Harbaugh's Relief: The End of the Hip-Drop Tackle
Baltimore Ravens' John Harbaugh isn't holding back his relief over the NFL's latest move—putting an end to the notorious hip-drop tackle. After witnessing his star player, Mark Andrews, sidelined by the risky technique, Harbaugh's applauding the league's call for safety.
"It's a massive risk to players and is 25 times more likely to cause serious injuries," Harbaugh exposed during an ESPN interview.
The new rule slaps a hefty 15-yard penalty on any player caught in the hip-drop act. But there's more—expect the league to issue more fines than flags, as making the right call in the heat of the action is one tough job for refs.
Tough Tackling That Won't Be Missed
Here’s the deal: with 230 instances and 15 injured players last season, the swivel hip-drop is now history. Sure, the NFLPA and some defenders might be fuming, but Harbaugh is convinced the game will thrive without it.
"Why strain to remember the hip-drop tackle when it's a newbie to the scene, probably picked up from rugby?" Harbaugh questions, favoring old-school, secure wrap-ups over this risky method.
It's time to tackle like the legends did—no frills, no risks, just football.
Outlawed: The ‘Hip-Drop' Tackle No More
Baltimore Ravens' boss John Harbaugh couldn't be happier that the NFL has axed the notorious hip-drop tackle after it left his star player, Mark Andrews, out in the cold with a nasty injury. Harbaugh's straight talk: "It's 25 times more likely to cause harm, so good riddance!" He's throwing shade at the technique that's been causing a stir only recently, and he's not alone. The league is slapping a hefty 15-yard penalty on anyone caught in the act, and they're ready to fine players after the game too.
Defenders in Disarray?
The ban's got some players, especially defenders, grumbling, but Harbaugh's dropping truth bombs: "Classic tackling worked just fine for a century, folks!" He points the finger at rugby for this unwanted import and breaks it down for us – it's a three-step recipe for disaster. Instead, he's all about old-school wraps and ground takedowns, à la football legend Ray Lewis.
The NFL's played stats detective, pointing out the hip-drop led to more players missing games than your average tackle. With 230 registered cases last season, they're not taking chances. How defenders will deal without their newfangled move? Harbaugh bets they'll shake it off and play on like the good old days. Subscribe to Statbet – your fix for spicy sports takes and more straight-talking moments!
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