Well, the NFL is at it again. I'm actually starting to really feel sorry for NFL referees. Already unable to consistently rule on what is a catch or interference or holding, now they have to evaluate if a tackle meets some nebulous criteria that designates it as a "hip-drop" tackle? And this is their part-time job! Don't get me started on the uber-rich NFL being too cheap to hire professional referees that make it their primary career and not just something they do on weekends.
According to the NFL, a swivel hip-drop tackle takes place when a player:
- Grabs a runner with both hands/arms while attempting to make a tackle
- “Unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body”
- And then lands on and traps the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee
It's interesting that the NFL Players Association came out against the rule change, citing the confusion this will create for everyone involved.