NFL MEETINGS : Rule to Make Tacklers Keep Their Heads

Those popular helmet-smacking tackles may soon be as costly as they are loud.

Sources have confirmed that, in NFL meetings today, the competition committee will recommend outlawing the use of the top of the helmet to tackle “defenseless” players. Those players include quarterbacks throwing a pass or wide receivers leaping for a catch.

The proposal, which represents the biggest clarification of tackling style in years, is expected to be approved by league owners later in the week.

Call it the concussion clause.

“This will change what has declined into a nasty, bad aspect of our game,” said Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengal owner and member of the competition committee. “This will take us back to a time when tackling was done the right way: with the shoulder up and the head to one side.

“This will hurt those people who want to disconnect the quarterback from his senses.”

It can also be called the Wilber Marshall Rule.

Owners were appalled last season when Marshall, a linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals, hit Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman in the chin with the crown of his helmet after Aikman had thrown a pass. The hit, which caused a concussion and a nasty cut, did not even draw a penalty.

Under the new rules, Marshall will be assessed a personal foul penalty for such a hit. Also drawing penalties will be head-first sacks, head-first hits of falling wide receivers and leaping tackles of punt returners who have not yet started to run.

Defensive coaches will not be pleased. They do not teach tackling with the head, but every aggressive defensive player in the NFL understands he must do it to keep his job.

“If you hear somebody throwing up in the back of the room, it’s probably Buddy (Ryan),” said Ronnie Jones, Arizona Cardinal defensive coordinator. “Before long, they are going to be putting skirts on the quarterbacks and then flags on the skirts.”

Jones said the immediate results will be increased offense.

“I can see us missing a lot of tackles,” he said. “Guys will be trying to avoid using their head and will miss the guy entirely. If everybody had the opportunity to make the perfect tackle, they would. But they don’t, so they use what they can.”