Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) went down for the season after an injury sustained from a chop block Oct. 8 against the Jets.(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
It appears that rehabbing Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing will get his wish.
During a week of meetings in Naples, Fla., the NFL’s competition committee overwhelmingly agreed to support a rule change that would ban the type of peel-back block inside the tackle box that ended Cushing’s 2012 season with a torn ACL, USA TODAY Sports has learned.
According to two people with knowledge of the nine-member committee’s discussions, who would not speak publicly because proposed changes have not been announced, the committee will also seek to eliminate cut-blocks more than three yards outside the tackle box.
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And the committee also wants to ban low, blindside blocks to defenders in pursuit of a quarterback who changed directions on a scramble after leaving the pocket.
Defensive players around the NFL — who have long grumbled that the NFL doesn’t protect them by rule as vigorously as it does offensive players — may want to rejoice.
The rules changes are expected to be presented to owners during the annual NFL meetings in Phoenix that begin on March 18. At least 24 votes from owners are required to pass a rules change, yet typically owners adopt measures that have strong support from the powerful competition committee.
Clearly, the committee is intent on pursuing the agenda that it has carried to improve safety and better protect defenseless players. So the types of proposed changes that will be presented to owners are not surprising.
In addition to the extensive review, research and discussion during its annual conclave in Naples, which wrapped up Saturday, the competition committee elicited input recently from veteran players.
“Most of the blocks (targeted to be banned), you don’t see much,” a person with knowledge of the committee’s work told USA TODAY Sports. “They fall under the code of ethics.”
Cushing was injured in October on a block by New York Jets guard Matt Slauson that didn’t draw a penalty, but resulted in a $10,000 fine. Slauson initially passed Cushing, then turned back towards the line of scrimmage to deliver a low blow on the unsuspecting linebacker.
Last week, Cushing told USA TODAY Sports that he would be proud to be the face of a new rule.
“If my injury further prevents other injuries, then that’s success and there can be some good to come out of my injury,” Cushing said. “Hopefully, my injury does change the rule and in the future will prevent tons and tons of knee injuries.”
