Owners unanimously approve rule that bans hip-drop tackle

ORLANDO, FLA. >> The NFL is eliminating the hip-drop tackle.

NFL team owners on Monday unanimously approved a rule that bans players from using a swivel technique to tackle an opponent.

A violation will result in a 15-yard penalty and could ultimately result in fines for players.

NFL executive Jeff Miller said the hip-drop tackle was used 230 times last season and resulted in 15 players missing time with injuries.

The NFL Players Association has adamantly opposed the rule.

“It doesn't get used very often, but when it is used, it's incredibly injurious to the runner,” NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said. “The runner is purely defenseless. And I have heard defenders say it before, and I hear them, `Hey, you're putting me in a really tough spot. You're saying I can't hit here. What do I do?' And my response has always been, `Well, you can't do that, and that's just because the guy you're hitting is defenseless and has no way to protect himself.' So we've got to protect him and you've got to come up with other ways, and you know what, they do.”

NFL teams will continue to receive videos showing illegal hits and ways to make tackles within the rules.

A significant change to kickoffs wasn't presented for a vote but McKay said it's possible owners will consider it today instead of waiting for the league meetings in May.

All rules proposals require 24 out of 32 votes for approval.

Only two other proposals were approved by owners.

Teams will now receive a third challenge following one successful challenge. Previously, teams had to be successful on two challenges to receive a third.

McKay said there's urgency to vote on the complicated new kickoff rule this week because it could impact the way teams select players next month in the NFL draft.

The new rule proposal takes elements of the kickoff rules used in spring leagues such as the XFL.

For a standard kickoff, the ball would be kicked from the 35-yard line with the 10 kick coverage players lined up at the opposing 40, with five on each side of the field. The return team would have at least nine blockers lined up in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There would be up two returners allowed inside the 20.

Only the kicker and two returners would be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or was touched by a returner inside the 20.

Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and possession at the

30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the end zone also would result in a touchback at the

30.

If a ball hits a returner or the ground before the end zone and goes into the end zone, a touchback would be at the 20 or the play could be returned. Any kick received in the field of play would have be returned.

“This is our chance to keep special teams in the game,” McKay said. “Special teams has been a part of the game forever.”