The NFL will make "no rule changes” regarding roughing-the-passer penalties and clarified that the "'body-weight provision' is being enforced differently this season than it has since it was first introduced" in '95, according to Chris Adamski of TRIBLIVE.com. The league "made the body-weight provision an officiating point of emphasis this spring." The NFL in a statement said video feedback will “be provided throughout the season to coaches, players and officials illustrating clear examples of permissible and impermissible contact" on the QB (TRIBLIVE.com, 9/27). In DC, Mark Maske notes the league on Thursday released a video narrated by NFL Senior VP/Officiating Al Riveron that "shows hits deemed legal and illegal." But the video "does not show" the two hits by Packers LB Clay Matthews on Vikings QB Kirk Cousins and Redskins QB Alex Smith that "resulted in controversial penalties over the past two weeks." Sources said that there is "strong sentiment on the competition committee that the rule is not being applied properly" and that the committee "wants to see the rule applied differently and plans to use the officiating videos to attempt to modify the on-field enforcement of the rule" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/28). In Houston, John McClain writes fans should not "blame the officials" as they are "doing what they think they should be done since getting their marching orders in the offseason." Now they "may have to adjust based on the video the competition committee released" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/28).
ACTING LESSONS: In Pittsburgh, Ray Fittipaldo writes the "dead giveaway that something might be amiss with the rule" is how many calls Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has "received this season." In addition to the "two calls in the Buccaneers game" on Monday, Browns DE Myles Garrett was "called for roughing Roethlisberger" in Week 1. Roethlisberger getting calls in previous years was a "rare occurrence" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/28). Roethlisberger said that he "did his part to 'sell'" a roughing-the-passer penalty against the Bucs. Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale said that he "hopes more quarterbacks don’t begin flopping to get favorable calls from officiating crews." Martindale: “Let’s not turn this into the NBA flop fest because now the quarterbacks are making a mockery of it to the officials” (BALTIMORE SUN, 9/28).
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? In Boston, Christopher Gasper writes the NFL has "gone too far" in preserving QBs. There are "endangered species with less protection." It is a "perversion of the integrity and spirit of the sport" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28). NBC Sports Bay Area's Greg Papa said fans "spend most of our time criticizing the league because they are not aware of protecting the players so they are trying to do that with a marquee position that drives ratings." Papa: "When Aaron Rodgers misses three quarters of a year, people don't want to watch the Green Bay Packers" ("The Happy Hour," NBC Sports Bay Area, 9/27). The AP's Arnie Stapleton wrote under the header, "Focus On Roughing The Passer Giving NFL A Black Eye" (9/26).
