For those of you defending this play, read the below particularly #2 and #4
#4 clearly states that the passer is still afforded the protection of number 2.
I have rewatched this play over and over on my dvr and there is absolutely 0% doubt that Barr intentionally did everything in his power to drive arod into the ground and land on him with the full force of his weight.
By the way the below is taken directly from the NFL rule book and Barr will be fined because what he did was absolutely illegal by the letter of NFL law and he should have been flagged.
Any of you that think Anthony barr’s Full intention was anything other than to hurt Aaron Rodgers are blind.
Roughing the Passer
Because the act of passing often puts the quarterback in a position where he is particularly vulnerable, special rules against roughing the passer apply.
1.
1-Step Rule. Pass rushers are responsible for being aware of the position of the ball in passing situations. If a pass rusher clearly should have known that the ball had already left the passer's hand before contact was made, unnecessary roughness will be called. The Referee will use the release of the ball from the passer's hand as his guideline that the passer is now fully protected. Once a pass has been released by a passer, a rushing defender may make direct contact with the passer only up through the rusher's first step after such release (prior to second step hitting the ground); thereafter the rusher must be making an attempt to avoid contact and must not continue to "drive through" or otherwise forcibly contact the passer. Incidental or inadvertent contact by a player who is easing up or being blocked into the passer will not be considered significant.
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National Football League
Player in the Act of or Just After Throwing a Pass
2.
Stuffing the Passer. A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating and punishing acts as "stuffing" a passer into the ground or unnecessarily wrestling or driving him down after the passer has thrown the ball, even if the rusher makes his initial contact with the passer within the one-step limitation provided for above. When tackling a passer who is in a virtually defenseless posture (e.g.,
during or just after throwing a pass), a defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender's weight. Instead,
the defensive player must strive to wrap up or cradle the passer with the defensive player's arms.
3.
Hitting a Passer's Knees. A rushing defender is prohibited from forcibly hitting in the knee area or below a passer who has one or both feet on the ground, even if the initial contact is above the knee. It is not a foul if the defender is blocked (or fouled) into the passer and has no opportunity to avoid him.
Note 1: A defender cannot initiate a roll or lunge and forcibly hit the passer in the knee area or below, even if he is being contacted by another player.
Note 2: It is not a foul if the defender swipes, wraps, or grabs a passer in the knee area or below in an attempt to tackle him.
4.
Protection While Out of Pocket. When the passer goes outside the pocket area and either continues moving with the ball (without attempting to advance the ball as a runner) or throws while on the run,
he loses the protection of the one-step rule and the provision regarding low hits, but he remains covered by all other special protections afforded to a passer in the pocket. If a passer outside the pocket stops behind the line and clearly establishes a passing posture, he is covered by all of the special protections.
