[CloakNNNdagger]

NFL competition committee seeks changes to chop blocks
Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports12:24a.m. EDT March 11, 2013
2013-03-10-cushing


It appears that rehabbing Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing will get his wish.

During a week of meetings in Naples, Fla., the NFL's competition committee overwhelmingly agreed to support a rule change that would ban the type of peel-back block inside the tackle box that ended Cushing's 2012 season with a torn ACL, USA TODAY Sports has learned.

According to two people with knowledge of the nine-member committee's discussions, who would not speak publicly because proposed changes have not been announced, the committee will also seek to eliminate cut-blocks more than three yards outside the tackle box.

And the committee also wants to ban low, blindside blocks to defenders in pursuit of a quarterback who changed directions on a scramble after leaving the pocket.

Defensive players around the NFL -- who have long grumbled that the NFL doesn't protect them by rule as vigorously as it does offensive players -- may want to rejoice.

REST OF THE STORY