Houston Texans legend JJ Watt was among those to question the NFL’s latest rule change after a vote was passed during the league’s annual meeting to outlaw the hip-drop tackle on Monday.
The NFL’s Competition Committee raised their concern about the tackle, which has caused a much higher rate of injury than regular tackles ahead of the vote which was unanimously passed.
The hip-drop tackle is defined as a move where a player "grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms" to "bring a runner to the ground”, while it is also a foul if a player "unweights himself by swivelling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee" for the same reason.
This will now be sanctioned by a loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down.
JJ Watt was among those to react to the vote on social media.
"Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them…” he posted on X, referencing non-contact flag football rules.
Former Denver Broncos safety TJ Ward also weighed in.
"Attention all defensive players. When out there on the field. Try your best not to harm the offensive players. Even if you have to put their well being above your own. These rules are a joke. No wonder every offensive record is being broke."
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent was in favour of the tackle being banned, saying: "The greatest asset for any athlete is durability and availability. When you have a play that has a 20-25 times the injury rate, it doesn't allow you to fulfil your dreams."
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