The list of ridiculous calls just piles on as the weeks go by. One would think with all the backlash they received earlier, the NFL and the referees would mend their ways. Alas, that has not come to pass. Instead, the situation is only getting worse. This time around, it has marred a closely fought wildcard game between the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Baltimore Ravens.
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The horse collar tackle is a move that defenders used to use to bring down offensive players. It usually involved pulling the player down on themselves by grabbing their collar or their shoulder pad from behind. Such moves have resulted in players suffering major injuries, including ACL tears. Which led to the NFL banning the move in 2005, and the rule is often referred to as the “Ray Williams” rule ever since.
Sunday’s game between the Bengals and the Ravens was a close one, going right down to the wire. However, what most fans will remember from this game is not how hard the teams fought. thanks to the referees, fans will take this game as an example for the worst refereeing calls ever. It will also serve as a reminder that shocking rules still exist in the NFL, and that their claims of player safety are all just a ruse.
During the game, Ravens’ Justin Houston sacked Bengals QB Joe Burrow with a horse collar tackle. While fans expected the refs to penalize the Ravens with 15-yards, nothing happened. The refs refused to penalize the play, and fans were introduced to a grave exception to the Ray Williams rule. Apparently, the rule does not apply to QBs who are in a pocket.
In other words, a defensive player can sack a QB in a pocket using a horse collar tackle and pay no price for it. Luckily for Houston, Burrow wasn’t injured, else this would have been a very different situation for all.
NFL Community shocked after exception to horse collar tackle revealed
Fans were not particularly impressed after learning about this exception. Many were in disbelief that the NFL would keep such a rule in place, even with all the claims of prioritizing player safety.
It is certainly a disturbing thought that in an era where player safety, especially that of the QB, is a priority, defenders can still get away with making horrific tackles. Tackles that could potentially end a QB’s season, if not their career.
https://twitter.com/Bainsco/status/1614800279349891074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1614800279349891074%7Ctwgr%5E254c1b4f2f3678d4f64c3211a6f008d98b3b596b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnfl%2Fhorse-collar-tackle-joe-burrow-legal%2F
https://twitter.com/JustinLever3/status/1614799587138568192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1614799587138568192%7Ctwgr%5E254c1b4f2f3678d4f64c3211a6f008d98b3b596b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.totalprosports.com%2Fnfl%2Fhorse-collar-tackle-joe-burrow-legal%2F
Fortunately for the NFL, the Bengals won the game, and Burrow was not injured at all. The NFL is still reeling from the backlash meted out to them for proposing the “coin toss” resolution, and this will not be a welcome addition to it.
While the NFL has successfully revisited policies on the recent past, a look into this exception does not seem likely anytime soon. Will the NFL fulfill its promise on player safety, and remove this exception?
