I'm a Basketball Ref entering into my 9th season and I'm preparing myself for football in 2003. I've noticed that this year, there has been an emphasis on protecting the heads of the offensive players by penalizing defenders for leading with the helmet on tackles and striking their opponents in the head with a clothesline or forearm tackle. Defenders are also being penalized for grasping the facemask and depending on the severity, it will be a 5 or 15 yarder.
My questions to the forum are why are offensive ball carriers allowed to lead with their heads when going for the extra yard and why are ball carriers allowed to stiff arm the heads of the defenders and grasp the facemasks of their opponents without penalty. I sat in horror as I watched a cornerback being carried away in a stretcher last Friday night after he was given a stiff arm while in pursuit of a running back.
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"A wrong step by the leader is a warning to those following"
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