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Punching the football...

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UnForgiven said:
I wonder if this is something that will eventually be addressed in terms of rules. Obviously stripping and slapping at the football will always be an element of the game, and ball security is the responsibility of the carrier - but it seems lately like you have full grown men flying in and dropping super-punches onto the football. Not open handed - closed fist, ****ed back, full force.

While I'm not crying about it, one wonders how long before one of those punches does some real damage...maybe it hits somewhere it wasn't meant to. Or maybe they start hitting somewhere they are meant to, and it isn't the football. I think a full force punch by a 300lb lineman to a runners bicep can be damaging.

Or some dude straight up stomach punches another player holding a football, what does that entice in response (if we're trying to cut back on skirmshes)?

Does this eventually get looked at by NCAA rules folks?
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Deacon Jones, **** Butkus, Jim Lambert, Ronnie Lott, Mike Singletary, Mean Joe Green, and others would laugh in your face.

Soft generation.
 
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UnForgiven said:
I wonder if this is something that will eventually be addressed in terms of rules. Obviously stripping and slapping at the football will always be an element of the game, and ball security is the responsibility of the carrier - but it seems lately like you have full grown men flying in and dropping super-punches onto the football. Not open handed - closed fist, ****ed back, full force.

While I'm not crying about it, one wonders how long before one of those punches does some real damage...maybe it hits somewhere it wasn't meant to. Or maybe they start hitting somewhere they are meant to, and it isn't the football. I think a full force punch by a 300lb lineman to a runners bicep can be damaging.

Or some dude straight up stomach punches another player holding a football, what does that entice in response (if we're trying to cut back on skirmshes)?

Does this eventually get looked at by NCAA rules folks?
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Probably should eliminate tackling because one of these kids might misconstrue it as non-consensual violence

While we are at it, we should eliminate QBs taking the ball from under center because it might be a form of sexual harassment
 
Da Jumbo Mutombo said:
Restrepos fumble vs cuse was off a huge punch like this.
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The League No GIF
 
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Some clever responses lol.

To be clear, I'm not sure I feel strongly one way or another. I don't have a dog in the fight.

But the thought - over the season - has occurred to me that sooner or later someone may get injured specifically as a result of a wild punch thrown in a play, and when I see players leaving their feet to throw superman punches the question I get to is - if a kicking motion towards another player is disallowed, then what's the future hold for players making a clear, closed fist punching motion?

Regardless of what they connect with.

Sounds like most think it's not a big deal (and, to be fair, kicking someone is typically far more damaging), so I was curious to hear what folks thought. I haven't seen it come up before. Based on the responses - it sounds like it's not a big issue.

Thanks for a few amusing replies :)
 
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CaneTheGaytors said:
Deacon Jones, **** Butkus, Jim Lambert, Ronnie Lott, Mike Singletary, Mean Joe Green, and others would laugh in your face.

Soft generation.
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If they laughed in someone’s face for posting to get opinions or perspectives, they probably have CTE.
 
Canesmack said:
Kiko punched at the ball in a game this year, made contact with the runner’s facemask, and the “rules expert” opined that it should have been reviewed for unsportsmanlike conduct/unnecessary roughness. So there’s that.
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Fair point I suppose a punch connecting with something other than a football carries the risk of that penalty already.
 
pyhooya said:
Guess you missed the game where Kiko missed his target and hit the guys facemask.
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No I saw it. If that fist connects with a jaw instead of a face mask - was exactly what led me to wonder if punching other players would eventually be specifically addressed in the rules.
 
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You've got players flying around at over 200 lb at almost 20 mph hitting each other with their bodies like battering rams. Now you're concerned about players punching at a football?
 
Cane Kenny said:
****, I know occasionally the ball pops out but I feel like every team gives up tons of YAC cause they’re more worried about trying to punch a ball out to force a fumble.
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Yeah good point on that too. In some respects it’s a dumb move unless you have a clear shot and help with the tackle,
 
mcnaire2004 said:
You've got players flying around at over 200 lb at almost 20 mph hitting each other with their bodies like battering rams. Now you're concerned about players punching at a football?
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If there’s an issue at all, it’s with players punching other players, not the football.
 
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