December 13th 2023.
Kareem Jackson, the 14-year veteran safety of the Denver Broncos, has had a tumultuous season. He has been ejected from two games, fined a total of $89,670, and suspended for a total of six games. Jackson blames the NFL for not being an effective teacher on how to adjust his playing style to conform to the league's decision to reduce hard hits on offensive players.
After receiving his second suspension of the season, Jackson was summoned by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his fines and his aggressive playing style. Jackson was told that he is responsible for the protection of offensive players, yet he isn't sure how to balance his duty to make plays while also safely protecting them.
Jackson's teammates should be worried, as the Broncos are a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for first place in the AFC West. This season, the Broncos have gone from a 1-5 start to a 7-6 record under their first-year head coach, Sean Payton.
Jackson isn't the only one to criticize the current state of the game. NFL legend Tom Brady has said that the rules have allowed bad habits to enter the game, and that players like Ray Lewis, Rodney Harrison, and Ronnie Lott would be penalized for every hit they made. Brady has noted that coaches are also complaining about their players being tackled, yet they don't teach them about how to protect themselves.
The standards for roughing the quarterback, unnecessary roughness, and hitting a defenseless receiver have significantly decreased since the 1990s. However, the NFL has made these changes due to the potential $1.2 billion payout that they might have to make in their concussion settlement and disability payments.
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