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Panthers not happy with Falcons' cut blocks
Carolina defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker both missed practice Wednesday with sprained ankles, leading the Panthers to question the legality of the cut blocks that injured them.
Peppers sprained his left ankle early in the first quarter of Sunday's win against Atlanta when Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler tackled him below the knees. Rucker sprained his right ankle when tackle Kevin Shaffer did the same to him later in the game.
"Cut blocking is not fair, it's going after the legs," defensive end Al Wallace said. "It would be the same thing if in NASCAR you were able to shoot people's tires out."
The technique is actually legal under NFL rules as long as the defensive player isn't engaged with another blocker. Still, the Falcons are one of few teams who have been openly criticized for it. The blocking was initiated by offensive line coach Alex Gibbs when he was with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s, and he brought it with him to Atlanta, where he's currently a consultant.
"That's what the Falcons are known for," Rucker said. "They all do it."
Carolina coach John Fox wasn't thrilled to see both ends go down and said he'd like to see the rule changed. The NFL has modified the rules in recent years, but the Panthers can only hope that the technique is addressed again this offseason.
"The league's already addressed that," Fox said. "Until the rules change as far as cut blocking and the legality of it, those things are going to continue to happen."
"But I'm only maybe one-millionth of a vote," he added.
"Everybody was all nervous that there wouldn't be any good kick returns because of it," Fox said. "But we've kind of made do with that in the kicking game. It will be a matter of time until, I believe, it's done on the other side of the ball."
For the rule to be changed, it would have to go through the league's 10-man competition committee, which includes Panthers team president Mark Richardson.
Although Peppers said he held no ill will toward Crumpler, his former college teammate, he would like to see the cut blocking rule addressed.
"I have concerns about players being protected," Peppers said. "They protect the quarterbacks and you can't put a hand on them in certain situations. I think they should take a look at how everybody's being protected.
"But that's somebody else's argument."
For now, Peppers and Rucker just want to focus on healing in time for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
The Panthers head into the matchup with a one-game lead over the Bucs in the NFC South, and a victory would put them on the fast track for the division title.
Source: AP
Peppers sprained his left ankle early in the first quarter of Sunday's win against Atlanta when Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler tackled him below the knees. Rucker sprained his right ankle when tackle Kevin Shaffer did the same to him later in the game.
"Cut blocking is not fair, it's going after the legs," defensive end Al Wallace said. "It would be the same thing if in NASCAR you were able to shoot people's tires out."
The technique is actually legal under NFL rules as long as the defensive player isn't engaged with another blocker. Still, the Falcons are one of few teams who have been openly criticized for it. The blocking was initiated by offensive line coach Alex Gibbs when he was with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s, and he brought it with him to Atlanta, where he's currently a consultant.
"That's what the Falcons are known for," Rucker said. "They all do it."
Carolina coach John Fox wasn't thrilled to see both ends go down and said he'd like to see the rule changed. The NFL has modified the rules in recent years, but the Panthers can only hope that the technique is addressed again this offseason.
"The league's already addressed that," Fox said. "Until the rules change as far as cut blocking and the legality of it, those things are going to continue to happen."
"But I'm only maybe one-millionth of a vote," he added.
"Everybody was all nervous that there wouldn't be any good kick returns because of it," Fox said. "But we've kind of made do with that in the kicking game. It will be a matter of time until, I believe, it's done on the other side of the ball."
For the rule to be changed, it would have to go through the league's 10-man competition committee, which includes Panthers team president Mark Richardson.
Although Peppers said he held no ill will toward Crumpler, his former college teammate, he would like to see the cut blocking rule addressed.
"I have concerns about players being protected," Peppers said. "They protect the quarterbacks and you can't put a hand on them in certain situations. I think they should take a look at how everybody's being protected.
"But that's somebody else's argument."
For now, Peppers and Rucker just want to focus on healing in time for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
The Panthers head into the matchup with a one-game lead over the Bucs in the NFC South, and a victory would put them on the fast track for the division title.
Source: AP