What, specifically, in the lineup or execution of the play should be outlawed?
I think it is more important to ban the so-called hip drop (coined by Pete Carroll) tackle that ruined Sam Bradford's career among others and nearly ruined Gino Smith recently.
I cringe every time I see it - it's cheap, dirty, and can only be executed deliberately - and is still legal. Along with the Rodney Harrison-style head shot it should be met with a game-check fine and automatic suspension for the balance of the game and the game following every time it is seen. No more "no injury, no foul" mentality. Keep the star skill players on the field, where they can win games and boost ticket and gear sales. Send the cheap shot artists to the lockerroom and break their piggybanks.
Grab somebody waist-high, bury your shoulder in their chest and slam them to the ground, Dick Butkus or Aaron Donald style?
Oof!. Ball carrier gets up slowly, doesn't want that to happen again.
Pulling guardn hits linebacker in the chest with forearms and takes himoff his feet, dumps him hard on his shoulder blades?
Oof!Running back stiff-arms defensive back, timing the blow to upend and dump the defender?
Oof! That's football.
It's a rough game, a collision game, a controlled mayhem and violence game. For those of us who like to play rough, it's a fun game to play. For lots of people it's a fun game to watch - but it's still a game, not Gladiatorial combat. Close, but with different intent. Guys get injured but that should be incidental, not the object. Cheap shots and dirty play ruin it - for this fan, anyway.
