# Why Do NFL Players Stop When Tackled? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 3, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359 "2015-10-03T13:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/21 "2015-10-03T21:31:29Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I believe that is true of any player with the ball, though I don’t think I’ve ever seen any other player do so. Also in the backfield, if you deliberately touch one knee to the ground they blow the play dead. That is seen mostly at the end of the game or half when running out the clock. A player is allowed to “give himself up”. There was a big controversy in Victor Cruz’ rookie season where he forgot it wasn’t college, caught the ball, went down, then left the ball purposely on the ground. Everyone, including this diehard **GIANTS** fan, was thinking “Idiot, that’s a fumble”, but the refs blew it dead and a lot of complaining followed. I liked that the call went my way, but IMNSHO it was the wrong call. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/22 "2015-10-03T23:00:59Z")
If the carrier were allowed to advance after touching the ground, I suppose every play would end with what is now a late hit penalty. Ball carrier hits ground, followed by several defenders plowing into him to make sure he is totally down. The only winners in that scenario are the neurologists who get paid for treating so many more concussions. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/23 "2015-10-04T00:06:24Z")
Yeah, really. It’s pretty easy to see why you want the play to end. If the ball carrier could keep running, the defense would have to practically murder an offensive player on every play. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/24 "2015-10-04T01:13:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, really. It’s pretty easy to see why you want the play to end. If the ball carrier could keep running, the defense would have to practically murder an offensive player on every play. And that’s a problem how? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/25 "2015-10-04T05:55:48Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, really. It’s pretty easy to see why you want the play to end. If the ball carrier could keep running, the defense would have to practically murder an offensive player on every play. As I mentioned earlier, that’s what actually _did_ happen in the past and why tackling takes the form it does now. Too many broken/dead bodies. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/26 "2015-10-04T08:30:52Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > I like American football and in my humble opinion running further with the ball would enhance the game. How??? In American Football, the biggest commodity is tackling whoever is carrying the ball. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/27 "2015-10-04T08:34:12Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > A player is allowed to “give himself up”. There was a big controversy in Victor Cruz’ rookie season where he forgot it wasn’t college, caught the ball, went down, then left the ball purposely on the ground. Everyone, including this diehard **GIANTS** fan, was thinking “Idiot, that’s a fumble”, but the refs blew it dead and a lot of complaining followed. I liked that the call went my way, but IMNSHO it was the wrong call. No, it was objectively the correct call, though it might feel wrong since it was unusual looking. If a ballcarrier gives himself up by intentionally going to the ground and ceasing his forward progress, the play is over. That’s what Cruz did. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/28 "2015-10-04T08:50:41Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > I sort of understand but cannot grasp the reasons. In rugby union if a tackled player hits the ground and stops, then he has to release the ball - which he can pass to another player. But if he continues his momentum and stands up, he can keep running. > > To be fair, it is a fine distinction in theory but obvious enough in play. > > I like American football and in my humble opinion running further with the ball would enhance the game. …stop thinking rugby union and start thinking rugby league. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/29 "2015-10-04T14:22:59Z")
I didn’t see the Cruz play, but once or twice a season, a player (usually a rookie) will go down, - not by contact - and leave a live ball on the field. I remember Tedy Bruschi picking up such a ball for a touchdown after a rookie made a catch, tripped over his own feet and hit the deck. He put the ball down and ran toward the huddle, Bruschi picked up the ball and ran it in for six points. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/30 "2015-10-04T14:57:12Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …stop thinking rugby union and start thinking rugby league. Precisely what I was thinking, being from the South of England I only played rugby league a couple of times, but the parallel is obvious (even if in league the time to re-start play after a tackle is much less). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/31 "2015-10-04T18:53:23Z")
