NFL - NEWS & NOTES

“Incidental” helmet contact during “conventional” tackling or blocking is permitted



Each effort to inject more clarity into the new helmet rule invites more potential ambiguity to its eventual application.

The latest new item of evidence regarding the broad, possibly revolutionary rule comes from an apparent 11th-hour addition to the new language of the specific provision of the unnecessary roughness rule that relates to helmet use. Of course, that’s not where the rule prohibiting the lowering of the helmet to initiate contact appears; the unnecessary roughness rule generally bans ramming, spearing, or butting with any portion of the helmet, without a requirement that the helmet be lowered or that contact be initiated.

The new language comes in the form of a “note” that apparently was added at some point after the league (incorrectly) cited to Dom Cosentino of Deadspin.com the unnecessary roughness rule as the codification of the new helmet rule. Here’s the full text of the new note: “This provision does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent.”

So the new formulation of this specific aspect of the unnecessary roughness rule has removed the prior requirement that the butting, spearing, or ramming be violent or unnecessary, but it has added a caveat that allows incidental helmet contact arising from “conventional” tackling or blocking. Which means that the unnecessary roughness rule for 2018 encompasses non-incidental and/or unconventional use of the helmet, without the lowering of the helmet or initiating contact with it — and without regard to whether the use of the helmet was violent or unnecessary.

This leaves the league’s game officials with a jumbled stew of phrases and clauses that they will try to apply in real time, with consistency, accuracy, and reliability. Amid the unprecedented departure of nearly 25 percent of the league’s referees. With ever-enhancing attention and scrutiny, thanks to the spread of legalized gambling.

In more than three months since the new helmet rule first made its appearance, as an unexpected and unpublished proposal submitted to owners without anyone outside the league knowing about it, multiple coaches and league officials have tried to downplay its eventual breadth and impact. With each additional adjustment to the rulebook, however, it’s become clear that this is indeed a big deal.

And that it has the potential to become an even bigger mess. (PFT)

 

Its a slow day news wise and hot... so here is the NFL snowjob!

NFL adds 15-yard penalty for grounds crew clearing snow for a field goal

Just before Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri lined up for a game-tying extra point on a snowy day last season in Buffalo, the Colts sent some sideline personnel onto the field to attempt to remove snow from the area where the kick would be lined up, and help Vinatieri get better footing. That was a violation of league rules, but no penalty was called.

That’s because at the time, no penalty could be called. As PFT noted afterward, the officials had the authority to kick the Colts’ personnel off the field, but they didn’t have the authority to assess a yardage penalty because the prohibition on clearing snow was a Game Operations Policy, not a rule.

Now it’s a rule.

As noted by Football Zebras, the 2018 rulebook has been adjusted to say that “It is impermissible for the grounds crew or other team personnel to clear away snow for a Try kick, field goal, punt, or kickoff.” The penalty would be 15 yards.

It only makes sense to give the officials the authority to do something about it if a team breaks a rule in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. In the future, it will be a 15-yard penalty.

 

First time I saw that move was by the Bills (Miami @Buffalo). Blew my mind. Although a timeout for plowing was always funny, I understand the necessity.

 

If im 3rd and goal at the 5, no time left, in a blinding snow storm with the game on the line... I just might settle for the 15 yard penalty, have my teams grounds crew clean the field and kick the winner! Now what in the Sam Hell is the NFL going to come up with now?

Oh, I know! No football in the snow, no hitting involving a helmet and for crying out loud, no kicking!!!!!!!!!! Oh wait... kicking is cool, but don't return the ball, somebody might get hurt. Oy!

 

So where would you plow? If you plow for the original LOS then they move it back 15 yards. You would have to plow again and receive another 15 yard penalty.

 

you plow both

 

Are there any rules about a holder taking a snow shovel out with him in the huddle?

 

Yes, he can’t use it as a prop to celebrate getting points.

 

Actually he can as long as the shovel is NFL licensed merchandise.

 

Dwight Clark’s ashes buried next to goal post from The Catch

Dwight Clark has been laid to rest next to a memento from his most famous play.

Clark, the former 49ers wide receiver who died last month, was cremated and his ashes were buried next to the goal post from the Candlestick Park end zone where he made “The Catch,” the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982.

That goal post now resides on former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo’s ranch in Montana. Former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci tweeted a video showing the goal post and Clark’s grave marker.

Clark played his entire NFL career for the 49ers, winning two Super Bowls and being named to two Pro Bowls. His death at age 61 came after a battle with ALS. (RIP) (PFT)

 

Steve Keim faces possible suspension, fine

When players commit DUI offenses, the outcome is somewhat predictable, because the punishment has been collectively bargained through the union. When non-players do the same, the discipline becomes more fluid.

Cardinals G.M. Steve Keim, who was arrested for DUI on July 4, faces a potential fine and suspension, per a source with knowledge of the situation. The duration of the suspension and/or the magnitude of the fine can’t be predicted with any degree of precision.

In recent years, suspensions have been imposed on multiple front-office employees who were arrested for DUI. In 2010, the league suspended former Lions CEO Tom Lewand for 30 days, with a reduction to 21. The NFL also fined Lewand $100,000.

