In Week 4, Browns defensive end Adin Huntington made a text example of a hip hit against Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was such a perfect example of what the groin rule is designed to prevent The official video of the NFL sent to each team, was shown to demonstrate what not to do. Unfortunately, the officials on the field missed it.
NFL executive and rules analyst Walt Anderson recounted Hutington’s tackle on Rodgers and noted that it constitutes exactly what is not allowed under the hip rule.
“This is an illegal beating,” Anderson said. “We want the players to understand, and we’re working to send the message to the officials, that if they see all the elements of this – wrapping, spinning, off-weight and then dropping or locking the legs – all four elements are clearly visible in the game. A groin tackle would be the right call. Whether it’s called for on the field, including additional discipline or not.”
The uncalled penalty was a big one: It happened on third down, leading the Steelers to punt. If the 15-yard penalty had been called, the Steelers would have had first-and-10 in field goal range. The Steelers ended up losing the game by three points.
Huntington was fined, but the officials should have flagged him at that time as well. If they had, the rest of the game might have been different.