Emmitt Smith Believes Rules, Coaching Have Hurt NFL Product

Hall of fame running back Emmitt Smith believes the current rules of the NFL have really hurt the product.

Transcript

00:00 Okay, so we had Bruce Smith down here yesterday. My pops played 12 back in the 80s, Bobby Butler.

00:06 They always talk about the game is soft now because of the new rules. And Bruce mentioned

00:13 that yesterday on air. You're talking about the grinder, the practice, the competitive nature.

00:19 Do you think that is because of the new rules? Or do you think it's probably because of the

00:25 coach and the style in which they practice? It's a combination of both. The rules of the game

00:31 favors the offense a lot. Correct. It favors the offense a lot and it's not

00:39 as supportive for defensive players. Pass interference, roughing the quarterback,

00:46 roughing the pass and all this kind of stuff. That part has lessened the value of the game,

00:53 in my opinion. Offensively, coordinators are enamored with the passing game, which is

01:01 the league itself has shifted itself to a pass happy league. And they are adapting to

01:06 the abilities of the players that's growing up in these systems at the collegiate level,

01:13 high school level, and even at the Pop Warner level now.

01:16 Everybody wants to throw the ball, even at the Pop Warner level.

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