Football and the laws of physics

[Sierra Foothills]

I don't have too much objection to how roughing is called in the NFL.

 

There are plays where you see the defender will let up on a QB hit and plays where the defender doesn't.

 

The latter is what the NFL is trying to enforce. The same is true for "body weight" roughing fouls when the defender has to try not to land on the QB with his entire body weight. In both cases avoiding a foul is possible and refs want to see the defender attempt to lessen the force.

 

It bears mentioning that it usually sucks watching a game with 2nd string QBing.

 

The "roughing" calls I don't like are when they call a "hit to the head" when a defender's hand brushes against a QB's helmet.

 

Too often such cases are not really roughing (excessive force) and aren't deserving of a personal foul, IMO.

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Sierra Foothills

[JP51]

21 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

I’m watching the replay of Sunday’s game and just saw the TD to Shakir.  They called roughing the passer on that play, and it was a perfect example of how I think the league has gone so overboard on roughing, late hits, and such that the rules are contrary to fundamental laws of physics.  Specifically F= ma.

 

F= ma.  Force equals mass times acceleration.  So you have guys of significant mass, running and accelerating  to try and sack a QB or break up a pass, so there will be force.  There will be force because physics are physics.  And pretty high amounts of force given the degree of mass and degree of acceleration. 
 

The league seems to want guys  to immediately stop accelerating.  Like when they’re within a step or two of a guy. You can’t just do that.  Plus as acceleration in this case is straight line, you also can’t reasonably expect a guy to be accelerating in a straight line, tackle, then somehow twist themselves into a pretzel to avoid landing on top of a guy.

 

I am not saying we go back to the Jack Tatum paralyzing Daryl Stingley days, or the days of watching QBs get destroyed every week.  But can we at least have football that acknowledges basic physical laws?

So, literally I think this too... BUT I think the league behind closed doors is saying well we cant tell people to let up on the QB but we can call them for roughing if they go in too hard and cant control themselves... I see this on the slide as well...  so people are gonna get RTP penalties that are unfair but ultimately we will achieve the result we are looking for and send the message we dont want these guys knocked out of the game... (see the dude that saved JA's knee ) I do think they will back off a smidgen at some point but it is hard to deny that the message has been received.  And for those that dont take it easy on the QB they are gonna get penalized, fined or both...  but I am with you... it certainly isnt "fair" but it is likely effective.  We saw the same thing in hockey with high sticking... guys getting their sticks lifted and taking penalties... tripping or falling and their sticks get up... league is saying be in control of your stick at all times if not... box...  I think the league saw way to many eye injuries, teeth, cuts etc.... so it may not be fair... but it has been effective... folks are no longer taking liberties with their sticks like they used too... but there is a cost for both and fairness is part of that cost. 

Edited 4 hours ago by JP51

[Matt_In_NH]

That was true a few years ago but the frequency has decreased.  I think the league has found a better balance of safety and going overboard honestly.  The amount of ticky tack calls are less than they were.  And yea defensive players can adjust.  
 

https://www.nflpenalties.com/penalty/roughing-the-passer?view=season

[Einstein]

19 hours ago, Buffalo Boy said:

Speed is where it’s at.

Force exerted goes up Squared in relation to speed.

1 times speed = 1 times force

2 times speed = 4 times force

3 times speed = 9 times force

 

 To the OP point, Newton’s 1st law of inertia

A body in motion stays in motion. Dudes can’t stop at the last second. 

No. 

You're thinking of kinetic energy, not force. 

[BillsShredder83]

On 12/11/2025 at 3:00 PM, oldmanfan said:

I’m watching the replay of Sunday’s game and just saw the TD to Shakir.  They called roughing the passer on that play, and it was a perfect example of how I think the league has gone so overboard on roughing, late hits, and such that the rules are contrary to fundamental laws of physics.  Specifically F= ma.

 

F= ma.  Force equals mass times acceleration.  So you have guys of significant mass, running and accelerating  to try and sack a QB or break up a pass, so there will be force.  There will be force because physics are physics.  And pretty high amounts of force given the degree of mass and degree of acceleration. 
 

The league seems to want guys  to immediately stop accelerating.  Like when they’re within a step or two of a guy. You can’t just do that.  Plus as acceleration in this case is straight line, you also can’t reasonably expect a guy to be accelerating in a straight line, tackle, then somehow twist themselves into a pretzel to avoid landing on top of a guy.

 

I am not saying we go back to the Jack Tatum paralyzing Daryl Stingley days, or the days of watching QBs get destroyed every week.  But can we at least have football that acknowledges basic physical laws?

If anything i give crews tip of the hat for chilling on the soft arse 'RTP' and 'defenseless receiver' calls this year.

 

Its started to feel consistently called too. Generally*

20 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

You think most football players understand physics? 

 

Rashee rice learned what physics were after he smashed his car into people

Seriously lol

 

If I cared enough id say these colleges Ath Directors & teachers should be jailed for fraud 🤣🤣

 

Dudes coming into draft; getting degrees, or 5 years with a redshirt, and they're quite literally illiterate coming out LoL 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

On 12/11/2025 at 2:00 PM, oldmanfan said:

Football and the laws of physics