NFL trying to head off concussions

HALL OF FAME quarterback Troy Aikman once said that if the NFL really wants to reduce the risk of concussions in the game, it should get rid of helmets.

His semiserious rationale was that helmets are more weapon than protective device. Take them out of the game and players wouldn't be so willing to lead with their heads.

The NFL isn't ready to deep six helmets quite yet, but it's doing its best to dissuade players from using them as a weapon.

The latest attempt to concussion-proof pro football is a proposal by the league's competition committee that would make it illegal for both ballcarriers and tacklers to use the crown of the helmet to deliver a forcible blow outside of the tackle box. We're not talking helmet-on-helmet. We're talking helmet-on-anything.

In other words, if LeSean McCoy turns the corner on a sweep and puts his head down and slams into the chest of a linebacker or safety in an attempt to pick up a couple of extra yards, he'll be staring at the very real possibility of a 15-yard penalty.

The NFL owners are expected to rubber stamp the proposal next week when they gather in Phoenix for their annual 3-day March cocktail party at the Arizona Biltmore resort.

"We feel the time has come to address the situation in space when a runner or tackler has a choice as to how they're going to approach their opponent, " said Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, who is the co-chairman of the competition committee along with St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher.

"We're saying you can't make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We're trying to protect the runner or tackler from himself in that instance."

McKay said if the proposal is passed, the officials would only call the "obvious" penalties, and wouldn't throw a flag every time a runner drops his head or a cornerback ducks to make an Asante Samuelesque tackle on a bigger ballcarrier.

"We did not put language at the bottom [of the proposal] that said officials should err on the side of player safety and throw the flag whenever," he said. "We realize this is a major change for players and coaches. We want the obvious foul. You have to see the initiator. You have to see the head down. You have to see the crown of the helmet hit."

Fisher said players shouldn't have much trouble adjusting to the rule change.

"The ballcarrier still is going to be able to lower his shoulder," he said. "The head's also going to come down to protect the football. We're not taking that part of the run out of the play.

"What we're saying is, out in space, one on one, [keep your] head up. We're not going to allow you to load up and use the crown of your helmet.

"We've been teaching young players in youth football for years to see what you hit. We're getting to a point now where we feel, with this rule proposal, we can avoid some dangerous situations on the field by bringing awareness to it and also by penalizing it or fining it."

The owners also will vote on five other rule-change proposals next week, including two others that involve player safety.

One would outlaw below-the-waist "peel-back" blocks inside the tackle box. It's already a penalty to block low on a peel-back outside the tackle box.

Another proposal adds restrictions to field-goal and PAT rush teams from an alignment standpoint. Rush players no longer would be able to push teammates through gaps, and the long-snapper would become a "defenseless" player and get helmet-to-helmet protection. Low rush blocks on PATs and field goals also would be illegal.

Blog: eagletarian.com