Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers RB questions why 'people who have never played football' are changing NFL rules

Published Mar. 24, 2016 2:12 p.m. ET

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Nick Schwartz

Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams isn't hesitant about speaking his mind on Twitter - just this offseason he's blasted the Patriots, Bill Belichick and Peyton Manning. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin even publicly called out Williams after the running back said Manning "couldn't play dead in a western last year."

Williams' latest target? The NFL executives that adopted rule changes designed to make the game safer at the NFL owners meetings this week. NFL owners voted to approve a ban on chop blocks, which are defined as a hit below the thigh by an offensive player to take out a defensive player who is already engaged with another blocker. To put it more simply, two offensive players can no longer go "high-low" to take out a single defender.  

A number of NFL players were surprised by the decision (Cliff Avril couldn't believe it, but supported the change), and Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart tweeted his old Panthers teammate the news.

Stewart mistakenly thought the NFL outlawed cut blocks, which are still legal. When the low hit occurs in a one-on-one situation, it is referred to as a cut block. Still, Williams' reaction was surprising. 

The NFL's competition committe - the body that proposed the chage - consists of mostly non-players, but a few members (according to the NFL's 2013 roster) have NFL experience. To be fair, a league in which players decide all the rules would be fascinating. Imagine a world where excessive touchdown dances wouldn't draw flags.

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