The NFL imposed huge fines on three players -- the Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison, Atlanta Falcons' Dunta Robinson and New England Patriots' Brandon Meriweather -- for illegal hits last weekend. It warned that, starting with this week's games, violent conduct will be cause for suspension.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter was clearly perplexed by the decision. "There's no more hitting hard. That's what our game is about. It's a gladiator sport," Porter said. "I mean, the whole excitement of people getting hit hard, big plays happening, stuff like that. Just watch -- the game is going to change," he said.
Violence has always been a part of the NFL, bringing soaring TV ratings and strong attendance -- along with the allure that accompanied tackles by Chuck Bednarik, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson and Jack "The Assassin" Tatum.
The question is how much to allow.
"Physical, tough football is what people are attracted to," said Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations. "Violent, unnecessary hits that put people at risk, not just for the careers but lives ... we're not subscribing to the notion fans want that."
Commissioner Roger Goodell told the teams that "further action is required to emphasize the importance of teaching safe and controlled techniques and of playing within the rules. It is incumbent on all of us to support the rules we have in place to protect players," he said.
But some players think the league is asking for something much more difficult: complete changes in playing style -- changes that fans don't want to see.
Not surprisingly, defensive players are most critical.
"What they're trying to say -- 'We're protecting the integrity' -- no, you're not," Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said. "It's ruining the integrity. It's not even football anymore. We should just go out there and play two-hand touch Sunday if we can't make contact."
Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder said the only way of preventing helmet-to-helmet hits is to eliminate the helmet. "If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me," Crowder said. "They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it."
The players are questioning how they are supposed to adhere to the heightened emphasis on avoiding dangerous hits when it goes against everything they've been taught since they first stepped on the field as kids.
"Guys have to be coached differently because we've been coached a certain way our whole lives," said Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the executive committee of the players' union. "I think people out there would be shocked at the things players hear in their meetings with their coaches and the things they are supposed to do, the way they are taught to hit people."
Many players also wanted stronger discipline for flagrant fouls to be part of their negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, not something unilaterally imposed six weeks into the season.
"We want to protect the players, absolutely," Fujita said. "But we need to have a longer conversation about it, and if you're going to impose sweeping changes like that and talk about suspending players, that's something that you have to address in the offseason."
Urlacher was critical of the changes as well saying that they should change the league name to the NFFL - National Flag Football League.
I personally don't like the changes either. Football is a violent sport. It is the nature of the game. I agree with James Harrison that many defensive players want to hurt their opponents but they do not want to injure them. That is what makes them who they are. It may be hard for some people to understand this mentality but it makes perfect sense. They want guys to feel pain when they get hit by them but they do not want them to suffer injuries.
One problem is guys are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. The physical makeup of players has changed dramatically over the years and as a result, there will be bigger hits.
I agree that the helmet should not be used as a weapon or players should lead with their helmets. Doing so jeopardizes the health of not only the guy being tackled but the tackler himself. However, I have to believe in most cases guys are not trying to lead with their helmets. The game is moving so fast and guys are flying around out there trying to make plays and if helmets hit each other, to me, that is part of the game and unfortunately guys make get hurt. Again, that is the nature of the game and I think most players understand those inherent risks of playing this game. The one exception I have to helmet to helmet hits is on QBs. Many times QBs are stationary objects OR they are trying to move away from defenders so if a defender comes in and is leading with the helmet and hits the QB in the helmet that to me is more blatant and obvious the player went in with bad intentions.
No question last week was a week in which there were an exceptional number of very hard hits. We'll see what happens this week. My guess is guys are going to continue to play the way they have always played.
5 comments:
Let 'em play.
Fine/Suspend cheap shot artists but let's not change the game.
One point that has been made during the debate over this crackdown on violence that needs to be highlighted is the fact that players don't tackle anymore. They hit. Hitting is rewarded with ooohs and aaahs from the crowd, with replays on ESPN, with football video game simulated violence, and on and on. If the hitting with the intent to crush an opposing player is what the league cracks down on, I don't have a problem with it. The Harrison and the Merriweather hits were plain stupid. Robinson also hit without the intent to tackle, so I don't have a problem with him getting fined either.
Had any one of those players wrapped up the player and TACKLED, I doubt they would have gotten fined.
Bottom line...put your head down and hit the dude instead of wrapping the guy up should be fined if it results in an unnecessary injury. Wrap a guy up and he gets hurt because he couldn't make a football play to get away from a defender...That's his own damn fault and the defender should be praised for playing the game correctly.
Maybe the NFL needs to look at changes in the material, strength and overall design of the equipment to better protect players who are more often on the receiving end of hits. Or set weight/mass restrictions.
Simple physics:
Force = Mass x Acceleration
Lower the mass/weight and you lower the impact force but you can still have upending moster hits with less damage to bones. Bone strength is roughly the same in everyone. Itll force more skill in actual TACKLING.
Same Idea with Highways. I wish highway authorities would set tractor trailer trucks to drive at a mandatory max speed of 55 miles an hour or you lose your CDL. A tractor trailor truck driving at 75 mph would do massive damage compared to a car driving at 75 mph which weighs much less. But we see only one speed limit which ignorantly applies to both trucks and cars. Its usually trucks that are flying at speeds they should not be even getting close to because of deadlines.
Sorry for getting off topic. Almost got flattened by a truck.
Bring back leather helmets, get rid of facemasks, and make shoulder pads smaller. You won't see guys launching themselves face/headfirst into runners.
I actually agree with Deepie on this. Tackling is a lost art. Guys are only looking to hit. If defenders were looking to wrap up and tackle, they would not be leading with their helmet and have their head down. They would have their face up and wrap up and tackle.
Interesting point is that last week there were several big hits that prompted the discussions this week. The game has not changed over the last several years so these types of hits are not unusual. If these hits had happened over the course of a month, there would not have been all of this discussion.
Also, another annoying thing is that ESPN will typically highlight these types of hits in Top 10 plays or things like that but then the same guys that showcased them will all of a sudden condemn them now as there is this new crackdown on the hits.
Bottom line, I say let them play football
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