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Emmitt Smith Says New Safety Rule Means NFL Has Lost Its Mind « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
The NFL is changing its rules to prevent ball-carriers from initiating contact with the crown of the helmet.
Its an attempt to make the game safer but the leagues all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, thinks the NFL should have its own head examined.
If Im a running back and Im running into a linebacker, youre telling me I have to keep my head up so he can take my chin off? Smith said Thursday in an exclusive interview with Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan. Youve absolutely lost your mind.
The NFLs rules-making competition committee will propose this change to NFL owners at league meetings next week. At least 24 votes from 32 owners are required for passage.
As a running back, its almost impossible (to not lower your head), said the Dallas Cowboys legend. The first thing you do is get behind your shoulder pads. That means youre leaning forward and the first part of contact thats going to take place is your head, regardless.
I disagree with the rule altogether. It doesnt make any sense for that position. It sounds like its been made up by people who have never played the game of football.
It is the leagues view that the crown of the helmet is dangerous for both the defender (who isnt allowed to use the technique against ball-carriers) and the player with the ball. The competition committee is clearly seeking extra protection for defenders.
Thats part of the game, Smith said of the violent part of the game I dont know how youre going to be able to enforce that rule without really jeopardizing the integrity of the game itself."
Smith, who helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles and in his 15 NFL seasons amassed a record 18,355 rushing yards, believes the leagues effort makes the refs job, thats already hard, even tougher. Theres no way in the world a running back is not going to be able to avoid contact without leading with his head first. If this is truly what the NFL is trying to get after and theyre calling that defenseless, its so subjective that it doesnt make any sense. Thats one rule that absolutely does not make sense.
It's true though 



