Agreed. Here's one RG posted a few days ago.
Vicious Tacklers Will Take Big Hit From NFL Officials
By Lonnie White
August 03, 2003
It’s late in the afternoon practice Friday and San Diego quarterback Drew Brees throws a slant pass to rookie receiver Kassim Osgood. But just as the pass reaches Osgood’s hands, defensive back Drayton Florence charges into the play and lunges at his teammate.
According to referee Terry McAulay, if Florence leaves his feet to make the same type of play during the regular season, he will pick up a 15-yard personal foul penalty because the NFL has done a better job of defining what is an illegal hit and what’s not.
“It doesn’t even have to be a helmet-to-helmet hit,” said McAulay at the Chargers’ training camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
“Launching with a shoulder would be a foul too. The key is, you can’t launch at anyone that is defenseless, usually meaning receivers and quarterbacks. When you jump in the air and launch yourself into a hit, that’s a foul.”
Violent big hits may be a key reason behind the NFL’s popularity, but that’s not stopping the league from from clamping down even more on dangerous hits that could lead to injuries. But it’s a fine line in determining when a player is defenseless.
“If you have two feet on the ground with the ball, then you’re a runner and you’re not defenseless,” McAulay said. “The league just wants to protect its players"