The NFL is talking about banning hip-drop tackles, but NFL players, including the Steelers’ Cam Heyward do not seem to be too fond of the idea.
The hit is the one that caused Cowboys running back Tony Pollard to suffer a fractured leg. In the Steelers time with the type of tackle, it is a type of hit that caused Le’Veon Bell to suffer a serious knee injury after being hit by Vontaze Burfict. It has caused many injuries over the year, but with multiple types of hits already penalized on defensive players, the outrage coming out is noticeable.
“This is so stupid,” Heyward tweeted. “How the heck are we ever going to get guys on the ground. They thinking too much.”
The thought came after the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Allan Sills said that the league will take a look at these hip-drop tackles. A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender swivels their hips onto the lower legs of the ball carrier after already having them wrapped up to stop their momentum. However, the hit type is known to lead to injuries such as high ankle sprains.
Cam Heyward and other defenders have a point here, however. At some point, there has to be some way the defensive players stop getting penalized. But on the other hand, this is a clear trend that these types of hits lead to injuries. When the rules committee gathers to potentially discuss outlawing these kinds of hits, it will be another rule change that could alter the way defenders have to play and make tackles at a fundamental level.