Miami Dolphins defensive end William Hayes tore his ACL while trying to avoid putting his weight on Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr during Sunday’s game to avoid a roughing the passer call under the league’s new rules. That has prompted an avalanche of criticism of the rule, arguing that it’s making other players less safe at the expense of quarterback safety.
Carr, the quarterback involved, thought Hayes should have landed on him, and not because he wanted the penalty yardage.
Raiders QB Derek Carr on Dolphins DE William Hayes, who tore ACL trying not to land hard on Carr when sacking him: “I wish the guy would have just landed on me instead of tearing his ACL. …For him to tear his ACL, nobody wants that. I don’t want that.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 26, 2018
Even opponents who benefit have been critical of the rule. While Carr isn’t directly criticizing it, it’s pretty clear he thinks there should be some common-sense limits to what is illegal under the interpretation of the rule.
