NFL Continues to Ban Physical Contact, Clarifies 'The Brady Rule'

The NFL seems determined to continue its downward spiral toward becoming a two-hand touch league, as it has adopted a clarification on the rules for hitting quarterbacks.

This comes after New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady missed almost all of the 2008 season -- he played one quarter of the opening game -- following a hit from Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Bernard Pollard. If the same play were to take place during the 2009 season, Pollard would be flagged.

It's just another example of how the NFL intends to protect quarterbacks as if they were Faberge eggs, eliminating any and all physical contact. Hell, sometimes guys get fined for sacking the quarterback.

But is this really about protecting players, or is it about protecting investments and making money? Listening to Patriots owner Robert Kraft talk, it's pretty obvious it's about protecting investments.

From Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe:

"I think all the quarterbacks in this league are critical to what the game is about," said Patriots owner Robert Kraft. "It's like if Peyton Manning were gone for a season, I think the whole NFL suffers, the same way the NFL suffered with Tommy out. So whatever we can do to protect quarterbacks and to minimize the opportunity of them being taken out with a year-ending injury I would support. ... It's not good for the league. What makes it special is special players. It's like going to see a great movie and the star isn't in the movie. It's the same principle."

Yes, because the NFL ceased to exist without Brady. I don't want to see players get hurt, and I think it's unfortunate for the Patriots and their fans that their star quarterback was lost for the season, but football is a physical game and people get hurt. Brady wasn't the first star player to miss significant time, and he certainly won't be the last. It comes with the territory and rule changes -- or clarifications of old rules -- isn't going to change that.

I certainly don't want to see a rule-less, anything goes, XFL-type of anarchy on the field, reminiscent of when the gladiators fought to the death in the Colosseum, but quarterbacks are already placed in a protective bubble. My issue isn't exactly the clarification on hits to the knees, but simply defenders already being limited on what they can do to sack the quarterback.

As fellow FanHouse scribe Bruce Ciskie said via e-mail: "The problem I have is that for every hit that needs to be penalized, there will be 5-7 hits that shouldn't be penalized but now will be."

That's pretty much it, and the type of thing we've been seeing for a couple of years now.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

3-24-2009 @ 11:50AM

wdfisher57 said...

Pats owner, Kraft at least stated the truth. I remember Joe Namath being injured in his day yet he still went on and had a memorable career and that was in the day when defensive lineman were able to whatever it took to get the QB. I don't think more rules should be writen, I think that the game should be left as it was intended to be, men going against men. Tom Brady has enough money in the bank to just leave the game anytime the heat gets too hot in the kitchen for him. There are other QBs that can take his place in a pinch, there always have been.

3-30-2009 @ 11:08AM

southernharley01 said...

I think this whole thing is a piece of crap, cause its like this is your gonna band GB from getting hurt then you need to do the same for the receivers and running backs who get hurt during the plays..This should apply to all or shut the hell up and play football like a real man and stop your crying..If ya want to play two hand touch football get women in the game and put them in short dresses so it can make the game more exciteing cause with the way the football league is now trying to screw the game up ...

3-24-2009 @ 12:19PM

dess133 said...

i think it's absurd, and i'm a patriots fan. you can't hit them high, you can't hit them low, why don't they just eliminate sacks altogether?

3-24-2009 @ 12:22PM

greg said...

there are to many rules now. more rules will make the game boring

3-24-2009 @ 12:28PM

popper said...

Why don't we just put Brady in a skirt and high heels and don't allow anyone to touch him. Cry me a river Kraft. Let these qbs be men unless they don't want to be(like Brady).

3-24-2009 @ 12:32PM

Eddie said...

THank you nfl. ISn't It about time Somebody GAve these Young qbs MoRe protection in a Game where Over and Over again, Dirty hits and purE aggression pass as substitutes for actual skiLL?

3-24-2009 @ 2:55PM

Thats funny! Nice use of the shift key.

3-24-2009 @ 7:17PM

M i c k e y said...

Damn, Eddie!! That was funny. Screw those AOL censors.

3-24-2009 @ 12:36PM

Steel Wheel said...

First the compensatory picks now this load of crap? Is there any wonder whose taking it in the ass over at NFL central? This is pathetic...can the Pats play anything straight up? How can you respect a franchise like this? Give me my Steelers anyday over a whinny owner, a cheating coach and a pussy quarterback!!

3-24-2009 @ 12:44PM

borkaliad said...

Brady in a skirt and high heels? YUMMMMYYYYYYY!

3-24-2009 @ 12:56PM

Hello Xavier said...

This is becoming a league of wusses. What's next, tea and krumpets at half time for all the players at mid-field? Let these men play the game as men, lord knows they sure make enough money.

why is this brady's fault? did he complain once? i can't wait till he comes back this year and kicks the shit out of the rest of this pathetic conference.

i can guarantee next year's AFC super bowl entrant will NOT be some mediocre, one dimensional jackoffs who only got there because SOMEBODY (whose name i will not mention) got hurt in the first game of the season.

party's over, assholes.

3-24-2009 @ 2:00PM

Big Blue said...

Yes the Pat's play in the worst division in football, and still didnt make the playoffs. Even with a great QB like Cassel they didnt make it. Brady don't play defense, he don't play o-line and they have one of the worst o-lines in the nfl.

3-26-2009 @ 9:53AM

becarefulangel said...

Worst division in football? The AFC West and NFC West beg to differ.

The Pats would have made the playoffs had Favre not choked down the stretch as usual, mind you.

Really? Is that what your fractional mind thinks "mess133"? The reason you're hearing about how wonderful they are is a mere dictation on the respect they have by not just fans but non-fans too. I think you should get off this hate train and deal with the fact that the Steelers are every bit what they exude, the epitome of Art Rooney's spirit. For the record I don't live in Pennsylvania and don't have any ties to the burgh but I've been there, interacted with the local culture and followed the Steelers since 77 and I tip my hat to the Rooney family and Pittsburghers for the evolution of this team.

3-24-2009 @ 12:57PM

Ooooh good one. That took some creativity. We're all impressed with your use of foul language and clever rhymes. Please share some more of your intellect.

3-24-2009 @ 1:18PM

Rodney said...

The NFL is becoming a soft game now. A game for wimps who can't handle a hit. You're getting paid millions of dollars to take a hit. Suck it up and get you're pay check.

3-24-2009 @ 1:21PM

orsini112 said...

This rule isnt because Brady compalained about being hit, so I dont understand all the remarks against brady as if he wrote the rule. As for Kraft, hes a business man. It never good for business to have your star QB out for the season. WHat do you expect him to say?

3-24-2009 @ 1:58PM

See, this is what I'm talking about. Kraft doesn't give a rip about the NFL...all he cares about is HIS investment...the only time you hear his voice is when it effects his team. When was the last time Kraft took a stance on black coaches, or retired player bennies, or God forbid a new player's union head?

Donnie said...

It seems that we have gone from a game of rough and tumble to flag football for the Qback. I guess next they will have tick a lock box for the Qb's to stand in and no one can touch them. We got so many rules in football now even its hard for the ref's to stay up with them. You can't hit high or low ok I guess it will be just patty on the hiney for lineman to touch the Qb's and ref's say down...