NFL's New Helmet Rule Is Unpopular Among Players... So What Happens Next?

The NFL is a fascinating entity in that it’s politically savvy enough to jam through potentially unpopular legislation just like the most seasoned congressmen, but it’s also skittish enough to do the Scooby Doo runaway at the first sign of trouble. The tackling directive, passed back in March and taught during educational sessions, “webinars and conference calls” between the league and each coach and club, has been unpopular among a loud but undefined segment of the NFL defensive player population. 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman whipped up a windstorm on Sunday, essentially hitting on all the griping points of his fellow Twitter-using defensive players by saying “There is no ‘make adjustment’ to the way you tackle.