09-29-2016, 07:45 AM
The rules are there to prevent the league from getting sued. The rules are there to mitigate injury while allowing for the excitement of big hits. The rules are there to allow leeway in official interpretation on the field, in the moment. They're there to be whatever the refs need them to be.
The entire concept of a defenseless player seems to subvert any intent on the part of the rules committee to protect player health. Any defensive player that hits with the helmet or offensive player that lowers his helmet should have to sit out a play or few on top of whatever appropriate penalties are levied.
Oh, and remember, the Pac-12 determined that the hit was legal. Not that it was safe. Just...legal.
The entire concept of a defenseless player seems to subvert any intent on the part of the rules committee to protect player health. Any defensive player that hits with the helmet or offensive player that lowers his helmet should have to sit out a play or few on top of whatever appropriate penalties are levied.
Oh, and remember, the Pac-12 determined that the hit was legal. Not that it was safe. Just...legal.