New England — along with the rest of the NFL — has lost a special team technique that has proven useful. The leaping field-goal block has been banned, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

The @NFL's no leaping rule for field goals passed, I'm told. Not a surprise. All about player safety — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 28, 2017

The Patriots utilized this technique twice in the 2016 season, and were successful once against the Baltimore Ravens. Shea McClellin attempted this twice, but the second time was during the Super Bowl, and was flagged for an illegal formation even though it was a questionable call.

NFL executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent had some words to say about the rule in a recent conference call, as transcribed by nesn.com.

“We’ve also had coaches tell us they are now coaching to defend that leaper, which can really create a real issue, a safety issue with that defender coming down and now jumping over,” Vincent said. “The inevitable is going to happen, and just hearing from the players’ association, and Philly now proposing it, it’s really in the best interest of the game.”

Eric Winston is a current tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals, and is also the president of the NFL players association. He also had some words about the technique, and this a perspective from a current player.

“The jumping over on the field goal, I think, is just leading to a really dangerous play for everybody,” Winston said. “If you jump over the center, the jumper is in a really bad spot. He can land on his head. I think the guys that are getting jumped over are going to end up getting hurt, with those guys landing on them.”