Field Goal Leap Research Paper

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Pages: 4

While growing up watching football, rules have changed through the excessive years. The most recent one up to date was the banning of field goal leap. Leaping is called when any defender runs forward and leaps, attempting to block a field goal or extra point, and lands on any player from the opposing team. The foul is penalized 15 yards and the kicking team is awarded an automatic first down. The cause of it was to keep NFL player’s safe from a down cause of serious injuries. However, it was a downside for the fans and players of the NFL. The reason for that is because it was the most exciting play in the NFL to watch, and banning it makes it more difficult to block field goal during a game. Although, banning this attempt would cause less …show more content…
That’s because it was known as the most exciting play to watch coming from fans. According to Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien “It can be a dangerous play when a guy gets flipped in the air,” But it is an exciting play. I know the fans probably like it.” This takes away how exciting this play is to watch but yet it’s dangerous to many players. Defenders leaping from the second level over an offensive lineman, usually the long snapper, has led to exciting plays. Players like Seattle Seahawks Kam Chancellor have impacted games by blocking multiple kicks. After knowing it was going to be banned and illegal to be attempted, these players went against it and think it shouldn’t be excluded from the game. However, NFL analysis Kevin Patra believes many players are upset with the rule change, but both the NFL and NFLPA endorsed it for safety reasons. Shortly after the ban seattle seahawks linebacker Bobby wagner who has attempted this play against the Arizona Cardinals tweets his thoughts on social media. "They shouldn't [ban it]," he wrote. "It's fun jumping, I think the fans like it too” ( Wagner). This proves that fans enjoy the excitement of this play and that many of these players disagree with the banning of the play. However, at the end of the day this a dangerous play and is illegal to be attempted for the safety of the