BEREA, Ohio -- The National Football League announced Wednesday that players have been instructed to keep their heads up while making tackles and that those who lower their heads during tackle attempts will be penalized, fined and subject to ejection from competition.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey understands the theory and spirit of the rule, but knows that with the speed of the game, defenders will not always be able to fight against their instincts when breaking down to make a tackle.
“To my understanding, you can’t duck your head when you’re making a tackle, which is going to happen,” Kirksey said prior to Wednesday’s practice.
“It’s football. Especially when it’s a fast-paced game, things happen in a matter of time. It’s unfortunate that the penalty is going to be called, but they’re just trying to make sure that people’s health is first and foremost and that we just eliminate some of the head injuries, concussions and things like that.”
Each year, the NFL sends teams video examples of new rules in place and what plays would be considered illegal in the coming season.
Kirksey confirmed to reporters that the NFL sent this year’s tape to the Browns and that he was used an example of what not to do this season for having lowered his head to make a tackle.
“We all know football,” Kirksey said. “We all know the proper ways of tackling, and their sending out a message or a video to show us, ‘Okay, this is the way we want it,’ and ‘this is the way we don’t want it,’ and obviously, just in this case, they didn’t call it in a game last year, but now, they’re saying that this is improper, so I think they give us a heads up on what they really want.
“At the time, I honestly don’t think it was a problem, but when they’re really harping on the call, obviously, they’re going to really look into, ‘Okay, was that leading with his helmet or not?’ At the time, I didn’t think it was like a dirty hit or anything like that.”
While cognizant of the league rules, Kirksey says that on game day, players take the field of the mindset of playing fast and physical, and does not see that changing anytime soon.
“They’re looking out for our well-being, but at the same time, as a defensive player, in the back of your head, you’re like, ‘Well, if I make this tackle, [do] I have a possibility of getting kicked out of the game?’” Kirksey said.
“I think it’ll slow some players down, but at the same time, you’ve just kind of got to find a way to get through it. Especially being a linebacker when you have a lot of collisions and things like that, that happen so fast you just hope you don’t get a call that can obviously hurt the team.”
The NFL has made it a point to improve player safety in recent years, and took even more steps this offseason after Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a serious back injury in a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals last December that required spinal stabilization surgery and a two-plus month hospital/rehabilitation facility stay to recover.
“As far as playing the game, you’ve got to still play at a high level,” Kirksey said. “You’ve got to keep going. You never want to see somebody go through that, but as far as for us, it’s kind of one of those freak accidents, and you really can’t work around that. It’s one of those things that just happen.”
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