Steelers' Jack Ham Concerned About The Game's Integrity Considering The Relentless Penalties: "It's Not Golf"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the pillars of the NFL. They started a dynasty in the 1970s and are tied for the most Lombardi Trophies in the league. That dynasty is synonymous with tough, smash-mouth-style football. They won championships from teams forged from tough defenses that started with the Steel Curtain and continued through the decades.

However, like the rest of the NFL, the Steelers' defenses have had to adapt and grow with the times, mainly by prioritizing player safety. Former Steelers linebacker, Jack Lambert, who was referred to as "Dracula in Cleats," said that he was concerned about the direction that the league was taking with the rules against defenders years ago. He even went so far as to suggest that quarterbacks should just wear dresses. 

Lambert's teammate and fellow linebacker, Jack Ham, took a slightly less aggressive approach when asked recently. He joined the Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan and was asked about the current flag-happy officiating. He said it bothers him when you see a defender take a flag when they are not trying to hit the quarterback. He referred to a recent instance where a defensive lineman was just trying to make a tackle, but this tackle comes after him trying to beat a huge offensive lineman. The defender comes through with momentum and can't fully stop. Ham says these will impact both teams and change the game negatively.  

"You gotta be careful, football is a physical sport, it's not golf," remarked Ham. "You gotta be very careful how much you want to change the game. I know you want to keep those quarterbacks healthy, but you gotta be careful not changing the game. It's a great football game and it's very physical out there. You can't have that many flags out there and stoppage of play because then you just lose the flow of the game."

Interestingly enough, a former teammate of Ham's generously contributed to the understanding of the brain damage that occurs with football players who take repeated blows to the head. Mike Webster, the outstanding Steelers center who won four Super Bowls along with Ham, passed away tragically at 50 from the impact of CTE. Webster's family generously donated his brain to doctors to examine the extent of the brain damage he has suffered. 

Since Ham played, the NFL has made sweeping changes to prioritize player safety, specifically regarding head injuries. Many of those changes came during the 2017-2018 season and caused a 38% reduction in concussions from then to 2021-2022. The biggest have been to eliminate helmet-to-helmet contact, dangerous tackling, and reducing collisions. They have banned tackles like the horse-collar tackle and the hip-drop tackle.

Steelers' New Center Reminds Some Of Mike Webster

Webster played on a team with many big personalities and exceptional playmaking abilities. However, they did not overshadow him, and he is considered by many to be one of the greatest and toughest centers in NFL history. He stayed in the black and gold for 17 seasons and played 150 consecutive games.  

The Steelers are a team that values its centers. Webster was the first All-Pro, but not the last. They also had Dermontti Dawson and Maurkice Pouncey. When the Steelers won a Super Bowl, a Pro Bowl center almost always anchored the team. 

Now, the Steelers have what appears to be a new stud in the middle of the offense, Zach Frazier. A tough country boy from West Virginia, Frazier has brought his state championship wrestling moves to the football field. One of the compliments paid to him as he went through the draft process was that he was reminiscent of Webster. It is easy to see why, like Webster, Frazier uses his strength to bully the defense and protect his quarterback. 

Unfortunately, Frazier was injured in the Week 6 game and will likely be out for several weeks. While Ryan McCollum has done well filling in, the Steelers will need Frazier back to survive their gauntlet of tough games after the bye week. 

What do you think about the rules changes in the NFL? Click to comment below. 

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