League wants players to not focus on flags
The NFL doesn’t want players worrying about getting flagged or fined.
“You gotta play,” NFL football operations chief Troy Vincent said Tuesday at the league’s fall meetings in New York. “You hope that no player is thinking about a rule. We want them to play (with a) free mind.”
Kansas City rookie linebacker Breeland Speaks said he didn’t take down Tom Brady because he was concerned about a roughingthe-passer penalty in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 43-40 loss at New England on Sunday night. Brady eluded Speaks and ran 4 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots the lead.
“We watched that video and watched that play and Tom did what we’ve seen Tom do a thousand times,” Vincent said.
“He stepped up in the pocket and the defender didn’t make a play or didn’t create a sack, but you don’t want any player thinking about a penalty or being fined but you hope that he would make that adjustment on some of the things we’ve put in place and that’s not just for his opponent’s protection but for his as well.”
Overall, roughing-the-passer calls are down since the competition committee clarified to game officials the techniques used in such hits during a conference call last month. There were 34 roughing calls through the first three weeks and 19 in the three weeks since the call.
Vincent said the league didn’t advise officials to cut down on the calls, but emphasized to them making sure they see it clearly.
“If you don’t see the complete play, don’t call it,” Vincent said. “That was a directive from the competition committee.”
Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews was penalized three times in the first three weeks for roughing the passer, two of which appeared to be normal tackles. Matthews suggested the league has gone soft and argued that defensive players no longer know what constitutes a legal hit.
Miami defensive end William Hayes tore his right ACL trying to avoid landing on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
“Every time we emphasized a call, you see more calls in the preseason and first (few) weeks and then you see an adjustment, and a leveling out of calls,” said Atlanta CEO Rich McKay, the head of the league’s competition committee. “We’re not going to apologize for trying to protect players we think are in a vulnerable state.”
The league also said that concussions in preseason were down from 91 to 79, a 13 percent decline. Falcons sign Tavecchio: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Falcons signed former Raiders and Cal kicker Giorgio Tavecchio to sub for Matt Bryant on Monday night against the Giants. Bryant injured himself while making a 57-yard field goal against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Briefly: The Falcons are placing running back Devonta Freeman on injured reserve with a groin injury . ... Buffalo rookie quarterback Josh Allen has been diagnosed with a sprained right elbow on his throwing arm and is not expected to play at Indianapolis on Sunday, a source said . ... The Giants have signed former Denver receiver Bennie Fowler and placed former 49ers and Raiders linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong and wide receiver Cody Latimer on injured reserve . ... The Vikings re-signed defensive tackle David Parry, who played at Stanford . ... Washington released defensive lineman Ziggy Hood.