Changes on illegal tackles irk Steelers
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Steelers president Art Rooney II.
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Another NFL rule, another named in honor of the Steelers, although the team president does not embrace the reference.
For a team associated with the Rooney Rule, the Hines Ward Rule and rules aimed at neutering the 1970s Steel Curtain, add one that some members of the media have dubbed "The Steelers Rule."
The rule, which really is not yet a rule, includes possible fines and the docking of draft choices if a team's players ring up enough infractions. And it was coupled with actual new rules passed by the league owners Tuesday that widened the description of illegal tackles the Steelers so loudly fought against last season.
"I'm not sure I like it being referred to as The Steelers Rule," Art Rooney II said Wednesday. "It's a policy the commissioner is still considering and has not put into effect yet but he intends to put it into effect."
Rooney raised concerns last fall that the NFL might go too far when it started its crackdown with fines and threatened suspensions in October. He took a conservative approach to the latest move for punishing teams.
"I would hope it's something used on rare occasions and only in exceptional situations. I think our rules are adequate and I think everyone is trying to adjust here."
Steelers All-Pro linebacker James Harrison, who led the NFL with $100,000 in fines last season, did not take kindly to the new rules that will expand the description of an illegal hit and of a defenseless player.
"I'm absolutely sure now after this latest rule change that the people making the rules at the NFL are idiots," Harrison wrote Tuesday night on Twitter.
The rules passed by a 32-0 vote of the owners, which means, by association, Rooney was included in Harrison's assessment of those who passed the rules.
"Look, he's entitled to express his opinion," Rooney said. "I probably would have preferred him to use a little different description to his disagreement. There's not much I can say about it; it's not like I can even call him up and talk to him."
The NFL forbids management to speak to players about anything regarding football during the lockout.
Rooney applauds the attempt to make the game safer, but believes it makes it tougher to officiate.
First Published May 26, 2011 12:00 am
