Doug B
Footballguy
Going into the 2012 season, the NFL's increasing emphasis on player safety could potentially have effects on how the league deals with public statements such as these made by DeAngelo Hall last September:
Will that kind of talk draw fines in 2012?With Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo intending to play on Monday night despite having a busted rib, Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall intends to try to bust them some more.
"I want to get a chance to put my helmet on whatever's hurt," Hall said, per the Washington Post. "Romo's ribs — I'm going to be asking for some corner blitzes. If I know Felix Jones' shoulder's hurt, I'm not going to cut him. I'm definitely going to try to hit him up high, so that's just part of it.
"If you know something's wrong with an opponent, you're going to try to target in on that. We're going to try to definitely get as many hats on that team as possible."
Hall isn't saying anything that football players don't already think. Especially at the quarterback position, any opportunity to knock the starter out of the game should be embraced.
But when it comes to putting a helmet on Romo's ribs, Hall should be careful not to do it when Romo is in the act of throwing a pass, or when he has just thrown a pass. Under the rules, Romo is defenseless at those times, and he can't be hit in the helmet or with a helmet.
Last edited by a moderator: