Earlier this week, Bears running back Matt Forte spoke out against a proposed rule change that would make it illegal for a ball carrier to lower his head as contact was initiated. Now, former Rams running back and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is piling on as well.
"This is a joke," Faulk said on the NFL Network. "If you’re a ball carrier and you’re trying to protect yourself, you’re going to duck. . . . I understand they want safety and I’m all for safety within the game. But it can’t just be some old guys in the room who didn’t carry a football making rules that are really going to affect how this game is being played. I just don’t understand."
"Take the helmets off," Faulk continued. "Let’s be honest, if you think the helmet is a weapon, take it off. Because I know the helmet on my head is not being used to head butt anyone, it’s being used to protect myself."
We won't spend more time rehashing what has been adequately stated by both Marshall Faulk and Matt Forte. The good news for fans and players that use the maneuver of lowering their heads to protect themselves is that the attention the proposed rule has garnered may be enough to sway owners towards voting the rule change down. We won't know the outcome, however, until the owners vote on it this week.
