According to ESPN.com, the league will be keeping a close eye on hits to the knees this season with the possibility of extending the rules to protect defenseless players. Ray Anderson, NFL chief of football operations, tells the Associated Press that if the league’s competition committee finds enough evidence this season that hits to the knees are “becoming a problem,” it could take action. If they decide, they will make a recommendation to the owners next March to prohibit direct hits to the knees, which owners would then vote on for change.”We are always looking at plays that may elevate themselves and we do include in that category hits on defenseless players,” Anderson said. “And certainly the hits to knees to players who have not had the opportunity to protect themselves or are not looking in the direction of where the hit comes from — we have had a couple hits whereby a player was hit below [or at] the knees.” The NFL already bans hits to the head and neck of defenseless players. However, recent hits to the knee in preseason games has drawn complaints from players. Miami tight end Dustin Keller and Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams were on the receiving end of such hits — Keller is out for the season with several torn ligaments, while Williams has a hyperextended knee.
