Hines Ward understands the intent of the rule change NFL owners made last week.
But the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver doesn't think it will bring about serious change.
Ward -- considered one of the league's toughest players -- panned the NFL's decision to impose punishment on teams whose players incur a series of penalties for flagrant hits starting next season.
He told WCNN in Atlanta (via SportsRadioInterviews.com):
"When you have two grown men traveling at 20 miles per hour on a head-on collision, guess what, something in your body is going to hurt. So regardless of what you do, it's still a physical ball game. But what are you going to do when a runner is continuing to try to run over a guy? Are you going to just wait until one guy can't tackle him before you go in there and assist somebody?"
Some have nicknamed the rule change the "Pittsburgh Steeler rule" because of Ward's team's penchant for aggressive hits -- that sometimes draw league discipline.
But Ward said that while safety is an admirable and serious goal, he thinks there's only so much that can be done.
Said Ward:
"It's a violent sport. If you want to protect it, we need to play flag football."
Ward is the latest Steelers player to speak out against the rule change. LB James Harrison has been outspoken in his criticism of it.
source:www.usatoday.com
author: Sean Leahy
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