NEWS
JJ Watt and Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland lead backlash towards NFL’s decision to ban the brutal hip-drop tackle
during the owners’ meetings and will fine players who break the new move next season.
The method of tackling, where a defensive player approaches from behind and becomes dead weight while falling to the ground, onto the attacker’s legs, poses up to a 25-times higher risk of injury – according to NFL executive Jeff Miller.Man… some of those are just called “tackles” in most football circles I’ve been lucky enough to be around,’ McAfee wrote, responding to a video the NFL showed in a press conference which featured a series of what would be considered the now-banned swivel hip-drop tackle.
Meanwhile, former defensive end Watt appeared to suggest that the NFL wasThe future Hall of Famer wrote: ‘Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them…’
Former safety Ryan Clark also chimed in, echoing Watt’s belief that the NFL was headed too far in the direction of flag football.
‘Go ahead and outlaw bringing offensive players to the ground!’ he wrote. ‘Thats [sic] where it’s headed. Make every game the pro bowl! This is getting ridiculous.’
‘Breaking news: Tackling Banned,’ Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland also posted.
It wasn’t just the defensive players that criticized the decision as former quarterback Robert Griffin III also spoke out against the decision.