NFL Players : What's happened to game?

[cardsfansince82]

I think everybody in the media, a few players and a few fans are making this out to be a bigger deal than it really is. All the league has said is that they have the option to suspend players. They haven't said how often they are going to use it. But ESPN has ten different people on there saying the game has completely changed and people believe it. Everyone knows what constitutes a dirty hit already. Nobody is taught to tackle leading with the crown of their helmet into an opponent's helmet, especially on a play in the secondary. My guess is the league would have still just fined Harrison, but Merriweather might have warranted a suspension. Even Belichick didn't have his back on that one.

[cardsfansince82]

I mostly agree with you, cpebbles. But don't you think it's a fine line? I mean, if you are running toward a player, isn't your helmet kinda going to be leading the way? Even if you are trying to hit with the shoulder, and the runner darts a little to one direction, then you're suddenly head-on.

I'm not necessarily talking about Harrison, because his did seem a little severe (although I'm not as convinced as some here). I'm just talking in general terms. It's a tough call, and not really black and white always.

http://www.latimes.com/health/bs-sp-nfl ... 6300.story

Asked by ESPN whether any shot to the head was considered illegal and finable, Anderson drew the line at ball carriers.

"Not all of them, no," he said. "For instance, the rules define that a runner in possession is not considered a defenseless player, so there are going to be some helmet-to-helmet or shoulder pad-to-head contact in that situation."

Anderson gave examples of players who would be considered defenseless, among them a receiver in the act of trying to catch a pass. He also said a punt or kick returner could be, and that "a defensive player coming back after a change of possession who gets blindsided in the head or neck area by a receiver coming back to the line of scrimmage is a defenseless player …"

[InvincibleCakeEater]

I know what you're not supposed to do: Lead with your helmet against his. He didn't get fined for a hard tackle or for going after a defenseless receiver, he got fined for going helmet-to-helmet.

Injuries are going to happen in football (And incidentally I would never let a child I was close to play football in a highly-competitive environment like Div I), but there are rules in place to prevent it from becoming flat-out bloodshed, and Harrison doesn't think he can play within the confines of those rules.

I mostly agree with you, cpebbles. But don't you think it's a fine line? I mean, if you are running toward a player, isn't your helmet kinda going to be leading the way? Even if you are trying to hit with the shoulder, and the runner darts a little to one direction, then you're suddenly head-on.

I'm not necessarily talking about Harrison, because his did seem a little severe (although I'm not as convinced as some here). I'm just talking in general terms. It's a tough call, and not really black and white always.

You're supposed to be looking at what you tackle. There's always going to be incidental helmet to helmet contact, but the severity of the hit is nowhere close to what we saw this week. Harrison was leading with the crown of his helmet. It's not hard to stop spearing. I think guys need to stop whining about this since it's going to help them in the long run. Instead of just trying to stick a guy and watching him tumble 3-4 more yards before falling over they're actually going to have to wrap him up and tackle him.

[Lesson]

[/youtube]

[Fat Strat]

It's not hard to stop spearing.

ICE makes some good points. That's the way I see it. If you keep your head up you shouldn't be called for helmet-to-helmet contact. That's the best way to takle anyway. I've seen too many times when a safety lowered his head for a big hit and ended up missing the receiver all together. Wrap them up, take them down.

I'm in a wait and see mode. I think that some of the penalties to hits on QB's have changed the game and not necessarily for the better -- you basically can't tackle a QB at or below the knee, which is ridiculous, or slam them to the turf (isn't that sort of the definition of a tackle?) This doesn't seem like they're changing the rules at all, just adding a level of discipline to it that wasn't present before.

[Socnorb11]

It's not hard to stop spearing.

ICE makes some good points. That's the way I see it. If you keep your head up you shouldn't be called for helmet-to-helmet contact. That's the best way to takle anyway. I've seen too many times when a safety lowered his head for a big hit and ended up missing the receiver all together. Wrap them up, take them down.

Should a running back be required to keep their head up when running with the ball as well, so as not to "spear" a defender?

[lukethedrifter]

You guys are talking a lot about rules interpretation. There is mounting evidence that repeated blows- whether NFL legal or not- to the head causes irreversible brain damage. Does that matter?


For the record, my dad played in the NFL for 7 seasons then spent 30 years working in HR/Personnel and does not have any obvious physical or mental debilities as a result. Also, I played football and loved hitting and getting hit.

[Socnorb11]

You guys are talking a lot about rules interpretation. There is mounting evidence that repeated blows- whether NFL legal or not- to the head causes irreversible brain damage. Does that matter?


For the record, my dad played in the NFL for 7 seasons then spent 30 years working in HR/Personnel and does not have any obvious physical or mental debilities as a result. Also, I played football and loved hitting and getting hit.

That's pretty cool that your dad played in the NFL.

[Jocephus]

i played legion football where teh hits are the hardest

[Lesson]

You guys are talking a lot about rules interpretation. There is mounting evidence that repeated blows- whether NFL legal or not- to the head causes irreversible brain damage. Does that matter?


For the record, my dad played in the NFL for 7 seasons then spent 30 years working in HR/Personnel and does not have any obvious physical or mental debilities as a result. Also, I played football and loved hitting and getting hit.

What position(s) did your dad play?