You won't see Jason Witten without a helmet again

[casmith07]

See, I agree 100%. When I played, we kept our helmet buckled up, all four straps, ALL GAME LONG. Players now just snap and unsnap the straps all game long.

BUT, if a helmet does come off, I think the player's safety should be the first priority, not how many yards he could have picked up.

Your helmet coming off is part of the risks you take when you play football, just like you run the risks from spraining your pinkie toe all the way up to death.

It might not be comparable because of the type of sport, but unless it's a dead-ball situation, referees aren't blowing the play dead if a basketball player's shoe comes off. Again, I understand the safety implications but I think they're merely addressing the ends rather than addressing the means to the end.

 

[gimmesix]

I understand the rule, but imagine it's fourth down and a player's helmet pops off after a hit 10 yards down the field but he remained upright and could have picked up a few more yards for a first down.

Now, imagine how often we see such a thing happen or a play like Witten made.

Any outcry over this rule is just blatant overreaction.

 

[Muhast]

Go ahead and show everyone what a big man you are. Go out there, let Demarcus Ware run at you full steam, and hit you while you AREN'T wearing any pads.

They have pads AND HELMETS to protect them. Now if they lose that protection they are supposed to just "take" the hit? I'm sure if you were a real player, and somehow lost your shoulder pads, you wouldn't be yelling at a 250lb linebacker to hit you.

Fans will ***** at anything just to *****.

I understand that they wear the pads for a reason. I never said I could take a hit from a LB wearing no pads. No clue what part of my post was confusing for you.

I have never in my life seen a player simply fall down b/c they lost their helmet and were scared to get hit. Or seen a player lose his cleat and fall down to protect himself. Have you? I understand that they want to protect the players, but that comes from improving technology in helmets, not changing the game.

They made Revolution helmets to prevent against concussions, yet most players refuse to wear them. That should be made mandatory. Require the players to have both straps on the the chin strap snapped on. That would make more sense and reduce the chance of helmets popping off.

If by freak accident the helmet comes off, let the play go on. If the player feels he is in danger b/c of it he would go down on his own or run out of bounds. I think we ALL know the other players don't go for a kill shot in those situations.

 

[casmith07]

I understand that they wear the pads for a reason. I never said I could take a hit from a LB wearing no pads. No clue what part of my post was confusing for you.

I have never in my life seen a player simply fall down b/c they lost their helmet and were scared to get hit. Or seen a player lose his cleat and fall down to protect himself. Have you? I understand that they want to protect the players, but that comes from improving technology in helmets, not changing the game.

They made Revolution helmets to prevent against concussions, yet most players refuse to wear them. That should be made mandatory. Require the players to have both straps on the the chin strap snapped on. That would make more sense and reduce the chance of helmets popping off.

If by freak accident the helmet comes off, let the play go on. If the player feels he is in danger b/c of it he would go down on his own or run out of bounds. I think we ALL know the other players don't go for a kill shot in those situations.

That's my beef with it. They're addressing the helmet coming off, not the reasons why. This does nothing to address the issue of players wearing ill-fitting helmets and having loose chinstraps.

 

[Future]

That's my beef with it. They're addressing the helmet coming off, not the reasons why. This does nothing to address the issue of players wearing ill-fitting helmets and having loose chinstraps.

not to mention dreads so thick that the helmet doesn't even go on all the way

 

[UnoDallas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_football_helmet

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

This is football. Goodness. Soon you aren't going to be allowed to tackle anyone and we'll be playing touch football. That Witten play was one of the greatest plays i've seen from a tight end. I can't imagine what would've happened if that play was called dead after his helmet flew off.

 

[jobberone]

I can see them blowing the whistle for a player without a helmet in possession of the ball but not otherwise. If your helmet is popping off then there is a functional reason for it happening. Fix the problem and avoid loosing the helmet 99.99+% of the time. If a players' helmet comes off during a play then send him out of the game for a play. That'll stop a lot of it. Not all but a lot.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

so last play of the game, we're down by 6, WR screen to Austin and as he breaks the tackle his helmet flies off with no one left to beat for the winning score and then.....

just super...

There is a rule in the NFL that the officials can award a touchdown if there is a clear path to the end zone and a penalty prevents the TD such as a player running out on the field, or something really odd. Of course, you'd need to be the Patriots or Steelers in order for it to be called in your favor, and preferably in a playoff game.

 

[SteveOS]

Stupid rule. Barber's helmet pops off almost every play it seems.

 

[Hook'em#11]

But if a helmet does come off, (oh, by the way, the helmet is not worn to show off a logo, it is worn to provide protection to a player's HEAD), I think the play should stop then..

Let's see how you feel if that "stopping" of a play affects Dallas going or winning the Super Bowl.

Safety is safety, but, jesus, if they are going to make rules like this that hurt the game. Then turn this into a fluff league.

Yep, NHL is looking better everyday.

 

[guag]

Go ahead and show everyone what a big man you are. Go out there, let Demarcus Ware run at you full steam, and hit you while you AREN'T wearing any pads.

They have pads AND HELMETS to protect them. Now if they lose that protection they are supposed to just "take" the hit? I'm sure if you were a real player, and somehow lost your shoulder pads, you wouldn't be yelling at a 250lb linebacker to hit you.

Fans will ***** at anything just to *****.

looks like someone's sarcasm detector needs some reparing... :laugh2:

 

[CowboyMike]

When was the last time someone got injured when their helmet came off? Other than Gurode, who's helmet was ripped off after the play intentionally, I'm going to say never.

Once a player's helmet is off, I think the others on the field are pretty aware of the fact and play accordingly.

Sorry, but this is why they get paid millions. Football hurts. It takes a toll on their bodies. That's the sacrifice they give for the game and they're compensated for it accordingly. Are there problems as far as concussions go? Yes. And there are big problems concerning former players and how they're taken care of. Anyone that's ever met Earl Campbell nowadays can clearly see that. But there are precautions being taken, and losing a helmet has never really contributed to that.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So rather than address the real issue, which is helmet fitment standards as well as 4-point straps versus the NFL's "at least 1 on each side" rules, we're going to just throw it out altogether?

Quit making so much sense.

 

[superpunk]

They should do it like when there's a stoppage in the UFC, the refs stop the play, then get everyone re-lined up exactly where they were at the stoppage, blow the whistle and play resumes.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Witten is the man, no doubt, and I really loved that play.

But I won't lie and say I wasn't concerned at the viciousness of the hit, and the potential for injury after the helmet came off and he kept running.

 

[Idgit]

I gotta say, I'm surprised this thread turned out to be pretty much pro-playing on without a helmet. This is a pretty clear case of looking after player safety when they are inadvertently put in a *very* dangerous circumstance. It's a pretty cut-and-dry rule, and a good one.

 

[Mike_45]

It wouldnt be so bad if players actually actually snapped all four snaps and kept the chin strap tight instead of going for comfort.

 

[5Stars]

I thought the rule said if "the helmet of the ball carrier comes off" then the play is stopped?

That make more sense than some of these posts that worry about Felix running towards the goal line and someone else rips off Flozell's helmet to stop the play.

 

[STAR GAZER]

With this rule change and the OT rule change, we will miss out on games like the ones highlighted in this video I made back in 07.

Just check it out and see if you still think these changes would be best for the game.

[youtube]VKQfNl_ZbAY[/youtube]​