Thursday night was the first pre-season game of the NFL season and it was also the first look at the new helmet rule.  The new rule essentially takes almost all contact with the helmet out of the game.

The was supposed to keep players from lowering their head to initiate contact, a play that had already been taken out of certain plays.  

The way it played out on Thursday night was pretty much any contact with a helmet, anywhere on the body, even if the helmet wasn’t lowered.  It led to this play being flagged.  

This might be the end of the game we all love.  This is essentially taking punching in the face out of the sport of boxing.  The helmet is sometimes going to make contact with an opponent, It’s unavoidable.