What is the NFL coming to? *sighs* can't post HTML links yet, but here's the noob link. blogs.nfl.com/2009/05/06/steelers-ward-vents-on-new-rule-bearing-his-name Steelers WR Hines Ward had some interesting thoughts on the new rule that bears his name. NFL owners established the ?Hines Ward Rule? this offseason in order to prevent a blocker from using his helmet, forearm or shoulder to hit a defender from behind or from the side. Ward told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he has Steelers coach Mike Tomlin?s blessing to continue playing the same way he always has for 11 seasons: ?It?s kind of funny because week in and week out, that?s all we see is highlights of somebody getting blown up by a defensive player. In my case it?s shunned or doesn?t look good or makes me a dirty player. I don?t do anything different than what they do to offensive players.? The new rule partially is a result of a Week 7 hit that Ward laid on Keith Rivers, breaking the Bengals linebacker?s jaw and prematurely ended his rookie season. Ward admits that he is one of the few offensive players willing to attack defenders, but he?s not about to change his playing style, he told the Tribune-Review: ?Defensive players, they hate it. I don?t know why they hate it, because when I go across the middle they can?t wait to take my head off, so why should I wait my turn to get hit before I retaliate??
Bullshit! So this is what the NFL has become. I totally agree with Ward that if the defenders can lay big hits on the offensive players, why can't the players on the offensive side do the same? What next? The owners decide to ban all physical contact? This is unbeliavable...
this is rediculous nobody plays tougher than Ward in the NFL and he should be congradulated for his play not shunned
Since when were you allowed to block a defender from behind anyway? Am I missing something? If its the leading with the helmet they are trying to stop, I'm not so far against it. Smaller facemasks, no eyeshields and less rigid plastic (basically, go back to the helmets they used in the early 80s or so) would accomplish pretty much the same thing.
its the side theyre talking about. like a counter or trap block. if a LB bites on a play action moves laterally towards the fakeside and meanwhile your about to seal playside containment and as he traces back to playside you smack him in the mouth and lay a block. thats what hines ward gets props for being a legit blocker. sometimes he cheapshots but defensive players make a living off of it. he just sticks out cuz hes one of the few recievers who has a FB or OL mentality when it comes to blocking any block in the back is bullshit like the post above thats no news to anyone but its the mentioning of "side" that is bullshit.
+1 on calling this bullshit....too many prima donna receivers in the league, and when you finally get one willing to lay the smack down, we have to protect the delicate LBs
This is an example of Roger Goodell's kinder, gentler approach to football. This rule would not have taken effect under Tagliabue's watch. Remember that nasty side block Warren Sapp put on Chad Clifton a few years back? That was a nasty, nasty block. You want to amend the rule after that, fine. But Ward's spank of Keith Rivers was just good and dangerous football. The problem I have with this rule (and this may sound a little Bill Clinton-ish) is what exactly is the definition of the word "side?" A block from behind is obvious, but a block from the side? Is that a turned head? A turned torso? Do you have to block a guy between the numbers now? Nasty blocks are the best part of the game. Very disappointing. And Hines Ward is right; everybody wants a piece of Ward, he's made himself available for his entire career, why shouldn't he be able to dish out? The new rule should just be if anything you do injures a superstar player, you're permanently suspended from the NFL. That'll solve it.
I guess Im one of the ones that partially agrees. Blindsiding someone should be illegal. Hitting from the side I'm fine with but from behind is bullshit the only exception might be pushing someone from behind. And for him saying I don't care what they say Ill keep doing what I do I'd fine him. Just like coaches get for arguing with refs.
My thoughts exactly. Im all for protecting the players from unnecessary injury, but this is the most violent game in pro sports. Somebody is bound to get hurt once in a while. These guys get paid millions to put it all out there and thats what Ward does day in and day out. Why punish someone for that? :shit: Anyone who has been in the NFL for more than a year knows your head should ALWAYS be on a swivel otherwise you risk getting laid the ef out...
Well a block in the back is illegal anyways, and it should be.... but you shouldn't have to square up right in front of the damn guy in order to throw a block on him. Hines ward is one of the hardest hitting/playing offensive players out there. What he lacks in raw talent, he makes up for in the weight room, in the huddle, and most importantly; working hard til the whistle blows every snap of the game. Guys like Ward need to be rewarded, not punished, he's playing the game the way its SUPPOSED to be played. I wish there were more offensive badasses like him, and I wish we had a couple on the Jets... I promise you, Rex Ryan wouldn't mind one bit.
Fuck this kiddy rule bullshit. Hines Ward has balls and it's no coincidence he's among the most exciting player in the league. The NFL really is turning into flag football.
Really I think Ward is a cheap shot artist & a pussy you never see him take on any of these linebackers head up. Bart Scott said it best he is a little bitch & all these guys he cheap shots if he hit them head up he would get smashed. Bart also went on to say those same guys he cheaps shots would whop his ass in the street.
You aren't kidding. I was a kid in the late 70's early 80's and grew up an Islanders fan(got me into playing). Obviously, over the last 2 decades they've sucked and my interest in Hockey (especially with my most recent playing days 11 years behind me now) waned. I started watching the playoffs, and man is it changed. No Defensive center manhandling hangers in the crease. F*ng Ovechkin (great player but....) get treated like Karl F*ng Malone. (Whistle..) BREATHING ON OVECHKIN, You'll sit for two...! Nothing Like The Isles/Bruins matchups of old. Back to football. But Ward likes to hit, but he is, no two ways about it, a cheap shot artist.
It's a good rule. Blindside hits with the shoulder, forearm or helmet are extraordinarily dangerous. I think they worded it wrong though. It should be any hit above the shoulder with the shoulder, forearm or helmet from any direction intentional or not. They should then include all hits with the helmet anywhere. That would resolve the issue. The NFL rules committee, BTW, has been all over the place since Goodell took over. Last year they re-legalized hits to drive a player out of bounds on the sideline and this year they are doing this? Consistency is worth a lot and they're being very inconsistent. The rule as they worded it is no different than the rule against clotheslining or legwhipping on the offensive line. It's designed to prevent a player from getting superior leverage and position and then exploiting that to deliver a blow likely to result in injury. Of course there are always going to be reactions against any rule that is likely to result in less violence on the field. Jack Lambert famously declared that "they might as well just put the quarterback in a dress" after the NFL established the in the grasp rule and made it a personal foul to throw the QB to the ground at the end of the play if you had him in your grasp at that point. Before that the NFL saw nearly a third of it's starting QB's put out of play on an annual basis by injury. Since then the number has declined to less than a sixth, a change I think we can all agree was worth making.
