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Time of India
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Aaron Rodgers made NFL history by turning defender mistakes into record-breaking free play passes
Aaron Rodgers made NFL history by turning defender mistakes into record-breaking free play passes (Image Via X) Aaron Rodgers built a career from one smart tactic. Whenever defenders jumped early or got caught offsides, Aaron Rodgers snapped the ball fast and took big shots downfield. Since 2006, no quarterback has thrown more passes on these 'free plays' than Aaron Rodgers. Fans and experts say he turned small mistakes into huge gains. How did he do it so well, and why did it work so often? Let's see his top free-play moments and what they say about his skill and timing. How Aaron Rodgers turned every defensive mistake into a big scoring chance Aaron Rodgers became known around 2010 for drawing offside calls consistently. When a defender jumped early or an extra player was on the field, he would still start the play. If the pass failed, the team took the five‑yard penalty. If it worked, they gained big yards. According to NFL Football Operations, Aaron Rodgers had 84 passes on free plays from 2006 to now, more than anyone else. He averaged about 25 air yards per free-play pass, racking up nearly 2,000 downfield yards, far more than any other quarterback. Even top QBs like Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes couldn't match his numbers. A 2015 SBNation report showed Aaron Rodgers averaged nearly 80 yards per game from free plays alone, turning offside calls into massive gains. That year, he used a fast snap method when the defense was late or had 12 men on the field, so every free play helped his offense. Also Read: 'Impressive Antagonist': Aaron Rodgers Slammed As 'Isolated' And 'Dismissive' In Shocking Claims From Ex-NFLPA Chief DeMaurice Smith Aaron Rodgers smart timing impressed fans and commentators Aaron Rodgers' free-play tactic earned praise from commentators and opponents. Mike Tirico, then on ESPN's Monday Night Football, said, 'Free play Rodgers has made a living on this' after Aaron Rodgers hit deep touchdown passes in 2015. Even rival coaches took note. Former Green Bay Packers coach Jim Tomsula said he had 'game-taped long' Aaron Rodgers using hard counts and no-huddles to trick the defense. Atlanta Falcons coordinator Marquand Manuel said teams struggled to stop Aaron Rodgers because he changed his cadence and snap count so well. These comments show how Aaron Rodgers turned free plays into weapons. He knew defender habits, called shifts to force offsides, and snapped at perfect times. The result? More deep throws, more yards, and more big plays all with low risk. Aaron Rodgers' mastery of free plays shows his smart mind and game-ready timing. By turning small defensive lapses into powerful gains, he changed what a simple penalty can mean for an offense. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL rules proposal changes carry some interesting suggestions
NFL rules proposal changes carry some interesting suggestions Ahead of the Annual League Meeting, @NFL clubs are proposing three rule changes for the 2025 season. A 🧵 1 /3 👇 The @packers propose changing Rule 12, Section 1. Read how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 There are some intriguing rules proposals for owners to discuss and debate this offseason. The Green Bay Packers are going after another team that wears green. The Packers are trying to get the Philadelphia Eagles' Tush Push banned. The Lions are suggesting a rule that makes a lot of sense, getting away from an automatic first down on defensive holding and illegal contact. Too often, these penalties give first downs for fouls that are negligible. 🧵 2/3 — The @Lions propose changing Rule 8, Section 4. Read how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 The Eagles would like overtime rules amended to make sure both teams have a chance to get the football should the game go into an extra session in the regular season because it is tied. 🧵 3/3 — The @Eagles propose changing Rule 16, Section 1. Read how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 Detroit also has made a pitch for a rules change that many fans will agree with: By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws, to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular season record.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL rules proposal changes carry some interesting suggestions
There are some intriguing rules proposals for owners to discuss and debate this offseason. The Green Bay Packers are going after another team that wears green. The Packers are trying to get the Philadelphia Eagles' Tush Push banned. Ahead of the Annual League Meeting, @NFL clubs are proposing three rule changes for the 2025 season. A 🧵 1 /3 👇The @packers propose changing Rule 12, Section how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 The Lions are suggesting a rule that makes a lot of sense, getting away from an automatic first down on defensive holding and illegal contact. Too often, these penalties give first downs for fouls that are negligible. 🧵 2/3 — The @Lions propose changing Rule 8, Section how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 The Eagles would like overtime rules amended to make sure both teams have a chance to get the football should the game go into an extra session in the regular season because it is tied. 🧵 3/3 — The @Eagles propose changing Rule 16, Section how it's currently written: — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 19, 2025 Detroit also has made a pitch for a rules change that many fans will agree with: By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws, to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular season record. From our folks at NFL Research, this is how the seeding would've looked for this past postseason under the #Lions' new proposal to seed by record. So AFC Wild Card weekend would've been similar (LAC home vs HOU though) but NFC would've been:LAR at PHITB at MINGB at WAS — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 19, 2025 This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL rules changes proposed for owners to mull at meetings
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The NFL's new kickoff rule for the 2025 Super Bowl, explained
Kickoffs in the NFL looked very different in 2024. Last spring, league owners approved a rule change that massively changed the kick that starts every game and follows every scoring play. This reform, which roared through a one-year pilot program last fall, added several new wrinkles to free kicks, allowing for greater returns while rewarding kickers for accuracy. The plan also, in theory, would reduce injuries related to one of the most dangerous phases of the game. Those theories bore fruit in the regular season. While not solely related to kickoffs, injuries — specifically, concussions — fell by a significant margin in 2024. That means the kicks we'll see at the 2025 Super Bowl are likely to stick around. So what's new? Well, the ball is still placed at the kicking team's 35-yard line. However, everyone but the kicker lines up 25 yards upfield at the receiving team's 40. Five yards away from them is the first line of blocking defense ahead of a maximum of two returners — a line that can't go deeper than the 30-yard line. It's a setup that looks like this. There's more than just a funky formation that leaves less room for defenders to build up momentum before crashing into returners. The space from the receiving team's 20-yard line to the goal line is the landing zone. No one from the kicking team can cross the 40 until the ball either lands or is fielded there. There are no fair catches. If the ball fails to make it to the landing zone, the receiving team takes over at its own 40-yard line. If the ball flies into the end zone, the receiving team takes over at the 30 — a five-yard increase from the previous touchback spot. If the ball hits the landing zone on the fly, then rolls into the end zone and is downed, the receiving team takes over at its 20. But wait, there's more! If the wind knocks the ball off the tee twice, a kicker can opt to hold it in place with a kicking stick — the tripod kickers use in practice — rather than making a teammate hold the ball on the tee. Onside kicks are still allowed, but have to be declared before the kickoff. From there, normal onside kick rules would apply (and, in honesty, have such a low success rate they'll probably reconsidered this offseason). To address the lowest kickoff return rate in @NFL history during the 2023 season and concern for player health and safety, the NFL Competition Committee has proposed a new kickoff rule. If adopted by NFL clubs, the new rule will keep the excitement of kickoff returns in the… — NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 22, 2024 This is a very visible reform that will be the first thing casual fans notice if Super Bowl 59 is their first game of the year. It won't be the last, however — especially now that hip-drop tackles have been deemed a 15-yard penalty with some very subjective language attached.
