Each effort to inject more clarity into the new helmet rule invites more potential ambiguity to its eventual application.
The latest new item of evidence regarding the broad Vontae Davis Jersey , possibly revolutionary rule comes from an apparent 11th-hour addition to the new language of the specific provision of the unnecessary roughness rule that relates to helmet use. Of course, that’s not where the rule prohibiting the lowering of the helmet to initiate contact appears; the unnecessary roughness rule generally bans ramming, spearing, or butting with any portion of the helmet, without a requirement that the helmet be lowered or that contact be initiated.
The new language comes in the form of a “note” that apparently was added at some point after the league (incorrectly) cited to Dom Cosentino of Deadspin.com the unnecessary roughness rule as the codification of the new helmet rule. Here’s the full text of the new note: “This provision does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent.”
So the new formulation of this specific aspect of the unnecessary roughness rule has removed the prior requirement that the butting T.J. Lang Jersey , spearing, or ramming be violent or unnecessary, but it has added a caveat that allows incidental helmet contact arising from “conventional” tackling or blocking. Which means that the unnecessary roughness rule for 2018 encompasses non-incidental and/or unconventional use of the helmet, without the lowering of the helmet or initiating contact with it — and without regard to whether the use of the helmet was violent or unnecessary.
This leaves the league’s game officials with a jumbled stew of phrases and clauses that they will try to apply in real time, with consistency Aaron Donald Jersey , accuracy, and reliability. Amid the unprecedented departure of nearly 25 percent of the league’s referees. With ever-enhancing attention and scrutiny, thanks to the spread of legalized gambling.
In more than three months since the new helmet rule first made its appearance, as an unexpected and unpublished proposal submitted to owners without anyone outside the league knowing about it, multiple coaches and league officials have tried to downplay its eventual breadth and impact. With each additional adjustment to the rulebook Matthew Stafford Jersey , however, it’s become clear that this is indeed a big deal.
And that it has the potential to become an even bigger mess.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson said earlier this week that he doesn’t need to see quarterback Carson Wentz in 11-on-11 work right now because he saw enough of it in the first days of training camp.
That didn’t change on Friday. Wentz was out for the 11-on-11 work, but did individual work because Pederson said that’s the kind of “controlled” environment they want him in right now. Pederson said there were “no setbacks” involving Wentz’s knee that led to the change in his workload and took issue with a question characterizing Wentz as moving backwards.
“What you see out here is considered backwards,” Pederson said in comments distributed by the team. “What we see in the building and what he does with our strength and conditioning staff is still progressive. It doesn’t have to be every snap, every football situation for him to go forward. You know what I mean? What you see out here is only one small sort of tidbit of what he’s doing collectively inside this building too.”
Pederson said he’s not worried about Wentz’s rustiness and cited Nick Foles coming off the bench late in the season as an example of a quarterback staying prepared even if he isn’t leading the offense in practice. For now John Sullivan Jersey , Foles is the one doing that and that means questions about Wentz’s timeline will remain a regular part of Pederson’s media availabilities.