Prior to the season starting, the NFL made a major rule change about the banning of hip-drop tackles, also known as swivel hip-drop tackles. Is a simple technique where a defender wraps around the ball carrier and drops their hips to the ground to secure a tackle.
It is a documented maneuver to have caused various injuries to some of the leagues’ top stars; however, nearly halfway through the season there has yet to be a hip drop penalty enforced.
The league has retroactively fined six players for the action, including the likes of T.J Edwards, Nick Bolton, C.J Mosely, and Dejaun Johnson.
Most recently, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has made headlines as he suffered a season-ending ankle injury at the hands of linebacker Roquan Smith that the league is actively reviewing to determine if a hip drop was in effect or not.
Fans React
With Godwin’s injury and the lack of enforcement, it leads fans to varying opinions on the matter.
The whole “hip drop tackle” buzzword isn’t real. No defender ever in their life has been coached to “drop their hips” and at the speed of the game, wrapping up the legs or bringing down a ball carrier is part of the game.
Years away from flag football. https://t.co/X4jW6yg7Ho
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) October 22, 2024
In this instance, Roark — a Denver Broncos beat reporter — is right. No defender is properly taught to tackle this way, but the game is a fast-paced environment and things happen.
However, many fans point to a league-wide malpractice of the new policy. For simply not backing up to their word of making a change, resulting in several injuries to players like Godwin.
NFL literally did the worst job they’ve ever done taking the hip drop tackles out of the game
Haven’t seen one penalty for one, guys just keep doing it, and multiple players have been hurt from it now
— Nash vs Evil Dead (@_anthonynash) October 22, 2024
Refs are terrified of calling a hip drop tackle in-game. They know it’s a stupid rule and will face enormous backlash if they get that call wrong.
I expect an uptick in these calls for the back half of the season (NFL pressure), followed by it vanishing entirely in the postseason https://t.co/kDTnAZcAyf— Jacob Sain (@JSainity) October 22, 2024
Other fans, to Roark’s point just believe the league has gone soft.
Doesn’t look like a hip drop tackle imo. Leagues gone soft, players know what they’ve signed up for. Don’t want to get hurt, don’t play. #leaguesgonesoft https://t.co/hKbkvXZTUx
— Turbo Kickz (@TurboKickz) October 22, 2024
Agree or disagree, one thing is for certain and it is that the calls need to be more consistent if it is going to be in the rule book.
Abolish Hip Drop Penalty or Act on It
If the league is not going to enforce these penalties, they must abolish it instead of retroactively fining the players for these actions. When these athletes are making tens of millions of dollars, fining them $16,000 is often not substantial enough.
Either have these penalties make an impact on the game so players stop doing it, or let the plays happen and stop fining players because the refs missed the calls.
Additionally, it is unjust to only raise caution to the calls once a player’s health gets jeopardized. Every play players get injured and banged up, it is pointless to only take concern when there is a major injury involved.
Call the penalties, get rid of the fines, or take it out of the rule book entirely. it is a simple process for the league, commissioner Roger Goodell just has to make the correct call.