFL spend more money on Helmet safety research instead of having Riddell and other companies spend most of it. This aint about safety its about money. You dont want star players sitting out and hurting ratings , and coaches dont want to lose there job over a block.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

1. Its damn near impossible and pretty much worthless to limit a WR/TE blocking to "face and front only".

2. Hines Ward has a text book block in that video. His head was level with Bengals shoulderpads. There helmets as WITH 99.999999 % of other blocks and hits make contact which leads to his injury.

3. This is just going to lead to many more knee injuries as WRs continue to chop block instead. No matter what the NFL is going to get WRs to risk injury and go mix it up with guys 20-40 lbs heavier. They either take the Ward route and missile bomb them like a safety or they go for your thighs and knees.


Once again NFL spend more money on Helmet safety research instead of having Riddell and other companies spend most of it. This aint about safety its about money. You dont want star players sitting out and hurting ratings , and coaches dont want to lose there job over a block.

I can feel you on that, you might be on to something. Its also about making players feel safer when Hines is on the field. The only reason guys were bitching and moaning about Hines is because he was knocking fools out. So the NFL decides to put it into writing that Hines can still block, just don't go helmet to helmet...in other words just keep smashing into guys like you have been, but we want the other guys to feel like we're coming down on you so we'll flag you for the helmet to helmet stuff. Honestly it should be in there. Hines is protected from defensive players the same way when he's open for season across the middle and defenseless. It's just good policy in general.