The NFL’s new roughing the passer penalty rules have become the biggest talking point in the league, especially after a high-profile penalty called on Clay Matthews so evidently changed the outcome of a game in Week 2. Many fans, media members, and even former officials have voiced their concerns about the new penalties. Now the league may have its most prominent opponent to the penalty rules: Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers said on Wednesday that he thinks the new penalties are taking the game in the wrong direction. He said Matthews’ hit was “not a penalty.”
“I’ve watched the game and loved the game for a long time. And some of the rules I think help, and some of the rules maybe are going the wrong direction. I know that they’re trying to think about the progress of the game and safety and stuff, but it’s still a collision sport, and those to me are not penalties.”
Aaron Rodgers says some of the rules to protect QBs help, and some "maybe are going the wrong direction." pic.twitter.com/RaUXRYdMBs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 20, 2018
Many have speculated that the new rules were implemented in response to Rodgers suffering a broken collarbone on a hit from Anthony Barr last year. Considering that he is the type of person the league wants to protect with the new rules, it means even more when he comes out in opposition of the rule.
The league needs to strongly take into consideration all of the negative feedback surrounding the rule. They’ve effectively outlawed tackling the quarterback, which is a bad precedent to set and frustrating to see enforced. They can’t roll this rule back soon enough, even if they’re intent on pressing forward with it.
