Barr's hit on Rodgers would be penalty under new rules

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr unwittingly became the subject of one of last season's biggest controversies when his hit on Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers went unsanctioned.

Barr hit Rodgers as he was releasing the ball and the Packers quarterback suffered a broken collarbone. Green Bay missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, with many pointing to Rodgers' absence as the primary reason why.

The NFL is implementing new measures for player safety ahead of the 2018 season, and official Pete Morelli explained that Barr's hit on Rodgers would be deemed a penalty if it occurred this fall.

"Players will have to kind of roll to the side when they make that tackle, instead of plopping down on them," Morelli said to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Thursday. "So yeah, Aaron Rodgers would be a foul this year. As long as he's out of the pocket, established, and all that. If he's running, that's not going to be the same."

Here is the hit in question:

Barr stated that he had no intention to injure Rodgers, noting that he'd delivered a similar hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston without consequence. Regardless, edge rushers and inside linebackers will need to be more careful this season.