NFL's New Rules: Is American Football Going Soft?

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the powers that be in the NFL are implementing new rules this season. What are they? And more importantly, how will the affect the way the game is played in the National Football League?

One the NFL's new rules is that defenders can no longer hit quarterbacks below the knee in the pocket. This is no doubt in response to Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer's injury in the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hated seeing Carson Palmer go down, but this is NFL football, not some pickup game of touch football out on the schoolyard. The defenders already can't go near the helmet of the quarterback, even accidentally. Late hits are called all too frequently, often when the defender can't stop his momentum and accidentally grazes the QB on his way to the ground. The offensive lineman attempt to drive defenders onto the turf. Now that defender will be useless once the offensive line accomplishes that. The league can't protect against every possible contingency, but it seems that is what the NFL is trying to do. Plenty of great quarterbacks survived the NFL without this rule: Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino, Joe Namath, the list goes on and on. This is one rule that isn't needed in the NFL, one that shows the NFL is too soft when it comes to QBs. Also, it seems the league will not distinguish between intentional and unintentional contact.

Another new rule to be implemented by the league is that the NFL will crack down on less-than-spontaneous celebrations. I have never understood the league's obsession with eliminating touchdown and sack celebrations. They help make the game what it is. I grew up watching Mark Gastineau's sack dances, and I couldn't wait until the next time he brought a quarterback down to the turf. Who can forget the Icky Shuffle by Icky Woods? And guess who makes the highlight reel on ESPN fascinating every week? That's right, Chad Johnson. Whether he's playing golf with the pylons or serving the football as a meal to his teammates, I enjoy Chad's celebrations whether I am rooting for the Bengals or not. Even as a Giants fan, I saw no harm whatsoever in Joe Horn's cell phone celebration. Are fans themselves really upset with touchdown celebrations? If so, who the hell are they? I can see the NFL not wanting a player to spike the ball in an opponent's face, but what's the harm in pulling out a Sharpie or playing with some poms poms?

Another ridiculous rule change is that down-by-contact calls will now be reviewable. Officials can now review to determine whether a fumble occurred, resulting in a change of possession, even after the whistle. I believe in instant replay, but this is a horrible modification of the existing rules. There is nothing I hate more than to watch twenty players chasing a dead ball after the whistle has already blown. Now it will happen on just about every other play. Piles and piles of players will fight for what amounts to a dead ball. It will slow down the game, and referees will be afraid to blow a play dead.

Finally, the "horse collar" tackle rule will now include the jersey. If a defender is trailing a back or a wide receiver, there is little hope for him to tackle that player without grabbing hold of the jeresey. Again, some of the holds are unintentional. What this rule will do, like all the others being implemented, is slow down the game by having officials throw more annoying penalty flags. The NFL is getting soft. Teams don't need 1,000 yard rushers anymore, just officials with good eyes, because any team can march down the field a hundred yards if all the so-called penalties the league is devising are actually called. I, for one, am disappointed. No, I don't have to stand in the pocket while eleven men come gunning for me. But I do like to watch.