The NFL has banned the “hip-drop” tackle, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The league’s competition committee had proposed a rule to penalize the tackle, which league executive Jeff Miller said increases risk of injury by 25 times the rate of a standard tackle. The committee views those tackles as being similar to horse collar tackles that were banned before the 2005 season.
The NFLPA was against the rule change, with executive director Lloyd Howell and players on the executive committee saying before the Super Bowl that they don’t believe it can be fairly enforced.
The hip-drop tackle is defined as any time a defender grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms, and then swivels or drops his hips or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg below the knees.
One report said to expect the league to lean more on fines than in-game penalties as it works to eliminate the play.
This is a developing story.
Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
