Bucs/Steelers tie for most roughing penalties since 2001

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The new body weight rule has come under a lot of scrutiny this season. The new rule penalizes defenders for putting too much weight on a quarterback during a play. It has fans and players alike a little confused about how they’re supposed to adjust.

We saw that last night during the game between the Bucs and Steelers, a game where each team racked up two roughing penalties each, which ties them up for most in the league in one game since 2001.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger even called into question one penalty against the Buccaneers in his post-game interview last night. “I don’t want to criticize the officiating, especially when you’re talking about a penalty that helps the Quarterback out, but I was surprised by the first one,” he said via USA Today. It was a hit by Gerald McCoy. In the playback you can hear a mic’d-up McCoy say, “My fault, Ben,” mid-hit.

However, Roethlisberger goes on to say that the second penalty against the Bucs, in which he took a hit to the helmet by JPP, was warranted. I don’t necessarily agree with that, but that’s just me.

You can read the original article here and watch the video here.

ESPN’s Booger McFarland even chimed in via Twitter Tuesday morning about the new rule, writing, “Dear NFL. When the people you made the rule to protect start saying the rule is a joke it may be time to change the rule for roughing the passer. Rodgers and Big Ben both said they don’t like the rule.”

The NFL is holding tight to the new rule and says it will not change anytime soon. But according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, there is a conference call scheduled for next week among the NFL competition committee to discuss how the new rule can be applied differently. You can read that full article here.

 

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