NFL may start suspending players for helmet-to-helmet hits - NFL - SI.com
What's next - two hand touch or flag football??
What's next - two hand touch or flag football??
NFL: The No Fun League may be striking again!
- Thread starter Tank
- Start date
I don't think you can really argue against that with everything we're learning about concussions. That's not really a "no fun" rule, more like "let guys have long careers and not live their lives in pain afterwards" rule.
A sad, related story I saw earlier today from Saturday's game-
Rutgers player paralyzed but still positive | Professional | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.
Rutgers player paralyzed but still positive | Professional | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.
No player should be suspended for having a helmet-to-helmet hit. Yes, go after the repeat offenders but to go straight to a suspension is crazy.
Good move IMO, hard hits are one thing, hits like that are just dangerous. Players are getting to the point where they use their helmet as a weapon basically, no regard for proper form because the helmet will protect them, but that's definitely not the case.
Ya because it's a lot of fun to have a severe concussion becaue someone hit you head on with a deadly weapon.
I get the 'no fun' with the td celebrations and other things, but this isn't the same thing at all.
If a guy is leading with his head and launching himself at a guy, the defender should be suspended the same number of games as the guy with the concussion has to miss.
Football has probably become a faster sport in recent years, IMO, and guys are running into each other headlong and at top speed. The human brain wasn't meant to repeatedly take the level of forces these guys are dishing out. Take away the pads and the helmets and I don't think we'll see players going after each other as hard as they are right now.
That said, suspending players outright should only be saved for situations where players are either repeat offenders, or would seem to be purposely leading with their heads/aiming for opponents, etc. However, some sort of intermediate type of missed playing time wouldn't be a terrible idea.
That said, suspending players outright should only be saved for situations where players are either repeat offenders, or would seem to be purposely leading with their heads/aiming for opponents, etc. However, some sort of intermediate type of missed playing time wouldn't be a terrible idea.
- Mar 27, 2006
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I have no problem with repeat offenders and situations where it's clear that use of the helmet was intentional, being rewarded with suspensions. Stuff like the Dunta Robinson/Desean Jackson hit for yesterday shouldn't result in loss of gametime, though. Fine? Sure. But, that wasn't intentional.
My problem with this is that the rules are starting to lend themselves to more of a offensive type NFL. The QB is so protected now that almost all hits on him are either penalyzed or reviewed later with an imposing fine attached. Now the same is happening with WR's and RB's where the defender is being penalyzed or imposed with a fine and now possibly a suspension. I have watched game after game where the defender is penalyzed for a clean hit (upper shoulder and not head) or the play is not penalyzed but after later review, the defender is fined. Where is something like this going to end?
Again, I would agree with something to the extent of going after repeat offenders but for this to happen right away could have a series consequence on all players. Defenders could start worrying more about fines/suspensions/etc... than actually playing and then they could be the ones getting hurt b/c they let up at the end. So, now instead of concussion, you start to see players have more torn ACL's, disclocated shoulders, etc...
My biggest beef about this is that football is a violent sport and it doesn't matter that the game has gotten faster and the players have got bigger and stronger, they are all that way now. All football players know of the consequences that could happen when strapping on the pads and playing, all football players know of the possbily injuries that could happen and all football players still do it.
Like Jack Lambert once said, "They might as well put dresses on em"
Again, I would agree with something to the extent of going after repeat offenders but for this to happen right away could have a series consequence on all players. Defenders could start worrying more about fines/suspensions/etc... than actually playing and then they could be the ones getting hurt b/c they let up at the end. So, now instead of concussion, you start to see players have more torn ACL's, disclocated shoulders, etc...
My biggest beef about this is that football is a violent sport and it doesn't matter that the game has gotten faster and the players have got bigger and stronger, they are all that way now. All football players know of the consequences that could happen when strapping on the pads and playing, all football players know of the possbily injuries that could happen and all football players still do it.
Like Jack Lambert once said, "They might as well put dresses on em"
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The greater problem is in the fact that players, instead of going for a tackle, or a clean hit, are trying to "blow up" the guy, which gets them on highlight reels. If all of these DBs were hitting at chest/waist level, that guy is still not likely going to catch the ball, but it poses a far smaller risk for the long-term health of the player.
Lastly, the bolded point is a silly argument. Everybody knows it's dangerous, but that's supposed to mean we can't help make it safer? The NFL has a trickle down effect on college, high school, and youth leagues as well. The fewer kids that see defenders leading with their helmet, the fewer kids will try the same dangerous stuff. The NFL is facing a lot of scrutiny right now from the medical community and the public at large, and making the game safer is not only good for the players, it's a good PR move.
This is true but 9 times out of 10, the offender just falls back about 2 feet and then continues on for another 10-15 yard gain (saw this many, many times in the Nebby/Texas game). This leads to the opposite where it is the highlight reel for the offender and the "Not So Top 10" for the defender. So yes, there is a trickle down affect from the NFL but suspensions are not the answer. The NFL players will probably continue to do it which will lead to H.S. players to try to do it. What needs to be done is just pure education (wrapping up for example) and not necessarily head-hunting.
Again, go after the repeat offenders but do not punish the one-time offender.
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If the defenders are using proper tackling technique (wrapping arms, instead of putting their heads down and just jumping at a guy), they wouldn't just bounce off of him.
What's fun about watching someone ending a guy's career? Some people get enjoyment from the most twisted things.
Steelers' James Harrison: I don't care if I hurt players - NFL - SI.com
I agree with Harrison (read the entire article and not just the title before criticizing).
So the answer is re-teaching veteran NFL players how to play their positions? Good luck with that. Unless there is a concrete reason for them not to do what has always worked for them, they won't stop.
That guy is fun to watch and has the right idea about what it takes to play good tough D.