They might be rivals on the football field, but Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer agree about one thing: the NFL’s new helmet rule is going to be a headache.
During Minnesota’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars over the weekend, two plays drew 15–yard penalties against the Jaguars and Zimmer’s ire.
On one of them, Vikings fullback C.J. Ham, lowered his shoulder after catching a pass and Jaguars corner A.J. Bouye lowered his head as he braced for contact with the offensive player and made the tackle.
Even though the penalty wasn’t called on his team, Zimmer sent tape of that play to the league because he didn’t see why it was a penalty or what Bouye could have done as he tackled Ham around the legs and did not use his head to make a hit despite lowering it.
Upon hearing back from the NFL, Zimmer said his understanding about the rule was no better and that it makes it “very hard to tackle a guy.”
“It’s going to cost some people some jobs – playoffs, jobs, the whole bit I’m guessing,” Zimmer said. “We haven’t had any called on us so far. It’s just hard to figure out. No one has ever said to me, ‘Hey. Don’t worry about it, we’re going to call it less or we’ll get it straightened out in the regular season. Or we’re going to come up with a revised rule.’ No one has ever said that.”
Mike Zimmer is not a fan of the NFL's new rule against targeting and lowering the helmet.
Either is Harrison Smith. #Vikings @kare11
Take a listen: pic.twitter.com/4pFTrLkbyX
— Ryan Shaver (@RShaverSports) August 20, 2018
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