Brady Rule Has NFL Going Too Far In Protecting Quarterbacks

Named after New England's quarterback Tom Brady, the Brady Rule is what people are calling the emphasis by the NFL to protect quarterbacks from injury. Brady missed almost all of 2008 due to an injury from a hit to his lower left leg.

Prior to the season, the NFL emphasized to the officials to protect vulnerable players' head, necks and knees. The most vulnerable players are often the quarterbacks.

This season has seen an increase in the roughing the passer flags. Some of these calls have been questionable. Including one in week 4 by Baltimore Ravens' Terrell Suggs on Brady. These questionable calls have sparked a debate on if the NFL is going too far to protect certain players.

In the questionable call in the Baltimore vs New England game, Suggs barely glanced Brady's knee. Brady was not even knocked down. Instead, Brady turned to referee Ron Winters and called for a flag. He got the 15 yard roughing the passer penalty.

Since then, the debate has been going on. It is not just defensive players that are complaining about how the roughing the passer calls are going this year. Some former and current NFL quarterbacks are also saying that the NFL is overemphasizing protecting the quarterbacks.

NFL superstar Brett Farve has even questioned the NFL stance on roughing the passer this season. Farve feels the the league is overemphasizing it and questions some of the calls.

In an AP report, Baltimore Raven's quarterback Joe Flacco expressed his opinion and the opinion felt by many fans. Flacco said, "I want to be a football player and the bottom line is: If we gt hit, we get hit."

Brady has a different opinion. Brady has stated that defensive players should just stay away from him. Hum, maybe Brady thinks he deserves special treatment.

Now no one believes that players should not be protected from vicious hits or get hurt. But football is suppose to be a contact sport. I am not sure how many fans would be willing to see touch football.

The question now is has the NFL gone too far in protecting certain players like Brady to where it is affecting the game. The NFL is right to protect not only quarterbacks' heads, necks and knees. It is the questionable calls that are causing the debate.

Written by Denise Clay
Hickory, NC
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