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The hit to helmet rule

Hobbster

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I can't believe the confusion on some in comments sections of news articles as to why Shazier wasn't called for hit to helmet if Burict was. The rule is only when receivers are in act of attempting to catch a pass, once a catch is determined to be made the player is no longer afforded "defenseless receiver" status. The fact that it was ruled a fumble and NOT an incomplete pass shows he was now considered a runner with the ball and there was no foul for helmet to helmet contact.

Another misconception even by media, Porter being on the field was not a foul, as he is allowed on field because of injured player (his position or not) and according to a former official ESPN had on last night, even if he was spewing profanities, as long as he was not taunting other team, he did nothing that warranted a flag, but Jones actions were definitely warranted a flag.
 
Well there is a whole lot of Bullshit being flung around. Hard to believe those people who are analysts know so little about football. And for all of NFL networks disgust at both teams where do you think the Steelers Bunghole games will land next year. The idea that no penalty was thrown when Burfict was laying on Decastro with five of those pieces of **** surrounding him is beyond me.
 
I may be wrong but I think leading with the crown of the helmet is a foul no matter..the rules have become so twisted and convoluted under Rog..I really have no clue anymore
 
Yep, ESPN had a former head of officials on and said hitting with the crown of the helmet is always a personal foul.
 
Yep, ESPN had a former head of officials on and said hitting with the crown of the helmet is always a personal foul.

This is correct.. You can not do it outside the tackle box or 3+ yards from LOS. The hit on Brown was a defenseless receiver. 2 different things....
 
I can't believe the confusion on some in comments sections of news articles as to why Shazier wasn't called for hit to helmet if Burict was. The rule is only when receivers are in act of attempting to catch a pass, once a catch is determined to be made the player is no longer afforded "defenseless receiver" status. The fact that it was ruled a fumble and NOT an incomplete pass shows he was now considered a runner with the ball and there was no foul for helmet to helmet contact.

Another misconception even by media, Porter being on the field was not a foul, as he is allowed on field because of injured player (his position or not) and according to a former official ESPN had on last night, even if he was spewing profanities, as long as he was not taunting other team, he did nothing that warranted a flag, but Jones actions were definitely warranted a flag.

Well stated sir! Appreciate that post.
 
Yep, ESPN had a former head of officials on and said hitting with the crown of the helmet is always a personal foul.

How many times have you seen that called in any game all year? I'm going to go with never. But hey, yeah let's start making that call in a playoff game.

Do you like your teams chances vs. Chiefs? Is your honey going to be able play in that game?
 
There's helmet-to-helmet, and leading-with-the-crown-of-the-helmet.

The latter is always verboten.
 
The crown of the helmet rule is in place to protect the defender as much as the offensive player. Shazier needs to be smarter for his own health.
 
yes there are two different rules in play there... the first is the defenseless receiver rule... which ends as soon as the receiver established possession and turns into a runner... the thought is that when going for the ball the receiver suspends field awareness, but once a runner, the receiver has the responsibility to not put himself in harms way....any head contact before he establishes possession is not allowed here, even incidental or a shoulder.....

the second is leading with the crown of the helmet rule, which can be called on anyone but a lineman, including RBs. This rule has an incidental contact cleavet attached. you cant target the head, but if you catch the guy because he turns into it, or you hit him elsewhere and the helmet slides up, you can get a pass....

Its all under 12.6 in the rulebook, but you cant just use the "Official" nfl rulebook they have online for fans to get a full grasp.. try to find a bootleg Refs one, they have examples and clarifications in it, but are strictly protected under trade secret bullshit from the league for some unknown and stupid reason... old refs or league guys sometimes leak them... they are informative.
 
I think the Shazier hit could've been called either way. He definitely hit the RB in the face with the crown of his helmet, BUT he lowered his head and attempted to wrap the guy up BEFORE the RB turned around and put his own face right on Shazier's helmet. Shazier didn't lower his helmet into the RB's face, it was incidental that they made contact that way.

That said: it wouldn't have happened if Shazier employed the 'heads up' method of ***** tackling lobbied by NFL these days, so there's that...

But the fumble probably wouldn't have occurred without the hit happening just as it did, so I'm glad it went down the way it did. Plus it got the whole Bengals team to lose it's composure.
 
Leading by the crown is to be called yet how many games we see this type hit over and over with no flags. If this is the rule then throw the yellow but as every other rule in the NFL, no consistency. Look at Shazier hit and Burict hits and you can see no matter who you are a fan of why the flags came in on hit to Brown. Bungle fans are looking for something to hang their hats on as why they lost, a game won. Two thugs and a coach who should have taken Burict out for last drive, knowing he was going to show his self. I just love how these two flags is all the concern of the game yet not one thought of how many flags were thrown on the Steelers to keep drives going in third quarter for the Bungals.
 
If it wasn't a flag when Bell was knocked out at the goal line vs the rats 2 years ago, then Shazey's hit wasn't a foul.

(personally I would have called the hit on Bell Spearing since there was no attempt to wrap and the player launched himself using the crown of his helmet as the only contact point on Bell).
 
Yep, ESPN had a former head of officials on and said hitting with the crown of the helmet is always a personal foul.

How is there not personal fouls on most running plays?
 
How many times have you seen that called in any game all year? I'm going to go with never. But hey, yeah let's start making that call in a playoff game.

Exactly, Had the guy not gotten knocked out, nobody gives that tackle a second thought.
 
Here's why it's not a foul, explained by another former head of officials:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...er-wasnt-flagged-for-head-shot-to-gio-bernard

Oh boy.....That article is wrong it has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING DEFENSELESS. It has to do with leading with the crown of the helmet. It is two different rules why can people not grasp that..I do not get it

"NEW RULE: A ban on a ball carrier initiating contact with the crown of his helmet in the open field or by a defender while making a tackle.

What the rule changes: A 15-yard penalty will be called if a runner or a tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle-to-tackle and from 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team's end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or a tackler against an opponent would not be deemed a foul.

Why the change was made: The NFL is trying to avoid concussions at all costs, so this rule will make it illegal for players to use their helmets as weapons. Using the helmet on hits against receivers already is illegal, so this is the next logical step."
 
Oh boy.....That article is wrong it has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING DEFENSELESS. It has to do with leading with the crown of the helmet. It is two different rules why can people not grasp that..I do not get it

"NEW RULE: A ban on a ball carrier initiating contact with the crown of his helmet in the open field or by a defender while making a tackle.

What the rule changes: A 15-yard penalty will be called if a runner or a tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players clearly are outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle-to-tackle and from 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team's end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or a tackler against an opponent would not be deemed a foul.

Why the change was made: The NFL is trying to avoid concussions at all costs, so this rule will make it illegal for players to use their helmets as weapons. Using the helmet on hits against receivers already is illegal, so this is the next logical step."

Except that is not what happened, Shazier dove for where Bernard was, Shazier's shoulder would have hit his body, Gio turned his had and contact with Shazier's helmet was made, but as a runner, no flag for either rule should have been called nor was.
 
Except that is not what happened, Shazier dove for where Bernard was, Shazier's shoulder would have hit his body, Gio turned his had and contact with Shazier's helmet was made, but as a runner, no flag for either rule should have been called nor was.

If Burfict hit one of our guys like that I bet 99% of people here would see it different. While I do not think Shazier intended to do that I did not see him "dive." He hit him square in the chest / under the chin with the top of his helmet forcefully.
 
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