NFL Free Agency/Off-Season

[Donoghus]

Reports Nnamdi that Asomugha & Charles Woodson could be close to signing with SF.

Niners are really going all in right now.  Plus, they have a slew of draft picks this year.

Wow that defense is just...wow

I don't know how much Woodson has left in the tank & Asomugha was essentially a bust in Philly.  Losing Goldson will hurt that secondary.

Still, San Francisco is looking like the team to beat in the NFC again even if they don't get those two.

[kozlodoev]

Pats just added Donald Jones.

[Rondo2287]

Pats just added Donald Jones.

Echo?

 

[Rondo2287]

Schefter‏@AdamSchefter
Steelers RFA WR Emmanuel Sanders visiting Patriots today. Pats could sign him to offer sheet that cap-strapped Steelers struggle to match.

now thats something

[angryguy77]

None of this will matter if these boneheads get this rule through:

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers.

Sure to be the most controversial of the six proposed changes is the runner-contact rule. It reads:

“It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside of the tackle box. Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.”

Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the competition committee, elaborated.

“This is a pure and simple player-safety rule proposal, first and foremost,” he said. “We really think the time has come that we need to address the situation in space when a runner or a tackler has a choice as to how they are going to approach the opponent. We are going to say that you can’t make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We are trying to protect the runner or the tackler from himself in that instance.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was on the call, and he explained that a ball carrier would still be permitted to lower his shoulder and head, to protect the football. But not the head just before contact with a tackler, outside the box.

“We’re saying that in space, one-on-one, head up,” Fisher said.

I don't think it will be adopted, but if it is, it's going to make the game less enjoyable to watch.

[wdleehi]

None of this will matter if these boneheads get this rule through:

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers.

Sure to be the most controversial of the six proposed changes is the runner-contact rule. It reads:

“It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside of the tackle box. Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.”

Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the competition committee, elaborated.

“This is a pure and simple player-safety rule proposal, first and foremost,” he said. “We really think the time has come that we need to address the situation in space when a runner or a tackler has a choice as to how they are going to approach the opponent. We are going to say that you can’t make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We are trying to protect the runner or the tackler from himself in that instance.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was on the call, and he explained that a ball carrier would still be permitted to lower his shoulder and head, to protect the football. But not the head just before contact with a tackler, outside the box.

“We’re saying that in space, one-on-one, head up,” Fisher said.

I don't think it will be adopted, but if it is, it's going to make the game less enjoyable to watch.

It will pass.


And it will not effect the enjoyment of the game.  It will keep runners from using their heads as weapons to get extra yards. 


As long as they keep their heads up shoulders down, no foul. 

[Donoghus]

None of this will matter if these boneheads get this rule through:

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers.

Sure to be the most controversial of the six proposed changes is the runner-contact rule. It reads:

“It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside of the tackle box. Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.”

Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the competition committee, elaborated.

“This is a pure and simple player-safety rule proposal, first and foremost,” he said. “We really think the time has come that we need to address the situation in space when a runner or a tackler has a choice as to how they are going to approach the opponent. We are going to say that you can’t make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We are trying to protect the runner or the tackler from himself in that instance.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was on the call, and he explained that a ball carrier would still be permitted to lower his shoulder and head, to protect the football. But not the head just before contact with a tackler, outside the box.

“We’re saying that in space, one-on-one, head up,” Fisher said.

I don't think it will be adopted, but if it is, it's going to make the game less enjoyable to watch.

It will pass.


And it will not effect the enjoyment of the game.  It will keep runners from using their heads as weapons to get extra yards. 


As long as they keep their heads up shoulders down, no foul.

I understand the rationale behind the rule and I'm pretty cool with it.

I can definitely see the enforcement of it being tricky, though.  The game is so fast, there's almost certain to be calls where, in reality, the player lowered his shoulder but might look like the crown of his helmet was used.  Much like the current rule on D with leading with your head.

[Fafnir]

It'll be no different than current helmet to helmet rules, just another reason that officials will call that'll drive me nuts when I disagree on "incidental". Maybe an extra call every few games.

Still if the rationale is safety there is no reason offensive players should be exempted so it makes sense.

[angryguy77]

None of this will matter if these boneheads get this rule through:

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers.

Sure to be the most controversial of the six proposed changes is the runner-contact rule. It reads:

“It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside of the tackle box. Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.”

Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the competition committee, elaborated.

