Galloway - Tackling rule is silly, but safety first - Dallas Cowboys Forum

k19 · 05-26-2005

Posted on Thu, May. 26, 2005

Tackling rule is silly, but safety first

By Randy Galloway

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

An e-mailer named George displayed plenty of anger over the NFL's new "Roy Williams Rule," which he viewed as the continuing demise of tackle football as we've always known it.

Can't say that I disagree with him.

Actually, George also suggested an additional rule change, requiring that all receivers, running backs and quarterbacks in the NFL wear sports bras.

But this column space, well known for its family-values approach, refuses to endorse any form of kinky behavior.

The NFL, however, enjoys immense popularity for many reasons, two of those being the violent nature of the product and the gambling that's involved on the outcome of games.

With this new ruling, league honchos continue to wager among themselves that less violence is good for business, particularly if a superstar is somehow not sidelined with an injury.

Sure, "The Roy Williams Rule" is all about Terrell Owens and the horse-collar tackle by the Cowboys safety that took Owens down, then out (until the Super Bowl), last December.

Beyond Owens, two other players broke something when Williams horse-collared them last season.

It is a procedure where Roy yanked down a ball carrier from behind by grabbing the back of the jersey or the shoulder pads, and then fell on their legs.

Williams didn't always fall on the legs, and injuries didn't always happen even when he did.

And there was no outcry about the horse-collar until Owens limped off.

But now the NFL is telling Williams, or anyone else, not to do this anymore, unless "the runner is in the tackle box or a quarterback is behind the line of scrimmage." And that the tackle is OK "if the runner is not immediately yanked down."

This will, of course, make for interesting decisions from the officiating crews come fall.

It's a real silly rule.

But without the usual rant from here, I am deferring to a more educated source when it comes to the violent nature of the NFL.

No, Daryl Johnston didn't make tackles during his NFL career. But as the battering ram (officially listed as fullback) in the Cowboys' dynasty days backfield, he probably made more physical contact than anyone of his generation.

Besides, guys nicknamed "Moose" are usually not gentle creatures.

Plus, life after the NFL has carried Johnston into the Fox-TV press box, where he's become a highly acclaimed national commentator on NFL games.

As a matter of fact, Johnston was working two of the games last season when Williams made horse-collar tackles and injuries happened. One was in Philly with Owens, the other in Baltimore with Ravens running back Musa Smith.

So, Mr. Moose, has the NFL gone pansy with the new "Roy Williams Rule?"

"No," he said Wednesday. "It's a good rule, but one that the referees will have interpretation problems with during games. That's the bad part of it. There's a lot of loose ends. But as far as what Roy was doing on that kind of tackle, it needed to be changed."

Because of those loose ends involved in the rule, Johnston says referees will have to see a horse-collar tackle and then decide if there's been an intent to injure.

"Roy can say anything he wants, but he knew what he was doing," added Johnston. "My opinion is he was making that kind of tackle to send a message. He's a physical force back there. Like a Ronnie Lott used to do, he wants that physical force message delivered.

"Having said that, I want to emphasize Roy is not a dirty player. You can watch him and see that. People got hurt when he made those kind of tackles, but it was not an intent to injure on his part. But I think the league was right in attempting to eliminate the tackle. Now, however, comes the interesting part for the officiating crews."

Johnston agrees the new rule is about the Owens injury.

He said he asked his Fox director in Baltimore not to show replays of the Smith injury because the compound leg fracture was so gruesome. But there was also no outcry about the horse-collar tackle after that game.

"No doubt, the league is channeling everything in the direction of protecting the star players," Johnston said. "That's why almost every new rule of the last decade is for the offensive player and against the defensive player. Some will say this one is the same thing, but I disagree.

"To me, this is about a safety issue. Illegal contact in the secondary was the big story last season. That was strictly a rule to help the scoring, help the offense. But this one is different. Safety should always be the first concern."

If a football hard boot like Daryl Johnston is in agreement with the new rule, I admit to having to take a second look at it.

Meanwhile, my advice to e-mailer George is this:

Don't ask Moose about your sports bra idea.

WV Cowboy · 05-26-2005

I feel that Roy will get called on this quicker than anyone else since he was the one that prompted this change, .. and if that happens, that is wrong.

That being said, I hope Roy changes ! NOTHING ! in the way he plays football or the way the tackles.

This happens what, .. 2,3, maybe 4 times a season ?

I can handle the penalty, ... bring it Roy !! :strongarm Don't change a thing son !!

Doomsday101 · 05-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by WV Cowboy

I feel that Roy will get called on this quicker than anyone else since he was the one that prompted this change, .. and if that happens, that is wrong.

That being said, I hope Roy changes ! NOTHING ! in the way he plays football or the way the tackles.

This happens what, .. 2,3, maybe 4 times a season ?

I can handle the penalty, ... bring it Roy !! :strongarm Don't change a thing son !!

I agree. My biggest fear is that the call will not be made consistantly and become to judgemental from 1 crew to the next. I hope I'm wrong but until I see how this rule change works and is enforced I'll continue to be skeptical

RedLine · 05-26-2005

Do you guys remember when the league started putting in several rules to protect the quarterbacks? Terry Bradshaw responded by saying the NFL should just put dresses on the quarterbacks. Well, looks like the receivers get to wear the dresses now.

lkelly · 05-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLine

Do you guys remember when the league started putting in several rules to protect the quarterbacks? Terry Bradshaw responded by saying the NFL should just put dresses on the quarterbacks. Well, looks like the receivers get to wear the dresses now.

That's great news for Terry Glenn. She should be thrilled.

Everlastingxxx · 05-26-2005

Terry Glenn and now Johnston are in agreement with the rule. Players and Owners know more than fans?

Doomsday101 · 05-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

Terry Glenn and now Johnston are in agreement with the rule. Players and Owners know more than fans?

And some player and some owners have major doubts about this rule change. 2 offensive players think the rule is great, I think you will find many defensive players think otherwise.

johnnybluestar · 05-26-2005

Roy will be fine without the tackle. He will still be a heavy hitter. He will still be an intimidator and he will still be an all-pro. I think the penalty will hardly ever be called on anyone, much less Roy. Roy only used the technique a hand full of times throughout the season. Guys got hurt about half of those times. Roy won't have any problems, he will continue to be a bad bad man on the football field. He doesn't need that tackle to scare people or blow them up with crushing hits.

Everlastingxxx · 05-26-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybluestar

Roy will be fine without the tackle. He will still be a heavy hitter. He will still be an intimidator and he will still be an all-pro. I think the penalty will hardly ever be called on anyone, much less Roy. Roy only used the technique a hand full of times throughout the season. Guys got hurt about half of those times. Roy won't have any problems, he will continue to be a bad bad man on the football field. He doesn't need that tackle to scare people or blow them up with crushing hits.

You're exactly right.

bbgun · 05-26-2005

"Roy can say anything he wants, but he knew what he was doing."

Shut the hell up, Moose.