In 2013, the Broncos suspended executives Matt Russell and Tom Heckert after separate DUI incidents. Russell, who crashed into a police car, was absent from work 60 days. He later received a seven-month prison term, but he missed no further employment due to a work-release allowance. Heckert received a 30-day suspension.

The following year, the NFL suspended Colts owner Jim Irsay six games and fined him $500,000 for driving while impaired.

Multiple assistant coaches have faced no suspension after DUI incidents in recent years, including Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards and Packers safeties coach Darren Perry. In 2006, then-Lions assistant Joe Cullen was suspended one game and fined $20,000 after a pair of vehicular arrests — one of which happened after he showed up naked at a Wendy’s drive-through.

For Keim, his blood-alcohol concentration will likely influence the outcome. For now, that number isn’t known. (PFT)

 

Don’t drink and drive. You make shitloads of money, don’t drink and drive. Problem is that when you are drunk you always think you aren’t.

 

so happy the EAGLES passed on this guy !

 

buzzed driving is the same as being under the influence. they just don't think they are.

 

The catch-phrase that's going around; "buzzed driving is drunk driving", is not necessarily true. Both, in my opinion are bad, but one is more badderr than the other... trust me, I know.

 

Roughly two months from the start of the regular season, and less than four weeks from the first preseason game, it’s still not clear how the NFL will enforce two new rules that apply to helmet use.

And, yes, there are two new rules. In addition to the much-publicized (after it was secretly passed) prohibition on lowering the helmet to initiate contact, the unnecessary roughness rule has been revised to ban not only ramming, butting, and spearing with any part the helmet in a violent or unnecessary manner but all ramming, butting, or spearing, with the only limitation being “incidental” helmet contact while performing “conventional” blocking and tackling maneuvers.

So what does it all mean? No one really knows for sure, including the coach of the team that employs the chairman of the Competition Committee.

As explained by Jenny Vrentas of SI.com, the NFL has produced via several of its coaches a series of six videos aimed at explaining the rule to players. One of the videos was produced by Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who seems to think he knows how the two new rules will be applied in the trenches. But it’s clear based on his comments that it’s not quite clear to him how the two new rules will work.

“I couldn’t see where it would be very likely called for the inside guys,” Quinn told Vrentas. “Not saying it couldn’t, but contact happens so quickly when two guys are in a stance across from one another, that it would be difficult.”

Shouldn’t Quinn know for sure at this point whether a foul will or won’t be called, especially when he has direct access to Rich McKay, who runs both the Falcons and the committee that surreptitiously crafted and submitted the lowering-the-helmet proposal nearly four months ago?

Maybe Quinn has asked McKay, and maybe McKay hasn’t been able to answer. According to Vrentas, McKay “said the league will study this season how the rule change may be able to impact interior line play.” That’s a careful and diplomatic way of acknowledging that (wait for it) no one knows what’s going to happen.

McKay apparently has an idea about what could happen, since he contends that the lowering-the-helmet rule implies intent. “Very rarely do you write a rule with some element of intent in the language, but that was purposeful,” McKay told Vrentas. (in part from PFT)

Here's the whole Mike Florio article; https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/07/09/confusion-continues-regarding-the-two-new-helmet-rules/

 

Cowboys cornerback Marquez White was arrested in Collin County, Texas last month on a charge of second degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The charge is a result of what White described as a “road rage” incident last October that involved him flashing a gun at the driver of another car after an altercation when they were attempting to exit a highway.

“I eventually made my way in front of him and he proceeded to ride very closely and aggressively on my tail,” White said in a statement provided to the Dothan Eagle. “I hit the brakes to get him off of me and could then see him becoming very angry in my rear view mirror. He then sped up again and I hit my brakes again and after this time he pulled over to my driver side while still driving and proceeded to yell racial slurs such as the ‘N’ word while also threatening to kill me. Simultaneously while doing this he began to reach towards his glove box and that is when I flashed my weapon. He then hit the brakes, got behind me, and proceeded to follow me to my house. Upon arriving at my house I exited my car and went into my home as he sat outside and contacted the authorities.”

White said no arrest was made at the time and adds that he believes the accusation is “a personal attack on my image as well as the Star” by someone he says has changed their story “multiple times” since the incident. White was released on a $7,500 bond after he surrendered to authorities in June.

White was a sixth-round pick out of Florida State last year and spent the regular season on the practice squad.

 

Running back DeMarco Murray passed on a chance to work out for the Saints last month, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t looking for a job for the 2018 season.

Murray told Adam Schefter of ESPN that he hopes to sign before training camp gets underway and that he’s had conversations with a handful of teams about that possibility.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with four or five teams that I feel will be a great fit for me,” Murray said. “It’s all about being transparent and, for me, I’m not looking to lead the league in rushing yards. Obviously I would work and do everything to give me the opportunity to do that, but it’s all about having an opportunity to get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to win a championship.”

Murray, who spoke to the Seahawks, Dolphins and Lions in March, said the time off since being released by the Titans this offseason has allowed him to recover from knee and hamstring injuries that cost him time last season.

 

Donald Stephenson, who was the Browns Candidate to succeed Joe Thomas At LT, retires. Looks like former 1st round bust Greg Robinson and the guy who took over for Joe Thomas last year, Shon Coleman, will battle it out for the starting LT job in Cleveland. 2nd Round pick Austin Corbett, Joel Bitonio, and Spencer Drango will also get some looks for the job.