Change In The NFL Roughing The Passer Rule After Tom Brady & Derek Carr Controversy?

NFL quarterback with a concussion and two possible roughing-the-passer flags. All it took was that for the 2022 season’s first officiating feeding frenzy to begin.

The NFL‘s competition committee has already made plans to examine roughing the passer after the season after fury over the two contested decisions, and NFL owners will discuss the penalty when they gather next week in New York.

The NFL has already modified its concussion protocol for the current season. Could the laws governing roughing the passer be changed going forward?

Why The Change In NFL “Roughing The Passer Rule” Is Suggested?

The first occurred during the Bucs’ 23-15 victory over the Falcons on Sunday afternoon. To win the game, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers needed to mount a game-winning drive and use all of the remaining time. Grady Jarrett was called for roughing the passer when the Falcons believed they had stopped Brady on a crucial third-down play.

Then, against the Raiders on Monday night, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones seemed to recover a crucial fumble after being strip-sacked. Because Jones weighed his entire body down on Derek Carr at the conclusion of the play, it was determined that he had roughed up the passer.

Why Is The Situation Controversial?

In response to criticism over two contested decisions in Week 5, the NFL intends to examine roughing the passer penalties. Still, not to change them, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.

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Given the controversy surrounding the Sunday and Monday games, it makes sense that the NFL would want to review its roughing-the-passer policies, or at the very least, how they are currently being applied.

Compared to last year, penalties for roughing the quarterback are down by 45%. In Week 5 of 2021, 51 calls were made. This season, only 28 have been made, according to league statistics.

The full rule from the NFL rulebook states, among other things, that a player is not allowed to strike the quarterback if he is aware that the ball has been released, “stuff” the quarterback into the ground, utilize forceful contact, or hit the quarterback low.

Therefore, roughing the passer is very much a matter of opinion. It differs from officiating crew to officiating crew because of this. That is also a result of the rule that stipulates a penalty if an official is unsure of a call.

Is There a Way out?

In the offseason, the NFL will examine roughing the passer. In actuality, the league evaluates each play of each season after it has concluded. However, given that the league normally tries to avoid overreacting to a few prominent decisions, there is no sign that anything will change in the near future. Although administrative procedures, such as the concussion protocol, have been modified during the course of a season, there is no precedent for amending the formal wording of a subjective judgment call.

By needing greater force and violence to warrant a penalty, the NFL may raise the threshold for raising a flag for the body weight/unnecessarily throwing component of roughing the passer. However, the NFL hardly ever modifies the rules to provide quarterbacks less protection. If it took this course, it could either amend the rules during the summer or issue a direction to referees during the current game. Again, there is no indication that the NFL plans to make any changes during the current season.

 

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