League ignores NFLPA's resistance to hip drop ban

The NFL is determined to ban the hip drop tackle. The NFL Players Association opposes this. The NFL essentially dismisses the union's position as, simply, predictable and consistent.

“I've been in this position before as a leader of the players association involved in many meetings,” Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said during a conference call Thursday with reporters regarding the motion rule changes. “There's always going to be resistance from the player when you talk about removing things. There's going to be resistance, and I respect that. There was resistance in removing the blind block. There was resistance in removing the rift block. There was resistance in removing the attack block. There was resistance in removing the horse collar. Again, I mentioned it earlier in the editorial, durability and availability are the first and second aspects of any professional athlete and especially football players. I have a technique that causes a 20 to 25 percent injury rate when it happens. I respect their position, but as gatekeepers to the game… that's one thing. We have to remove it.

“The intention is not to throw more flags, but the intention is to examine during the week and remove that style of play. The last part of that is what I want and we always include player feedback and player engagement. We believe it is a complete player-led league, a player-led league and a coach-led league. Whenever Player engagement has increased, we've become more informed
decisions. Finally, I would just say, it's very important for us as former players and many involved in leading this charge with the co-chairs of our Player Safety Committee, led by Ronnie Lott and Curtis Martin and Orlando Paige and that group, it's a tremendous group that we all agree with this, and we want Protecting these young people from unnecessary risks. . . . We respect their position, but I have a hit rate of 20 to 25 times. “It's hard for us in the NFL to walk out of the room without addressing it.”

During the call, it became unclear whether the risk of infection was 20 to 25 percent higher or 20 to 25 times greater. The league explained that it was the latter. Even if there are questions about the methodology and accuracy of the formula that led to this number, it is too high to ignore.

And the numbers don't really matter. We've seen what happens when a defender grabs the ball carrier, twists, falls, and lands on the ball carrier's leg. Al-Douri first noticed the dynamic when exploring the source of the high ankle sprain. Dropping your hip causes that injury, and worse. The foot gets caught in an awkward position and the defender falls on the foot and lower leg.

Really, why is the federation so opposed to protecting players from this type of avoidable injury? Why do fans react negatively to her?

To those fans now screaming that they should just play football, think of it this way. What can unrestricted tackles do for your fantasy team?

Although fantasy football and backing betting tend to dehumanize players, this is a way to get fans to channel their self-interest toward keeping matchups at fullback, receiver, tight end, and quarterback healthy.

Really, what do these players think about their union refusing to protect them? This rule protects them from dangerous technology that has emerged in recent years.

We know it when we see it. Grab, twist, fall. Grab, twist, fall. Football already has enough risks without the risk of an offensive player getting his foot caught under the weight of a defensive player putting his arms around the ball carrier and falling.

The NFL is determined to take this technology out of the game. No matter what the federation or a vocal minority of fans say. By early next week, he will likely be gone from the game.