Brady Rule Begs The Question: How Long Until The Qb Wears a Flag?

Earlier this week the owners of the NFL decided to implement a rule that would protect the poster boys of the NFL; disallowing any contact made by a defender below the knee of a quarterback.

As if the referee's job wasn't hard enough.

Since the adoption of the 'blow to the head' rule, referee's have been subjects of controversy. The rule itself is subjective and, at times, hard to judge. Now they have even more to think about. This will make their jobs that much more difficult, and thus, subjugating them to more controversy.

Something needs to be done about this apparent necessity to keep the money-makers on the field. 

There is no doubt that when Tom Brady went down, the attendance and TV ratings of Patriot games dropped initially. Until fans realized Matt Cassell was the real deal, they more than likely gave up hope in the 2008 season. 

Owner's immediately recognized this and sought to selfishly keep the faces of their respective franchises on the field with this new rule.

The fact that they called it the "Brady Rule" leaves me foaming at the mouth.

How can they not expect us to see right through this, and KNOW that this is all a ploy to keep the NFL poster boy on the field. Let's face it, with Tom Brady on the field, the NFL makes more money.

To go to this length and tell defenders they can't do their jobs is infuriating.

I can see the viewpoint of the owners because they have so much invested in their teams, but they knew that going in. Football is a contact sport, injuries are going to happen, owners and GMs should be prepared for the worst by having solid backup players. 

There are 53 players on the roster for a reason.

"Personal foul, 15 yard penalty, automatic first down." In my house, those words are usually accompanied by the remote hitting the TV.

This is absolutely ridiculous. How can a penatly that has no effect on the play be that much when plays that actually alter the outcome of a play, such as holding or illegal contact, be 5-10 yards.

The NFL Competition Committe needs to re-evaluate it's purpose. While player safety should be a high priority, it should not dominate the game. If Roger Goodell wants to make an impact on the NFL, he'll stop changing the game so drastically.

Was there that much wrong to begin with?

As a defender, you have to be wondering when it's going to stop. In 10 years are we just going to put flags on everyone and have no hitting?

Please people, if you prefer that, go watch baseball.

Personally, I watch football for the big hits, the struggle and the competition. I don't like seeing games altered by personal fouls that shouldn't be penalties in the first place. 

The players should decide the games, not the zebras. By implementing this rule, you take away the defender's ability to make plays freely.

Perfect scenario; take away all the off the field penalties given to defenders for big hits, and make personal foul penalties five yards and no automatic first down. Why reward the offense with a first down for a player hitting another player "too hard"?

We're not playing Candy Land here people, it's time to make football a man's game again.