Even though J.J. Watt has retired from the National Football League, he remains perturbed by a controversial rules change announced on Monday morning.
The NFL has officially outlawed the hip-drop tackle, a move prompted by several severe injuries in recent seasons.
According to ESPN, the penalty for executing a hip-drop tackle will be a 15-yard penalty if flagged during games. Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, indicated that the enforcement of the rule may mirror that of the “use of helmet” rule, typically resulting in warning letters and fines issued in the week following a game rather than immediate penalties during the game.
Watt expressed his discontent on social media shortly after the news broke. “Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them…” he wrote.
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Many current and former players across the league share Watt’s sentiment. While prioritizing player safety on the field is crucial, some regulations may prove challenging to enforce, and the hip-drop tackle appears to be one such instance.
Nonetheless, there’s hope that this change may ultimately benefit players’ well-being in the long run. Adjusting to the new rule may pose challenges initially, but it could yield positive outcomes over time.
