2010 NFL Rule Changes - When A Runner Loses His Helmet

by JasonB on Aug 10, 2010 3:00 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

This week we'll be detailing the rule changes for the 2010 NFL season. The rest of the series can be found here.

Starting this year, a play will be blown dead as soon as the runner's helmet comes off during the play. This only applies to player with the ball. As soon as the helmet comes off, the play is dead and the ball is spotted where the helmet came off. It will be treated as if the player was down by contact.

For example, this play by Jason Witten against the Eagles would have been blown dead at the 35 yard line.

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if it’s facemasking & there’s an open field in front of the dude, i say let him run, but if it gets blasted off by a hit then if he’s not down, he’s probably still in the air

Kolb - a heavy medieval war club with a spiked or flanged metal head, used to crush armor - Wikipedia of course
I've been waiting my whole life for an Eagles Championship
RIP JJ

by sports00fan00 on Aug 10, 2010 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

even their announcers are obnoxious

VOID!!!

by dt3 on Aug 10, 2010 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

lol i can just see....

a ball carrier runnig past lb , he reaches out with no other recoarse thab try to rip his helmet off , at that point the ref blows the play dead even tho runner has clear field ahead of him…..not so sure of this rule.

woman !, dont try to understand em, dont try to make them understand you, for they are a breed apart ! lol

by demonbane on Aug 10, 2010 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

So he doesn’t have enough time to try to make a tackle but he has enough time to take a guys helmet off without using the facemask? I don’t see that being a huge problem. If nothing else I think this rule will just start to make guys wear their helmets a little tighter.

by BarbarosaNo on Aug 10, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

no... what i was saying was....

in not so many words, that a lb reaches out and can only grab thehelmets face mask and pull it off, yess there would be a penalty as well but it would stop the play and who knows how far the runner might have gone!

woman !, dont try to understand em, dont try to make them understand you, for they are a breed apart ! lol

by demonbane on Aug 10, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

That seems kinda far fetched…

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by JasonB on Aug 10, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

1st there was a ....

helmet to helmet blow, then the helmet was pulled off ….so i was the runner id have ran on too lol

woman !, dont try to understand em, dont try to make them understand you, for they are a breed apart ! lol

by demonbane on Aug 10, 2010 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

can this be abused?

If you are getting gashed on Defense, I can prop my helmet so it comes off easy, or just wear a big helmet, as to have the ball blown dead once my helmet comes off. This can impact the game. I hope the monitor it somehow.

In Kolb we trust

by yophillybro on Aug 10, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Only applies to the ballcarrier, so there’s no way anyone can abuse it. If a defender’s helmet comes off, nothing happens.

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by JasonB on Aug 10, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't notice that part on you post.

I thought I read it differently, now I re-read it and its as clear as day. I must be losing my mind. I thought it made a provision for the ball carrier, implying other players would be considered. But now I re-read it, it clearly says it applies to the ball carrier. Thanks.

I am going crazy man!!!

In Kolb we trust

by yophillybro on Aug 10, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder

How they would have called that Jacksonville game where jones-drew’s helmet didn’t get knocked off but it was spun around so he ran blind for about 4 more yards

by Johnny G on Aug 10, 2010 3:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

seems there are only a handful of plays this would affect each year

the problem with new rules, is there are alot of grey areas that will probably leave up for the refs to make a judgment call on.

by fuji1232 on Aug 10, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Witten is one tough SOB

I love his grit and determination and amazing hands for a big TE. The Cowboys will need him to continue to tear it up especially now that John Phillips tore his ACL in the Hall of Fame Game and is out for the season. Either that or Martellus Bennett is gonna have to step up to his “potential”.

For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!

by wheatie_87 on Aug 10, 2010 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

yea and i loved his 2 touchdowns last season

He’s good, but he is also the most overrated TE in football.

"Can I have my Kolb salad with extra.... bacon?"

Get it? cuz Kevin Kolb hunts pigs? and bacon comes from those?

by David_K on Aug 10, 2010 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Dallas Clark pushes Witten for that illustrious spot...

But Clark has a more consistent QB, as in, he has far more playoff wins…

My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
Fire KP! He forgot to turn off injuries in dynasty mode. - by Norsktroll on BlazersEdge

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 10, 2010 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, how can Jason Witten be overrated? He is a bona-fide stud. Top three in this league, no question. His last 6 years, 488 catches, 5618 yards, and 27 TD. Only Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have comparable numbers within that span. Not to mention he is a very good blocker. Celek should have made the pro-bowl over him last year but Witten is still better until Celek does it year in and year out.

by Route36 on Aug 11, 2010 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions

He's not Celek

Who gets jipped from Pro-Bowl rosters for other over hyped TE’s in the conference. cough Witten cough

For the Love of the Game

Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!

"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).

MonSTARZ forever!

by ForTheLove on Aug 10, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Witten made it on reputation last year, but overall I wouldn’t say the guy is overrated.

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by JasonB on Aug 10, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Wheatie

and I are buddies. It was more me just trying to get a rise out of him than anything :). I think Witten is very good. I’m just an Eagle homer and he knows it :).

For the Love of the Game

Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!

"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).

MonSTARZ forever!

by ForTheLove on Aug 11, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

You're telling me that players from your precious Eagles

have never made it to the Pro Bowl based solely on reputation? I’m too lazy to look up the Pro Bowl rosters from past years but I do know that it happens every year that someone gets voted into the Pro Bowl by fans and they havent had a very good season. I do not like the idea of letting the fans vote decide the rosters. If there was a way to only allow one vote per fan, that would be ideal. But alas, it is not and the Pro Bowl is a joke now. I dont even watch it anymore. The same happens in every sport that has some kind of an all-star game.

And this conversation wasn’t even about the Pro Bowl hahaha but y’all are just bitter.

For The Love!!
Rise and shout the Cougars are out!!

by wheatie_87 on Aug 11, 2010 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Celek > Witten

For the Love of the Game

Stockton to Malone- The perfect combination!!

"I think he just said, 'Oh my Gosh,' or whatever they say in Provo."- ESPN talking about QB. Max Hall after BYU defeated third ranked Oklahoma (2009).

MonSTARZ forever!

by ForTheLove on Aug 11, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Good change

With all the information about concussions coming out, this is necessary. Sure, it may only affect a few plays a year, but it is the safe rule. Nice job by the NFL.

The Mikan Drill

by JoshuaR on Aug 10, 2010 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

You know you've hit the big time when

you get cited by local sports talk radio in Eugene, Oregon.

Caller: I read in the paper this morning about this new rule change that if a player’s helmet comes off, they’ll blow the play dead right there. Now I understand about wanting to protect the players and all, but can’t you just see a scenario where someone comes through the line with open field ahead of him and so some defender just takes his helmet off and the refs have to blow the play dead?

Host: I didn’t hear about this, it sounds interesting. I’m going to have to do some research. Here you go, this courtesy of Bleeding Green Nation, which is obviously a Philadelphia Eagles fan site: apparently it’s only when the ballcarrier’s helmet comes off, that’s when you blow the play dead.

by Eric T. on Aug 11, 2010 9:04 PM EDT reply actions