“This is a pure and simple player-safety rule proposal, first and foremost,” he said. “We really think the time has come that we need to address the situation in space when a runner or a tackler has a choice as to how they are going to approach the opponent. We are going to say that you can’t make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We are trying to protect the runner or the tackler from himself in that instance.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was on the call, and he explained that a ball carrier would still be permitted to lower his shoulder and head, to protect the football. But not the head just before contact with a tackler, outside the box.

“We’re saying that in space, one-on-one, head up,” Fisher said.

I don't think it will be adopted, but if it is, it's going to make the game less enjoyable to watch.

It will pass.


And it will not effect the enjoyment of the game.  It will keep runners from using their heads as weapons to get extra yards. 


As long as they keep their heads up shoulders down, no foul.

Not being able to put your head down is going to make it much tougher on runners to gain yards after contact. It's also going to cause more flags to be thrown.

They are taking contact out of a game that is based around contact.

The rules they've been coming up with are making it almost impossible to play the game.

[Cman]

Per Schefter, Pats Sign WR donald Jones from the bills


3yr deal

He's cheap depth, will provide competition at WR.

[Cman]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

[nickagneta]

None of this will matter if these boneheads get this rule through:

A rule proposed by the NFL’s competition committee would make it a foul for a ball carrier to smash into a defender with the crown of his helmet in open space.

It would be the first rule in American football history limiting a runner’s contact with a defender, outside of egregious acts such as punching a tackler, or grabbing his facemask while stiff-arming.

Owners vote next Wednesday at the league’s annual meeting in Phoenix on whether to approve this and five other proposed new rules, announced Thursday by the competition committee on a conference call with NFL writers.

Sure to be the most controversial of the six proposed changes is the runner-contact rule. It reads:

“It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside of the tackle box. Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.”

Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and chairman of the competition committee, elaborated.

“This is a pure and simple player-safety rule proposal, first and foremost,” he said. “We really think the time has come that we need to address the situation in space when a runner or a tackler has a choice as to how they are going to approach the opponent. We are going to say that you can’t make that choice ducking your head and delivering a blow, a forcible blow, with the top crown of your helmet. We are trying to protect the runner or the tackler from himself in that instance.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was on the call, and he explained that a ball carrier would still be permitted to lower his shoulder and head, to protect the football. But not the head just before contact with a tackler, outside the box.

“We’re saying that in space, one-on-one, head up,” Fisher said.

I don't think it will be adopted, but if it is, it's going to make the game less enjoyable to watch.

It will pass.


And it will not effect the enjoyment of the game.  It will keep runners from using their heads as weapons to get extra yards. 


As long as they keep their heads up shoulders down, no foul.

I understand the rationale behind the rule and I'm pretty cool with it.

I can definitely see the enforcement of it being tricky, though.  The game is so fast, there's almost certain to be calls where, in reality, the player lowered his shoulder but might look like the crown of his helmet was used.  Much like the current rule on D with leading with your head.

I have no prob with this new rule if approved. So often I have seen running backs, especially those that are thicker and lower to the ground, get outside the box and lower that head to use as a weapon when the players attempting to tackle him can't do the same thing.

I am guessing a lot of injuries to defensive players are caused by this but its not talked about because people love watching RBs do this and could care less about LBs and DBs getting injured. LBs and DBs don't effect a fans fantasy team. WRs, TEs, RBs, and QBs that get injured by helmets used as weapons get a lot of press and really bugs the heck out of fans that want to watch them.

[jgod213]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

[Donoghus]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

Not a big fan of Lloyd.  If the Pats can get an upgrade at the position and let him walk, I'm all for it.

[nickagneta]

Looks like Pats are going to try to restructure Lloyd's contract to keep him. I think this would be fantastic for the Pats.

Lloyd didn't live up to the hype, but he's better than average*, and I like him on the team.

*just a few stats to throw out there to put things in perspective, Lloyd had more yards and more 1st downs than TY Hilton, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald.  Now, I'm not saying Lloyd is as good as those guys, but he's not quite the "toss him on the trash heap" player that some Pats fans want to make him out to be.

I'm ok with Lloyd sticking around.  He and Brady really need to get together this offseason and get on the same page, tho.  I've never seen Tom so visibly frusterated with a wide reciever - but i think it's because Tom knows he's capable of being a legitimate weapon.

Not a big fan of Lloyd.  If the Pats can get an upgrade at the position and let him walk, I'm all for it.

Never saw a player catch a ball and fall down so as not to get hit so much in my whole life as I saw from Lloyd last year. I find it cowardly, if that's the right word.

Football is a physical game. Fight for that extra yard. Take a hit and get those few extra yards. You never know when you might come out of such things still standing with a whole lot of free room to run after.