Robert Griffin takes savage dig at NFL over rumored tackle rules

Proposed new rule changes over tackling seem to have miffed a lot of people, and Robert Griffin is one of them taking issue with it.

The NFL plans to have an active conversation in the offseason regarding the "hip-drop" tackle and outlawing it. In such a tackle, the tackler grabs round the player who has the ball and drops his hips to use their weight as an anchor to stop the forward movement of the opposition player. It's a common tactic used across the league.

Removing it might put defensive players at a disadvantage. Robert Griffin tweeted his consternation regarding it too. It portrayed the utter confusion many players would feel not knowing how a legal tackle works anymore.

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Why is NFL mulling this rule change despite it being unpopular with Robert Griffin and other players?

One would think that if players opposed the rule change, the league might drop it. This conversation, though, seems to have been the result of an injury suffered by Tony Pollard while playing for the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers in this year's playoffs. The tackle ended the player's season, as the weight of the defender landed on his lower leg.

It follows a high-profile high-ankle sprain suffered by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the playoffs too. When star players suffer injuries, it often elevates certain parts of the conversation above other concerns.

However, apart from Robert Griffin, several others have expressed their displeasure at the proposed rule changes. Here are a few:

Despite opposition from Robert Griffin and other players, this is a conversation that could lead to fewer injuries. One way they can look to alleviate player concerns is by looking at other sports like rugby.

In rugby, as long as the player is onside, they can tackle from behind. The most common way it works is by making sure that forward progress is stalled by wrapping the attacker in full. The momentum stalls not because of the defender's weight but because of the change in the attacker's momentum.

Most often the wrapped arms slide down to trip the rushing player, whereas another way for stronger players could be by pulling their arms to change the rusher's momentum. The defensive players are supposed to generate drag by planting their feet and legs on the ground, instead of using their full bodyweight.

It was always expected that the NFL would open a conversation regarding this following injuries to prominent players. Whether they can make a proper case to assuage the concerns of people like Robert Griffin remains to be seen, though.