Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed this week’s league memo warning teams that players will be called for a personal foul if an attempt to punch the ball leads to punching an opponent during a Saturday press conference.
Lions linebacker Jack Campbell was highlighted in the memo’s accompanying video, and he said earlier this week that he won’t be changing the way he plays as a result of the change in emphasis.
That approach appears to be OK with the head coach, as long as all Lions defenders are clear on the new emphasis. “The league did say that what he is doing is legal, but if you miss with a punch it would be illegal,” Dan Campbell explained.
“I want to make that clear. Listen, we can’t worry about all that. When it came out, I showed it to the team and I said, ‘Hey, here’s the emphasis, make sure you hit the football.’ It’s as simple as that.”
Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers will be the Lions’ first since the memo went out, and it will be interesting to see if the league’s directive has any impact on the outcome.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/dan-campbell-i-told-players-to-make-sure-they-punch-the-football
