This offseason has brought with it many new tweaks and changes in the league’s rules. To ensure the safety of their players, the scrapping of the hip drop tackle and the new kickoff rule were introduced. While some teams welcome the new changes, the NFL great Tom Brady has some criticisms of his own.

The former Patriots quarterback has been the most feared player for any defense in his 23 seasons-long run in the NFL. His ample experience and understanding of the game are unquestionably robust, having led his team to win the Super Bowl 7 times. So when a player of this caliber expresses concerns about the new rules, it’s definitely something to ponder over.

Tom Brady feels “only the offense can really make an impact”

American football has been an aggressive sport from the get-go. Over the years, the game has evolved into a safer version, and the organization’s recent rule changes have come in the light of recent safety concerns. Most prominent among these have been the banning of the hip drop tackle and the kickoff rule correction. While promising to reduce injury rates, Brady feels that it might have created an imbalance in the game.

During a recent appearance on the Deep Cut Podcast, “Tom Terrific” voiced out his opinions about the recent developments in the league’s rulebook. The former quarterback feels that while trying to protect players, the rule changes have tilted that game’s balance towards facing the offense.

“I feel like we’re trying to protect people in a physical sport…We’ve created a game now where only the offense can really make an impact,” said Brady. So how do the new rules affect the defensive players adversely and help make it easier for the offense to boost their statistics, as pointed out by the Patriots’ legend?

Do the new NFL rules favor the offensive players?

The NFL has a legacy as a predominantly physical sport, and while the essence of the game remains the same, certain revisions have been consistently made to address concerns about the safety of players. The hip-drop tackle was one such rule that was discontinued this year. It was reported to cause 25% more injuries than the normal tackle.

Another rule that underwent scrutiny was the kickoff rule, which was responsible for high-velocity collisions and, hence, injuries. With the new change, the kickoff occurs from the 35-yard line, with the rest of the ten players on the receiving side would be at the 40-yard line. While these changes promise a safer play, they definitely put the defense in a compromised position. 

The defenders would have to revamp their play style and strategies to accommodate the shift of focus from traditional physicality. The scrapping of the hip-drop tackle further reduces the flexibility of the defense, making it increasingly harder to halt the offense’s tirade. Moreover, the receivers benefit greatly from the defensive player protection while hindering the defensive backs. The offense gets a higher chance of scoring and reaching new records in statistics, while the defenders are inhibited in their approaches. Brady echoes the emotion and feels that the safety concerns shouldn’t only apply to defense plays, as it gives an undue advantage to their opposition.

With the new NFL rules come opinions either in support or against. And when one of the top offensive players of all time, Tom Brady, speaks for the defending position, it definitely speaks volumes. A balance system should be devised so that neither sect of position gets an added advantage.