The OFFICIAL 2008 "Helmet to Helmet" Rule

[gth816f]

Just so we everyone knows the exact rule, from the rule book:

Initiating Contact/Targeting an Opponent
ARTICLE 3. a. No player shall initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
b. No player shall initiate contact and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders. When in question, it is a foul. (Refer to Points of Emphasis on FR-9 for a description of “Defenseless Player.”)
PENALTY (a-b)—Personal foul. 15 yards from the basic spot, or 15 yards from the succeeding spot for dead-ball fouls. Also, automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules. (Exception: Penalties for offensive team personal fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line) [S7, S24, S34, S38, S39, S40, S41, S45 or S46]. Flagrant offenders shall be disqualified [S47].

So it does not need to be helmet to helmet contact to draw the foul(in fact, there is a specific example later in the rulebook where a player gets this penalty for hitting an opponent's head with his shoulder). The rulebook defines the following as "Defenseless Player":

• The quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate further in the play;
• The kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to regain his balance after the kick;
• The passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball;
• The pass receiver whose concentration is on the ball;
• The pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when the pass is no longer catchable;
• The kick receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball;
• The kick receiver who has just touched the ball;
• The player who has relaxed once the ball has become dead; and
• The player who is obviously out of the play.

They don't say anything about a player being tackled and in the process of going down, but my guess would be that the official considered TT defenseless. It really doesn't say anything about that in the rulebook, though, so there you go. This will probably end with no definitive answer as to whether it was the right or wrong call...but at least now we know why.

 

[haywire83]

As I said in an earlier post, I don't think Cooper led with the crown of his helmet (the qualification that must be met if the opponent is not "defenseless"), and I don't think the rules qualify T. Taylor as a defenseless player. But, I think the refs have an out because of the "when in doubt, throw the flag" clause.

 

[ncjacket]

More than likely there is another document that refs have with more examples. My wife refs several sports and the extra materials refs get to explain the rules don't come with the rule book.

 

[augustabuzz]

Thanks for posting this. A reasonable person would conclude that it was indeed a bad call.

 

[kirbee]

Its a judgment call in a split second, in front of the opponent's bench, near the sideline, in front of their fans.

Add it all up and you get what you got. There is no smoking gun.