Column: The No Fun League and its new rules

The NFL is getting closer and closer to being called the No Fun League for good.

A new proposal is in place for the owners to vote on that prohibits a running back from leading with the crown of his helmet outside the tackle box.

All-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith and Chicago Bears halfback Matt Forte have already spoken out against this change.

Now it’s my turn.

I realize this is an effort to make the game safer, but it’s another failed concept.

Running backs, who are usually smaller than the defenders that are trying to tackle them, almost need to duck their head and lead with the crown of their helmet when they’re bracing for a hit. It’s instinctive for them.

In addition, this rule would be difficult to adjust to for most ball carriers.

Take someone like Marshawn Lynch, one of the bigger and more powerful backs in the NFL.

He makes a living off barreling over defenders, because he doesn’t have the speed of a Forte or Chris Johnson.

Now you’re going to tell him that when he gets the ball on a pitch play, and he’s being trapped in the backfield, that he can’t try and break the tackle the best way he knows how?

The NFL insists that this rule would not kick in as commonly as we would think.
Nevertheless, there are backs who make a living off breaking tackles, and most runs involve the lowering of the helmet.

But the bigger issue is that Roger Goodell and a bunch of other people who never played a down of football are trying to convince everyone that a violent sport can be made non-violent and keep the same level of popularity.

It simply cannot be done.

The best remedy for this issue is to just make people more aware that football is a violent game.

There are measures the NFL can go to in order to protect players, but not by rule changes that clearly show a bias towards the league’s glamour players.

All the new quarterback rules were only put in place because Bernard Pollard landed on Tom Brady’s leg wrong a few seasons ago.

The defenseless receiver rules began taking flight after DeSean Jackson took a shot in the middle of the field from Dunta Robinson a couple years ago.

Because there have been recent cases of defensive players saying they’re being unfairly treated with these rules, the new running back proposal is up for a vote.

There’s a reason Goodell has a 61 percent disapproval rating among NFL players.

But if Goodell’s main concern is player safety, there are other options than changing the rules and making current NFL players adapt to these absurd policies.

Linebacker James Harrison, Goodell’s biggest critic, said back in October that he puts extra padding in his helmet after suffering “double-digit” concussions.

He claims he hasn’t had any blackouts since adding the extra pound of padding and feels that every player in the NFL should wear them.

Harrison has also been fined several times and has been suspended for what the NFL deems are illegal hits.

I’m with Harrison completely.

He found something that he claims is effective, but the NFL has yet to look into making the extra padding mandatory.

I also trust NFL players more than NFL executives in terms of how to keep players safe, because they’re the ones on the field taking the hits and making the plays.

It’s easy to look down from a box and say that all illegal hits are avoidable, but the truth, as told by NFL players, is that these hits, while unfortunate, are inevitable.

So moving forward, I hope this new rule is not put in place and the owners stand against Goodell instead of letting him be their figurehead and acting as his puppets.

It’s time to face facts and admit that football is dangerous, but there are better ways to make the game safer while keeping the revenue coming in.

These new rule changes are not the answer.