The NFL and college football are witnessing reoccurring frustrations regarding late hits to quarterbacks. As of now, the rule stands that if the quarterback is hit after the play has ended it is categorized as unnecessary roughness and results in 15 yards from the end of the play. But college football and NFL players and coaches are speaking out about the lack of protection quarterbacks are facing against late hits.
The problem with late hits and the lack of protection are largely related to the increased number of concussions surrounding football. In the beginning of the year, the NFL released that concussion-related injuries had risen 32 percent, and helmet-to-helmet hitting being the leading cause of concussions. In the 2015 college football season there were reported 166 concussions, an increase from 2014. The main concerns of these blows are the effects they have to health in the long run. But not only do they have to worry about concussions, they have to worry about the risk of other physical injuries from the impact of tackling.
Recently Cam Newton has been in the media voicing his frustrations about the late hits he has faced without any penalties called. He has called the lack of protection, “bull crap” and states, “it’s taking the fun for me out [of the game]”. He intends on talking to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He has received tough critiques from other players lacking empathy due to the obvious ramifications that come along with playing an intense contact sport. But, the complaints don’t stop with just Cam Newton. Even coaches have been speaking out about frustrations of late hits.
FSU’s head coach Jimbo Fisher has come out expressing his opinions on the lack of protection his quarterback, redshirted freshman Deondre Francois, has received. He critiques the referees for not giving the game of football the integrity it deserves by not withholding stricter penalties against late hitting. Fisher was recently fined 20,000 dollars for speaking about the referees’ calls, which is against the sportsman-like conduct of ACC football.
This leads me to one question: should referees improve their calls for the sake of safety and the integrity of football? Regardless if you empathize with the players for voicing their frustrations, something needs to be done about calls that are simply misjudgment. We all get frustrated over calls that cost our favorite team the game but to them, it’s more than a loss. Their career and health are at line every time they step on the field and that should not be taken lightly. The players know the possible physical outcomes of the sport now it’s time for the referees to aid them from those outcomes.
