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| Source:https://www.nfl.com/ |
We all love football dearly and connects it us as a nation. The players give their all in the game, but sometimes they sacrifice too much and get hurt. Concussions are serious injuries that should not be taken lightly. The NFL has empowered referees and created new rules to protect players. I agree with these changes because player safety should be a top priority.
What does the NFL do to protect its players? According to the NFL, “referees will take on more responsibility this season to protect players from helmet-first hits to their heads and necks.” They have added more rules that will protect “defenseless” players from to take any shots above their shoulders. Also groups of officials are going over changes in meetings. For example, “Referee Walt Anderson, also the head of officiating for the Big 12 Conference, led a meeting with the Houston Texans on Friday. He said commissioner Roger Goodell has been "very involved" in discussions with the league's rules committee and referees to find ways to limit the number of head injuries, while also maintaining the game's integrity.”
And to protect a player’s safety they are rewriting the rules to “prohibit a player from launching himself off the ground and using his helmet to strike a player in a defenseless posture in the head or neck. The old rule only applied to receivers getting hit, but now it will apply to everyone.” Also the referees are now told to pay special attention if a player is in a vulnerable position. Also “in years past, Anderson said, defensive players were allowed to hit receivers in the head once the receiver touched both feet on the ground. Now, officials will give a receiver an extra split-second to ‘basically get into a position where he can defend himself,’ Anderson said.” Also when the player loses his helmet the play is immediately whistled dead.
So, the NFL has improved and updated their rules to make sure that the players can have a safe game and the audience be satisfied. In my next blog post I will, look at what role Congress is or should be playing to protect professional athletes.
And to protect a player’s safety they are rewriting the rules to “prohibit a player from launching himself off the ground and using his helmet to strike a player in a defenseless posture in the head or neck. The old rule only applied to receivers getting hit, but now it will apply to everyone.” Also the referees are now told to pay special attention if a player is in a vulnerable position. Also “in years past, Anderson said, defensive players were allowed to hit receivers in the head once the receiver touched both feet on the ground. Now, officials will give a receiver an extra split-second to ‘basically get into a position where he can defend himself,’ Anderson said.” Also when the player loses his helmet the play is immediately whistled dead.
So, the NFL has improved and updated their rules to make sure that the players can have a safe game and the audience be satisfied. In my next blog post I will, look at what role Congress is or should be playing to protect professional athletes.
