Every year, the NFL decides to add to alter rules to the game for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes it’s about fairness, other times it’s about player safety.
One such rule change that could come this offseason is about how players tackle.
A tackle known as a “hip-drop tackle” has come under fire recently because of its propensity to result in injury for the tackled played.
Stars like the Miami Dolphins’ wideout Tyreek Hill, the Baltimore Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews, and the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Geno Smith were all forced out of games with different levels of severity because of how they were tackled.
“Anyone can watch and see that this is a play that has no place in football,” Rapoport said Tuesday. “I do expect it to be banned.”
From The Insiders on #NFLPlus: At the December League Meetings, expect a discussion of eliminating the hip-drop tackle and more on the kickoffs. pic.twitter.com/mKTLCv9Wrg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 12, 2023
Basically, a “hip-drop tackle” is when a defender latches onto a player, swings his body around and uses his body weight to drag the other player to the ground.
Oftentimes the tackled player’s leg, knee, or ankle gets caught under the defender’s body, leading to an injury.
Hill was forced out of Monday night’s match against the Tennessee Titans because of it, and Ravens right end Mark Andrews will likely be out until next season because of it.
This type of tackling has come under scrutiny for awhile but remains a legal play in the NFL.
However, if injuries continue to pop up as a result of hip-drops, the NFL will likely take action to at least curtail its use and teaching across all levels of football.
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