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In the NFL, a defensive back is allowed any sort of contact within the 5 yard bump zone except for holding the receiver, otherwise the defensive back can be called for an illegal contact penalty, costing 5 yards and an automatic first down, enforced since 1978, and known colloquially as the Mel Blount Rule. [5] [3]
Additionally, several rules were changed to help open up the offense, particularly the passing game. [12] One rule which prohibited defenders from contacting receivers more than five yards from the line of scrimmage, came to be known as the "Mel Blount rule" after the Steelers notably physical cornerback. [13]
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. ... This is usually referred to as the "Mel Blount Rule"
The rule would come to be named the Mel Blount Rule. [4] Blount had 57 interceptions in his career; he returned them for 736 yards and two touchdowns. He intercepted at least one pass in all 14 NFL seasons and led the league in interceptions with 11 in 1975. Blount also was used as a kickoff returner early in his career.
In 1978, the contact from defenders on receivers was minimized with the passing of the Mel Blount Rule, which prohibited defenders from making contact with receivers past five yards from the line of scrimmage. [5] [6]
The joint endorsement praised Harris's “vision of Democracy, Freedom, American world leadership, and equal education and equal opportunities for all Americans.”
Mel Blount rule: [374] Officially known as illegal contact downfield, defensive backs can only make contact with receivers within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Enacted in its current form in 1978 .
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