Deep in the various layers and levels of uproar arising from Thursday night’s Panthers-Broncos game resides a nugget that cries out for a tweaking of the rules. Which may happen.
A flag thrown for one of the various illegal hits on quarterback Cam Newton was nullified by an intentional grounding penalty. As NFL V.P. of officiating Dean Blandino explained on NFL Network, personal fouls trump five-yard penalties. For 10-yard fouls (that’s the minimum for intentional grounding), the penalties offset.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the league will discuss the possibility of wiping out the grounding penalty in those circumstances.
It would be the right outcome. Hits from defensive players that violate safety rules always should result in penalties that are enforced, unless offset but a similar foul by the offense.
Hopefully, this dynamic from the first game of the season will be the first item on the agenda for the Competition Committee in the offseason.
