Browns Safety Rodney McCloed Voices Displeasure With NFL Rule Change

In the aftermath of the NFL voting to ban the dangerous hip-drop tackle this week, Browns veteran safety Rodney McLeod voiced displeasure over the decision during interview on local sports radio station.

NFL rule changes are nothing new this time of year. That doesn't mean they all go over well among the players though.

At the NFL's annual owner's meetings this week, the league approved a rule that prohibits defenders from bringing ball carriers down using one form of the now infamous hip-drop tackle. During the meeting of the minds in Orlando, Fla. league officials presented the "swivel" hip-drop tackle via video, which is a dangerous form of the tackle that is now officially banned.

For the league, the rule is aimed at promoting player safety. According to data presented by the league, the now eliminated version of the controversial tackle is responsible for an injury rate 20-25 times higher than normal tackles. It's why the rule was unanimously approved by the NFL owners.

However, while the owners may be in unison on the decision, defensive players aren't necessarily celebrating it. Take Browns safety Rodney McLeod, who joined 92.3 The Fan on Monday and discussed the ruling. While 12-year veteran agreed that the injuries resulting from hip-drop tackles are unfortunate, banning the tackle makes his job more difficult.

“It’s frustrating," he said on 92.3 The Fan's Afternoon Drive. "Our job is to defend, is to tackle and is to allow opponents not to score. We do it at a fast rate. We do it without thought. Because we’ve been trained to do these things for so long. Again, the plays that they’re highlighting all resulted in unfortunate injuries from two great players, but we can’t allow that to dictate the way that we play the game and the integrity of the game to the point where you’re making players more cautious, more hesitant. Because that in itself creates more injuries. You’re also not allowing guys to do their job effectively. "

Playing defense in the NFL certainly has become much harder over the last two decades. Whether it be rules protecting quarterbacks that have left pass rushers vexed by penalties for some pretty innocuous hits, or the elimination of the hip-drop tackle this week, it's fair to understand why defensive players would feel as though they're being handicapped.

Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod (26) celebrates after San

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

"I think that’s the hard part about it for me, is being able to do my job at a high level," McLeod said. "And the result of that is you’re telling me that a tackle I’ve done a million times is now a penalty and I can jeopardize and put my team in a bad position and also my family – taking money from them. Those are just my biggest concerns. When we get to these moments, the highest moments, playoffs, Super Bowl, how are you going to be able to measure that sort of tackle in that moment and be able to make that call? Because we know the margin of error is so small. So I don’t know where we go from here."

The NFL's Senior Vice President of Health and Safety shared that the league found 230 instances where the swivel hip-drop tackle was used this past season. That rounds out to about one per game. Moving forward, if a player is flagged for using the newly illegal tackle in a game it will come with a 15-yard penalty and likely heft finds for the individual.

In due time, the rule change should certainly help take the dangerous tackling style out of players repertoires altogether. In the meantime though, players like McLeod and his defensive peers will have to adjust on the fly and hope to avoid being penalized as their jobs become even more challenging.