Write Now Blog

Urlacher unhappy with double standard

With the NFL on a mission to raise awareness about head injuries and concussions, Brian Urlacher wonders why nothing’s ever said about offensive linemen diving at the legs of defensive players.

“They shouldn’t allow cut blocks because our knees are important to us too,” Urlacher said. “I know concussions are a big deal, but I think cut blocks are a big deal. But that seems to be OK with the NFL, so they’re not too concerned about safety.

“They’re concerned about long-term concussions, but immediately they are not concerned about your knees or your ankles or anything like that. I think that should be an issue.

“Concussions are taking care of themselves. It’s a big deal to everyone because of all of the older players coming back and saying they’re all messed up now. That’s definitely an issue, but I think the cut blocks need to be a big issue as well.”

Defensive lineman Israel Idonije agreed “100 percent” with Urlacher that there’s a double standard in the NFL when it comes to player safety.

“We all know that,” Idonije said. “It’s an offensive game and ultimately a lot of the rules are put in place to advance the offense and defensively we’re second fiddle at times. But that’s just the nature of the game sometimes.

“Hopefully the bodies that govern the rules and protections do a better job of taking the injuries that the players on defense consistently sustain and remove some of those elements from the game as well.”