I truly understand the rule against helmet to helmet contact in the open field. But what about along the line? Doesn't the o-line and d-line engage in helmet to helmet contact on virtually every play? I know that when I played center, every play began with a helmet crash and then hand play to try to direct the d-lineman in the direction that the play required. A flag could be thrown on every offensive play.
When a linebacker or d-back hits an offensive player, who may be ducking or juking the defender, and the hit is delivered toward the body and ends up in the in the helmet region, what is the difference?
A deliberate head first attack on a receiver or running back (spearing has been around for ages, defined as leading with the helmet) should be cause for penalty and ejection, but there are collisions incidental to the play that are being so closely called that perhaps flag football should become the norm in college football.
Not every tackle can be choreographed to an imaginary perfection. Intent is obvious. Incident is observable.
When a linebacker or d-back hits an offensive player, who may be ducking or juking the defender, and the hit is delivered toward the body and ends up in the in the helmet region, what is the difference?
A deliberate head first attack on a receiver or running back (spearing has been around for ages, defined as leading with the helmet) should be cause for penalty and ejection, but there are collisions incidental to the play that are being so closely called that perhaps flag football should become the norm in college football.
Not every tackle can be choreographed to an imaginary perfection. Intent is obvious. Incident is observable.
