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New rule for Arizona Cardinals and NFL is tough

By Scott Allen

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Wide receiver Roger Lewis #18 of the New York Giants fumbles the football as inside linebacker Deone Bucannon #20 of the Arizona Cardinals makes the hit in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 24: Wide receiver Roger Lewis #18 of the New York Giants fumbles the football as inside linebacker Deone Bucannon #20 of the Arizona Cardinals makes the hit in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Cardinals defense is going to have more stringent tackling rules placed on them in 2018

Pretty soon the Arizona Cardinals defense, along with others, will be wearing flags on their waists.  This is what it pretty much has come down to in the NFL.

This week the NFL during their annual meeting, changed the rule on tackling with the helmet.  Prior to the upcoming season, players were only penalized if they hit another player with the crown of the helmet.

Starting with the 2018 season, it will now be hitting another player with any part of the helmet will cause a penalty and an ejection.  Not only will it apply to defensive players, but to offensive players as well.

Guys that are hard hitters, and there are a number of them on the Cardinals defense, are going to have to be careful.  Also guys like David Johnson are going to have to be careful not to lower their heads while running forward with the football.

Look, it is easy to understand why the NFL is trying to toughen up here.  Concussions were up last season.  Much information has been released about the consistent pounding NFL players’ heads take.

You can’t blame the NFL for at least trying to do something about it.  However at what point do we stop calling it football? Either go all in and make it flags or leave it the way it was.

The problem really is that the hits will be left up to the interpretation of the officials.  They are going to have to determine intent of the player.  That can sometimes be a slippery slope.

We don’t yet know exactly how ejections will work.  The NFL is expected to discuss the penalty phase more and come to a final decision on the subject in May.

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Regardless of how it plays out, we know changes are coming.  We should all be for player safety but the question is, will players put themselves at greater risk by trying to avoid helmet hits?

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