Report: NFL not 'backing down' on player safety rules amid roughing the passer controversies

According to a report on Wednesday, the NFL has no plans to loosen up their rules regarding roughing the passer despite the pressure. Last week’s slate of football games saw two game-changing plays flagged for roughing the passer penalties, despite the actual contact appearing to be minimal.

Despite pressure from fans, former players and current players alike — the NFL reportedly will not change their rules in an effort to protect the health and safety of their players.

NFL not changing roughing the passer penalty

“There is no backing down on enforcing rules that are in place to protect the health and safety of players, including quarterbacks, who by rule are considered defenseless players when they are in a passing posture,” said an NFL source via ESPN‘s Adam Schefter.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady profited from the new NFL focus on protecting quarterbacks against the Atlanta Falcons when Brady was wrapped up and brought to the ground on a sack by Grady Jarrett. Jarrett was penalized on the play, prompting immediate outrage across the NFL as players claimed the tackle was as safe as a tackle could be in the NFL. The play was penalized because the officials ruled that Jarrett threw Brady into the ground as he took him down.

Adding to the controversy was a similar call made on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive tackle Chris Jones brought down Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on a sack-fumble where the ball was in Jones’ hands before either player went to the ground. The officials ruled it was a roughing the passer penalty on the play because Jones landed on top of Carr, “driving” him into the ground.

Fans and players from around the league, including Troy Aikman during the Monday night game, protested that the NFL needed to immediately review their rules because the spirit of the rule was not being upheld correctly. Although both plays could be — and were — interpreted as penalties for dangerous tackles, critics of the NFL point to the plays as good examples of defense instead of penalty-worthy plays.