NFL bans the 'hip-drop' tackle over objection from NFLPA

The National Football League (NFL) recently made the controversial decision to ban the 'hip-drop' tackle, a move that has sparked heated debate and objections from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). The 'hip-drop' tackle, which involves a player dropping his hips and driving his shoulder into an opponent's knees, has been deemed dangerous and potentially harmful to players' safety.

While some argue that the ban is necessary to protect players from serious injuries, others believe that it infringes on the physicality and intensity of the game. The NFLPA has expressed concerns about the impact of this ban on players' ability to effectively tackle opponents and play at their highest level.

Voting at the annual league meeting in Orlando, owners passed a proposal outlawing whenever a defender grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the opponent with both arms and "unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee." Such plays now will result in a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down when flagged.

NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said the league found 230 instances last season of the now-banned tackle, up 65% from the previous year.

The hip-drop tackling ban proposal was written to address only a subset of the rugby tackling style that has spread around the NFL in recent years, competition committee chairman Rich McKay said last week.

The league played a video during a news conference to show six specific plays in which the hip-drop tackle was used in games, with Bengals tight end Drew Sample, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill all being on the receiving end of the now-illegal hit.

NFL teams will continue to receive videos showing illegal hits and ways to make tackles within the rules.

Union pushback is twofold, a league source with knowledge of their sentiment explained. One concern: League rules continue to change with minimal player input, and without meaningful player voting power, a system the union believes is unfair to the players whom it impacts.

The hip-drop tackle is defined as any time a defender grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms, and then swivels or drops his hips or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg below the knees.

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Sarah H

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