So one form of rugby is more like American football than another? ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/32 "2015-10-04T23:24:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Why don’t rugby union players pass the ball forward? Lol and yes, its an odd game in that respect. However the ball can be carried forward or kicked forward which ultimately achieves the same result. > [@Ravenman](#): > > If the carrier were allowed to advance after touching the ground, I suppose every play would end with what is now a late hit penalty. Ball carrier hits ground, followed by several defenders plowing into him to make sure he is totally down. > > The only winners in that scenario are the neurologists who get paid for treating so many more concussions. Ok thanks, makes sense. However in both rugby union and rugby league players tackle each other hard (within rules against dangerous tackles) and keep on playing. Yes there are injuries but not many because the players are very fit. Soccer is rather brutal at a high level too. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/33 "2015-10-04T23:33:22Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Soccer is rather brutal at a high level too. They’re just pretending. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/34 "2015-10-05T00:26:36Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > Yes there are injuries but not many because the players are very fit. Soccer is rather brutal at a high level too. Put a rugby player on an American football field and being “very fit” wouldn’t save him from serious injuries from illegal tackles. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/35 "2015-10-05T00:36:35Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > However in both rugby union and rugby league players tackle each other hard (within rules against dangerous tackles) and keep on playing. …no they don’t “keep on playing” in league. When a player is tackled and held, play stops. It restarts once the player has rolled the ball backwards under his feet. If we were to implement what you suggest into league, then league would simply become another game of rugby union. And if you implement it into the NFL, then it becomes another game all together. The simple answer to your question is “because they like the game as it is, and don’t want to play your version of the game.” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/36 "2015-10-05T03:00:38Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > No, it was objectively the correct call, though it might feel wrong since it was unusual looking. If a ballcarrier gives himself up by intentionally going to the ground and ceasing his forward progress, the play is over. That’s what Cruz did. Mike Pereira and Eli Manning [disagree](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d822c7390/article/refs-save-giants-wr-cruz-from-potential-embarrassment) with you. The head of referees at that time agrees with you. I bleed **GIANT** blue (once the Yankees are eliminated or win the World Series; before that I bleed pinstripes), and like I said, I believe they caught a huge break on that call. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/37 "2015-10-05T03:14:58Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > The simple answer to your question is “because they like the game as it is, and don’t want to play your version of the game.” This is an uninformative and misleading answer and is unworthy of the SDMB. Rules of a game are set by someone often for a conscious reason and they change over time often for a conscious reason. If answers like this were accepted, then we would never cure ignorance and we would never learn anything here. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/38 "2015-10-05T04:05:45Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This is an uninformative and misleading answer and is unworthy of the SDMB. Rules of a game are set by someone often for a conscious reason and they change over time often for a conscious reason. > > If answers like this were accepted, then we would never cure ignorance and we would never learn anything here. …whatever dude. It is the correct answer and it isn’t misleading. And the same answer has been expressed by several other people in this thread but you didn’t blow a gasket over their responses. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/39 "2015-10-05T04:41:58Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …whatever dude. It is the correct answer and it isn’t misleading. It’s a crappy answer and it offers zero information. You could answer almost any question this way. History? Science? Culture? Law? Religion? Why not answer every question with “It is because it is.” Why ask questions then? And it’s also not true. The rules of football were chosen or changed for specific reasons, some of which have actually been expressed in this thread. > [@](#): > > And the same answer has been expressed by several other people in this thread but you didn’t blow a gasket over their responses. So what? Yours was the one that got my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359/40 "2015-10-05T05:05:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s a crappy answer and it offers zero information. You could answer almost any question this way. > > History? Science? Culture? Law? Religion? Why not answer every question with “It is because it is.” Why ask questions then? > > And it’s also not true. The rules of football were chosen or changed for specific reasons, some of which have actually been expressed in this thread. …we know why this question was asked. “I like American football and in my humble opinion running further with the ball would enhance the game.” We’ve had plenty of threads in similar veins. “Why don’t the make soccer goal posts wider? It would enhance the game!” Well to most people no it wouldn’t. The game is what the game is. > [@](#): > > So what? Yours was the one that got my attention. Well that was pretty freaking obvious, considering your over-reaction to my post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-nfl-players-stop-when-tackled/733359.md?page=3)