RICHMOND -- Washington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger says the NFL's helmet-to-helmet is "eliminating football, the real football" and will force defenders to strike low.
A new rule this season will penalize players 15 yards for lowering their helmets upon contact, taking the helmet-to-helmet rule one step further. There's also a chance players might be ejected from the game for targeting. Swearinger was most upset with the helmet-to-helmet aspect of the rule, saying it leads to problems for defensive backs -- and could lead to more problems for offensive players.
"They want us to, I guess, hit with our shoulder," Swearinger said.