Cam Jordan and other high-profile defenders are not a fan of proposed NFL rule change

It’s the offseason, so the NFL is considering rules that the league will argue betters the game. However, a lot of the rules that are usually introduced just make life harder for defenders in the NFL. Unfortunately, it looks like this offseason isn’t going to be any different.

It’s been reported that the NFL competition committee has officially proposed a rule that would make the “hip-drop tackle” illegal. What used to just be known as a tackle, has been termed as a hip-drop tackle in recent years, as there has been a push to get rid of the tackling method. According to the proposed rule, a hip-drop tackle is when a defender “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.” If it becomes a rule, it would be a 15-yard penalty that grants an automatic first down.

The push to ban this type of tackle is because it can result in lower-body injuries, with the ball carrier’s legs getting trapped under the defender. However, defenders clearly aren’t in favor of this rule being passed, because no defender approaches a ball carrier saying, “I’m going to hip-drop tackle him.” The goal is just to get the runner down by any means. This rule passing would be one more thing defenders have to think about while trying to play an already challenging game at full speed.

NFL defenders protest proposed hip-drop tackle rule

The league’s best defenders immediately came out in protest of the rule. New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan let emojis do the talking, responding with a couple of trash can emojis, essentially saying the proposal is a bunch of garbage. Indianapolis Colts defensive back Kenny Moore did the same.

Moore’s teammate, linebacker Zaire Franklin, also responded saying, “So a 15-yard penalty for making a tackle… got it.” Philadelphia Eagles defenders Nakobe Dean and Darius Slay, also responded with shock and calling the rule crazy.

These frustrated defenders have the support of the NFLPA, who issued a statement saying the players oppose the rule, but it remains to be seen if that’ll make a difference. The team owners will have league meetings in Orlando next week, and will vote on the proposal.

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