Attacking the knees

Quote: Paullie "I'm getting really wound up with this 'I was always told to take the legs' garbage. Yes, kids are told to go for the legs first when tackling an oncoming attacker. Kids are NOT taught to take the legs while two of your own side hold the attacker in a upright position therefore rendering him a sitting duck.

Ok, so that type of tackle is currently legal, doesn't make it safe. Shoulder charges were legal last year but the powers that be saw fit to ban them as they have the potential for causing injury, this tackle should also be banned for exactly the same reason. Chicken wings were legal at one point as, I'm sure if you go far enough back, were spear tackles!!!

I'm also getting wound up with this 'that is the way that the knee bends so that tackle wont cause injury'. Well how do you control the subsequent fall to the ground? Taking the Ratchford tackle as an example, two defenders hold Ratchford up, Hansen takes his knees, the subsequent fall is ALWAYS going to be in a backwards direction from the knee up. This means that the weight of himself as well as the two defenders drop on the knee joint. This could result in the knee over extending, given that Hansens shoulder is directly behind the knee joint. Even if the shoulder wasn't there the ankle is at risk seeing is its immediately underneath the weight of three bodies with no movement. Of course Ratchford could always try to spin to avoid this crumpled heap but then, with stoods preventing his feet from rotating, the knee ligaments then become at risk.

Whichever way I look at it, going for anywhere in the leg area puts any immediate joints / bones at risk either a) directly from the tackle or b) from the subsequent fall.

This type of tackle needs banning immediately!

You must really get wound up at the dreadful unlawful penalty given as Angel Benny Westwood caressed Blake Green with a loving stroke accross his cheek in an effort to show him just how much he cares for him.....
Two wrongs don't make a right, but the Hansen tackle was unfortunate rather than deliberate. He did not attack the knee's but the leg got caught underneath.
The thug on the field was and usually is, Westwood, despicable player who brings shame to the sport. How do you justify that. Tell your kids its ok if the ref does not see it?