Aaron Rodgers compares NFL player safety rules to 'South Park' episode during discussion on Azeez Al-Shaair-Trevor Lawrence

Aaron Rodgers compares NFL player safety rules to ‘South Park’ episode during discussion on Azeez Al-Shaair-Trevor Lawrence

Posted by Admin December 3, 2024 NFL

Spread the love

In the aftermath of Week 13 of the NFL season, the topic that has everyone talking about is the brutal hit Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair gave on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

That includes Aaron Rodgers.

Before he addressed the status of his New York Jets during his usual Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the former Packers quarterback had some thoughts on the illegal hit from Al-Shaair.

Lawrence slid on the play before Al-Shaair struck him with his left forearm, resulting in the quarterback’s head hitting the field hard. He suffered a concussion. A fight broke out between teams. Al-Shaair has been suspended three games.

With player safety in mind, the NFL has implemented several rule changes over the years, much of it to protect the quarterback. Rodgers has been at the center of some of player safety changes during his two-decade NFL career. The NFL actually changed a rule in response to a hit that put him on the shelf for seven games in 2017.

“They’ve already done a lot to support the quarterback and keep the quarterback safe,” Rodgers said. “The whole game has changed in the last 20 years. It’s not the same physicality. There’s protected players on both sides of the ball. You protect the quarterback from the knee to the shoulder making it real difficult on defensive players to even know how to tackle the guy.”

Rodgers believes the NFL has “lost a lot of physicality” because of all these changes.

He said last year on McAfee’s show that the league has begun to resemble flag football with the rule changes and connected to the softening of society.

He applauded the league for taking player safety in consideration, “but I think it’s really hard to play defense in those situations.”

The NFL referred Al-Shaair’s past in issuing its suspension.

“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,” the statement read. “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”

Rodgers didn’t feel those past fouls were that egregious.

And he doesn’t like the direction that the league is taking the game in the name of player safety.

“Some of the rules have made it closer to Sarcastaball and have not improved the viewing experience,” Rodgers added.

What is Sarcastaball, why did Rodgers reference it and what was the connection to the Packers?

‘South Park’ Saracastaball episode

“South Park,” the long-running animated-comedy TV show on Comedy Central, aired an episode in its 16th season titled “Sarcastaball” on Sept. 26, 2012. It came just two days after the Packers lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the infamous Fail Mary game in what was remembered as the final contest with replacement referees.

Replacement refs were used early in the 2012 season during a referee lockout. The game was referenced in the episode.

But the episode primarily spoofed the NFL over how the game essentially became “softer,” with the show’s plot centering around one of the dads going to the extreme after learning that kickoffs were banned from football at the elementary school to prevent injuries. The character then sarcastically suggests a game called “Sarcastaball” where the kids use a balloon instead of a football and players hug instead of tackle.

Rodgers has referenced the “South Park” episode on McAfee in the past as well.

Anthony Barr hit on Aaron Rodgers led to broken collarbone in 2017, NFL rules changes

Whether any rules change from Al-Shaair’s hit remain to be seen.

But six years ago, the NFL implemented a new rule following a hit on Rodgers.

After the 2017 season, in response to Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr landing on top of Rodgers outside of the pocket during a game that year, the NFL changed how defenders could tackle a quarterback.

Players could no longer land on top of quarterbacks with all or most of their body weight while the passer is in a “defenseless posture.”

Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone on the play and missed the next two months. Rodgers in the past said he didn’t view the the Barr hit as a dirty play.