NFL Tuck Rule Gone Starting Next Season: The Illegal Use Of A Running Back's Helmet Officially Can Be A 15-Yard Penalty

One of the most difficult calls to make and one that lead Tom Brady and the Patriots first Super Bowl together, the tuck rule, will no longer be a part of the NFL, starting next season.

Some new rules were voted upon Wednesday in Phoenix by the NFL owners, including the elimination of the tuck rule.

Runners will be penalized 15-yards if they are more than three yards downfield or outside of the tackle box and deliver a blow with the crown of their helmet. If the offensive and defensive player each lowers his head and uses the crown of the helmet to make contact, each will be penalized, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

This ruling has strung up debate among players and owners.

"It'll certainly make our runners aware of what we expect relative to use of the helmet," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the AP. "One of the questions I ask a lot is who gains from this, offense or defense? And it's a toss-up as to which side of the ball has the advantage on this rule, if any. The main thing is it's pro-health and safety, and that's the big thing."

Hall of famer, Emmit Smith who's the all-time career rushing leader chimed in with his opinion.

"This has to be one of the most absurd rules I've heard in a long time in the game of football," Smith said in an interview on "Mike and Mike In the Morning." "There's no way it's possible for a running back to get to the situation where he has to make the decision whether or not to plow forward for an additional yard to keep the chains moving and keep the clock rolling to end the game or keep the chains moving so his team can continue to drive down the field to get a field goal to win the game and what you will see is guys starting to run out of bounds."

The tuck rule came about during a playoff game between then rookie, Tom Brady and the defense of the Oakland Raiders in 2002. Raiders' cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Brady, which in turn, caused a fumble. Oakland recovered, but the officials ruled that Brady's arm was moving forward, thus it was an incomplete pass and the birth of the tuck rule.

The New England Patriots then retained the ball and kicked a game-tying field goal before winning the game in overtime.

Owners passed a change in the replay challenge rule that fixes a problem when coaches challenge a play that would be automatically reviewed in the replay booth. Under the new rule, a coach who challenges such a play is charged a timeout when he throws a challenge flag. If the play is overturned, the coach gets back the challenge. It remains a 15-yard penalty if a coach challenges a booth reviewable play, the AP reported. Under the previous rule, if a coach challenged a reviewable play, there would be a 15-yard penalty and no review.