Since 1979 the NFL has made several changes in the name of player safety. They include "in the grasp", "unprotected receiver", "helmet to helmet" as well as a much broader interpretations of "roughing the quarterback" and "unsportsmanlike contact". They have deliberately tipped the balance in favor of offenses, severely handicapping the defenses.
The result has been prolific offensive numbers by QB's and WR's while INT's have slipped to an almost mythical event. In the 70's almost every TD was game changing. I recall the Cowboys winning 6-2 in an important late season game in 1970. In 1971 the Cowboys won a playoff game 5-0.
Those were great games. The 70's had great defenses. There were the Fearsome Foursome of the Rams, the Purple People Eaters of the Vikings, the Orange Crush, the Monsters of the Midway, the Steel Curtain and, of course, the Doomsday Defense........name an intimidating defense in the present NFL.
But what about the original intent of the rule changes, what about player safety?
From 1970 to 1979, and average of 13.2 Cowboy players started every game of a season. From 2010 to 2019 that average has been 9.3 players per season. This season, after 12 games, only 5 players are still elligible for starting every game.
At least from a Cowboys perspective, they should go back to the original rules.
