The NFL’s competition committee, which seems to always be making amendments to its rules in recent times, is considering a rule change that would completely eliminate the chop block. Adam Schefter was the first to report the news via Twitter.
Big ramifications: NFL’s competition committee considering a rule that would eliminate the chop block for 2016 season, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2016
Typically the NFL’s rule changes were largely focused on helmet-to-helmet hits, but low blocks have also become a concern in recent times. This would be yet another instance reflecting that.
Last season, the league proposed a rule that further restricted chop blocks, which made it illegal for a running back to chop a defensive player engaged above the waist outside of the tackle box.
While the rule change was widely accepted, many wanted the block eliminated all together, and it now appears that is exactly what will happen.
ProFootballTalk‘s Michael David Smith provided some insight into the proposed rule change:
Chop blocks are still legal in certain situations in line play, and the NFL could eliminate those situations. Some defensive players have argued that the league needs to go further and ban all low blocks. The Competition Committee will need to come up with the precise wording of a new rule designed to give greater protection to defensive players’ knees, and then the league’s owners will vote on the proposal. Given the league’s emphasis on player safety, it’s likely that any proposal will be approved by the owners.
Former New York Giants defensive lineman was pretty happy with the news:
@AdamSchefter finally. We've seen Dlinemen can be just as important as Quarterbacks. Gotta protect their knees too!!!!
— OSI (@OsiUmenyiora) February 29, 2016
NFL player safety is and will continue to be a huge point of discussion during the offseason for many years to come, as research becomes more advanced, and implemented changes bring new results. Five rule proposals were approved including the aforementioned chop block around this time last year.
Those changes included banning defensive players from pushing teammates at the line of scrimmage when the offense was punting, preventing offensive players from peel back blocks, protecting defenseless receivers on interceptions, running backs chopping a defensive player outside the tackle box, and allowing injury spotters to stop the game for brain injuries.
