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Von Miller thinks Leonard Fournette huge block on Micah Parsons ‘must be taken out of the game’

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Von Miller thinks the NFL should make a greater effort to protect the game’s best players. And he isn’t talking about quarterbacks, receivers or running backs.

Miller, one of the NFL’s premier defenders, wants greater protection for pass-rushers. He pointed to a block by Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette against Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons on “Sunday Night Football” to make his point.

The play, which occurred late in the first half, saw Parsons engaged with left tackle Josh Wells before Fournette lowered his shoulder and threw a huge block to Parsons’ chest that knocked the linebacker to the ground.

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Miller claimed the NFL was letting “letting the offense tee off on our marquee pass-rushers,” adding, “You can get the job done without this much contact!”

Miller’s is an interesting point, one that’s normally argued on behalf of offensive players (particularly receivers and quarterbacks). The NFL has taken great pains to protect players with the biggest star power, including facets of its unnecessary roughness rule such as defenseless players and legal vs. illegal hits on quarterbacks.

Much less consideration has been given to defensive players, even though players like Parsons are among the NFL’s best young stars. (The second-year player, coming off an All-Pro rookie season, had five total tackles against the Buccaneers, including two third-down sacks of Tom Brady.)

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It should be noted that there is no NFL rule prohibiting Fournette’s block, as Parsons did not fit any NFL definition of a defenseless player (which would have resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty). Parsons did not face a blindside or crack-back block, nor did Fournette block him below the waist.

And so, Miller’s point will most likely fall on deaf ears as far as the NFL is concerned.

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