Cowboys’ Jerry Jones ‘Absolutely’ Expects NFL to Change Rule to Ban Hip-Drop Tackles
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMarch 25, 2024
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters Sunday that he “absolutely” expects a version of the hip-drop tackle to officially be outlawed from the game at the NFL league meetings this week.
“You can coach that one,” he said. “In my mind, that’s one of the easier deals. It reminds me a little of (the) horse collar. That’s needed. That’s very needed. It’s very obvious that it’s injurious.”
“It’s just too sudden, like [the offensive player has] been shot between the eyes when [the defender catches] them just right,” he continued. “I know of no other way to tackle somebody that stops them right where they are in the open field. Well, that’s got to rupture something.”
While the NFLPA and a number of defensive players have spoken out against the change, its widely expected that the needed 24 of 32 league owners will vote against the tackle in the name of player safety.
NFLPA @NFLPAOur statement on the swivel hip-drop tackle. pic.twitter.com/8mzhjtPgKu
Cam Jordan @camjordan94šļø š® https://t.co/zzhqW1qWZN
Kenny Moore II @KennyKennyMoe3š® https://t.co/IfgyVuupBu
Specifically, the form of the hip-drop tackle where “a player literally grabs and then unweighs himself and lifts himself in the air and comes down on the knee or ankle” will now be accompanied by a 15-yard penalty and automatic first down for the offense if banned this week, according to Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay, who chairs the NFL’s the competition committee.
