When did the Mel Blount rule start?

The 'Mel Blount Rule'

Blount and the Steelers had already begun their dynasty prior to the 1978 season after winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1974-75. But it appeared that the NFL Competition Committee was intent on stopping the Steelers from further league domination entering the '78 season.

How good was Mel Blount?

Blount, who was named the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1975 by the Associated Press, earned All-Pro acclaim in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1981. He also was a four-time All-AFC selection and played in five Pro Bowls.

How fast was Mel Blount?

The prototype for a perfect NFL cornerback, Blount had the size (6-foot-3 and 205 pounds), speed (he ran a low 4.4 in the 40-yard dash) and natural athletic skills to dominate opposing receivers. Blount also had an unquenchable thirst to succeed after not getting selected in the 1970 draft.

What is the Blount rule in the NFL?

The NFL ultimately designed a rule, which some called the “Mel Blount Rule,” decreeing that no defensive back could bump an offensive player outside of five yards from the line of scrimmage.

What year did the Steelers draft Mel Blount?

The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the best draft picks in NFL history when they took Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft.

#10 Mel Blount Starts the Steelers Dynasty | NFL Films | Top 10 Interceptions

Who was the first ever player drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Steelers' first selection in the inaugural NFL draft was William Shakespeare, a halfback from Notre Dame. The Steelers have selected first overall three times, drafting Bill Dudley in 1942, Gary Glick in 1956 and Terry Bradshaw in 1970. The team has selected second overall once, and third overall four times.

Who was the first running back drafted this year?

2021. Harris was the first running back taken in the 2021 draft, as the Steelers had an immediate need for a running back after losing James Conner to free agency.

What is the 5 rule in NFL?

If the defender maintains contact beyond five yards, it is illegal contact. Beyond the five-yard zone, incidental contact may exist between receiver and defender. Penalty: For illegal contact by the defense: Loss of five yards and automatic first down.

Does the NFL Tuck rule still exist?

The tuck rule was abolished on March 20, 2013, by a 29–1 vote of current teams. The Pittsburgh Steelers voted against abolition, while two teams, the Patriots and Redskins, abstained from the vote.

What is the 45 rule in football?

For decades in Oregon, there were different versions of the rule that different leagues adopted. Now everybody is under the same rule: When one football team is up by 45 points after halftime, the clock rolls except on change of possession, injuries or time outs. It makes disgusting blowouts palatable.

Who recorded the fastest speed in the NFL?

Next Gen Stats have only been around since 2016, so it's impossible to know if someone from before then might hold the distinction. What we do know is that the fastest official speed ever recorded belongs to Tyreek Hill. "Cheetah" reached 23.24 mph on a kickoff return against the Texans during his rookie season.

How many consecutive games did Mel Blount play in?

Blount set a club record by playing 200 regular-season games. He played every game in 13 of 14 seasons, missing only one regular season game, and was one of only three players in Steelers' history to play 14 seasons. He closed out his career with a 132-game consecutive starting streak.

Who was the heaviest lineman at the Combine?

According to the NFL Research database, which goes back to 2003, Faalele is the modern combine's heaviest player ever -- by 15 pounds.

Is there an NFL mercy rule?

If a team is trailing by 40 points or more, a running clock shall be used at the start of the 3rd and/or 4th Quarter (mandatory). The clock shall run except during time-outs, following scores, injuries, and change of possession. The clock will continue to run regardless of the score differential.

What is the Tom Brady rule?

A new rule is about to take professional football back to its glory days—of the 1940s. The so-called "Brady Rule" prohibits defensive players who are on the ground from "lunging" at a quarterback's legs.

When was the 30 for 30 Tuck Rule made?

The 2001 AFC divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots will forever be known as the "Tuck Rule Game."

Is the number 69 banned in the NFL?

Currently, numbers 1–49 and 70–89 are eligible while 50–69 are not. They can be used as ineligible players in eligible positions. Numbers 90–99 are generally worn on defense although in the early days of the CFL, 90s were common on offense. The number 0 (and 00) is also allowed in the CFL, unlike in the NFL.

What does 7 mean in football?

7 shirt is reserved for wingers and second strikers, though there are some examples of legendary central strikers who have worn the shirt, thus giving the number classic status.

What is the 50% rule in the NFL?

This changes from 2021 to '29, when players will be paid 50 percent of their salary over the course of a period that is double the number of weeks the player is eligible to be paid for (i.e., in an 18-week regular season, he would be paid over a 36-week period).

Who was the youngest running back drafted?

Amobi Okoye became the youngest player selected in the history of the NFL draft when the Houston Texans made him the 10th overall pick in 2007. He remains one of only two teenagers ever chosen in the draft. Okoye emigrated from Nigeria to the United States at 12 years old and almost instantly tested into ninth grade.

Has a wide receiver ever been drafted first overall?

Fryar went No. 1, becoming the first wide receiver ever to be taken in that spot. Fryar was a member of the Patriots when the team advanced to Super Bowl XX, and was a five-time Pro Bowl pick (four of those five came with teams other than the Patriots).

Why don't running backs go in the first round?

The answer to that is still no, and the reason for that is twofold. First, a first-round talent should be used on a sure thing for a top-10 pick, or at least someone close to that level. Running backs have such a short lifespan in the NFL on top of their diminished use that, more often than not, the pick is wasted.