chargertom
03-20-2005, 09:10 AM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3476132
An Excerpt from the article:
There is a good chance of passing a new 15-yard unnecessary roughing penalty that could be termed the Warren Sapp-George Foster penalty.
Believe it or not, the committee wants to outlaw legal blocks like the one Sapp made on Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton two seasons ago, similar to the ones used by players to apply vicious blocks on wimpy punters and kickers. There were several injuries to those players on returns last season.
On some teams, special team players look to try to take out the opposing team's punter or kicker. Essentially, they are fair game. But McKay said there were a few instances in which they were injured last year "while far away from the actual tackle being made on the returner."
When Sapp applied a blind-side block to Clifton, who was a good 30 yards away from the play, it was legal under the current rules. Packers coach Mike Sherman thought the hit was unnecessary and went after Sapp, who was playing for Tampa Bay at the time, after the game ended. Sapp told Sherman to go put a uniform on, among other things.
And last season, during a Monday night game in Cincinnati, Broncos offensive lineman Geroge Foster ended Bengals defensive tackle Tony Williams' season with a low block, fracturing the player's left ankle. Williams was carted off and the block, although legal, brought more attention to the style of blocking condoned by coaching staffs in Denver and Atlanta, where offensive line coach Alex Gibbs worked last season.
McKay said that if the new penalty passes, it will allow the league office to levy fines against suspecting players if the block isn't flagged on the field. McKay said that players on the NFLPA's own committee were in favor of this new unnecessary roughness penalty. The two sides met last month in Indianapolis to review specific rule changes.
"We would simply like to get certain hits out of the game," McKay said. "There are too many players getting wiped out who are not involved in the play. It happens on some screen plays where defenders are blocked from the side and they have no idea where the blocker is coming from."
Looks like Denver will have to find a new way to cheat.
Go Chargers!
An Excerpt from the article:
There is a good chance of passing a new 15-yard unnecessary roughing penalty that could be termed the Warren Sapp-George Foster penalty.
Believe it or not, the committee wants to outlaw legal blocks like the one Sapp made on Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton two seasons ago, similar to the ones used by players to apply vicious blocks on wimpy punters and kickers. There were several injuries to those players on returns last season.
On some teams, special team players look to try to take out the opposing team's punter or kicker. Essentially, they are fair game. But McKay said there were a few instances in which they were injured last year "while far away from the actual tackle being made on the returner."
When Sapp applied a blind-side block to Clifton, who was a good 30 yards away from the play, it was legal under the current rules. Packers coach Mike Sherman thought the hit was unnecessary and went after Sapp, who was playing for Tampa Bay at the time, after the game ended. Sapp told Sherman to go put a uniform on, among other things.
And last season, during a Monday night game in Cincinnati, Broncos offensive lineman Geroge Foster ended Bengals defensive tackle Tony Williams' season with a low block, fracturing the player's left ankle. Williams was carted off and the block, although legal, brought more attention to the style of blocking condoned by coaching staffs in Denver and Atlanta, where offensive line coach Alex Gibbs worked last season.
McKay said that if the new penalty passes, it will allow the league office to levy fines against suspecting players if the block isn't flagged on the field. McKay said that players on the NFLPA's own committee were in favor of this new unnecessary roughness penalty. The two sides met last month in Indianapolis to review specific rule changes.
"We would simply like to get certain hits out of the game," McKay said. "There are too many players getting wiped out who are not involved in the play. It happens on some screen plays where defenders are blocked from the side and they have no idea where the blocker is coming from."
Looks like Denver will have to find a new way to cheat.
Go Chargers!