The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Thursday night featured the first opportunity for NFL refs to roll out the league’s new helmet rule, which penalizes hits that were previously legal.
It’s safe to say most of the people who cover the NFL were not pleased with how this played out.
Playing safety is effectively illegal in today's NFL. Penalty. pic.twitter.com/YmotYfLyzT
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) August 3, 2018
I understood enforcement of the first 2 calls by letter of the law. But it’s a disservice to the officials & viewers when the announcers defend calls that are wrong. Collinsworth: “Lowers his helmet, contact to the arm/shoulder area” ??? Except he didn’t lower his helmet. pic.twitter.com/gO3a1SMroM
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 3, 2018
🤷🏼♂️ Not even sure how to hit guys anymore. No helmet to helmet, no lowering of head, contact with shoulder. I guess I am just confused. https://t.co/x8GvIeGaqH
— Jason Wilfawn, SCCC (@PeakSpecialists) August 3, 2018
Watching the @ChicagoBears vs @Ravens game…. safeties are in a tough, "NO WIN" situation with the helmet rules. Safeties almost have to let the TE catch the pass and tag off on a TD!!
— Steve Atwater (@SteveAtwater27) August 3, 2018
Perfectly legal hit by #46. That's a garbage call.
Hurts the rule when you call penalties like that.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) August 3, 2018
If that is a penalty, then you may as well take the pads off. I mean, that’s just dumb.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) August 3, 2018
Back to the previous flag for HTH. It wasn’t close to being a penalty and the guys in the booth are so giddy for the new rule they didn’t even bother to notice how bad the call was. I’m all for a safer game but you still have to point out when calls are wrong.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 3, 2018
I understand that NFL referees will overcall the new helmet rule during the preseason to set a precedent…but wow it is going to be fun to see how this plays out during the regular season #grayarea
— Drew Butler (@DrewButler) August 3, 2018
Just give us flags to put on!! Might as well.
— Robert Golden (@R0bG0lden) August 3, 2018
I firmly believe one or more executives at 345 Park Avenue are determined to take the helmet completely out of the game, and that they currently hope to conceal that this is the goal.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 3, 2018