ChosenOne Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 The NFL will announce by Wednesday that, effective this weekend, even first-time offenders face suspension for "devastating hits" and "head shots," according to Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations. "We can't and won't tolerate what we saw Sunday," Anderson said Monday. "We've got to get the message to players that these devastating hits and head shots will be met with a very necessary higher standard of accountability. We have to dispel the notion that you get one free pass in these egregious or flagrant shots." Anderson was alluding to the normal disciplinary measures in which the league has issued fines for first-time offenders and, very often, second-time offenders. "What we saw Sunday was disturbing," Anderson said. "We're talking about avoiding life-altering impacts." Sunday's games produced a number of violent hits. ESPN.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdog17k Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Get ready for flag football, it's what the NFL will be implementing next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 What bothers me more than anything is that even with the number of injuries that have occurred this season and in years past, the league still wants to extend the regular season to 18 games.... It seems to me that if the NFL is trying to protect its' players, they they need to reduce the amount of games played, not increase it. An 18 game season defies all logic and makes the league look hypocritical. And as to what Steve Young has said earlier, it's not just about the helmet to helmet hit. It's about altering the perception of what you're seeing (thus, the reason for the"devastating hit" idea in the new rules). They are forcefully taking out the violent nature of the game, even if the hits aren't causing an injury of any kind, the perceived notion is that it's barbaric or overly aggressive. I actually appreciate and love the hard hitting nature of the game and don't want this to happen to the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Get ready for flag football, it's what the NFL will be implementing next. No sir... That's what the NFL will be implementing when someone launches with a helmet to helmet hit and a guy dies on the field. THAT's when it will become flag football. These rules are attempting to prevent that from happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 19, 2010 Owner Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 They made a good point last night on one of the post-game shows on ESPN. I forgot who said it, but he stated that it could be a mistake, because players will take this as the league telling them to hit lower. Problem is, those are going to be career-ending knee/leg injuries. I understand that the helmet-to-helmet hits are a problem, but this is really the first week of football that we've seen that many dangerous hits at once. I think that the real solution is to somehow develop a new football helmet (to prevent concussions), or a neck support that all players are required to wear (to prevent neck/spinal cord injuries). I'm sure some will laugh, but I don't see how that's impossible seeing how technology has boosted since the 70s and 80s. The NFL might as well tell players not to hit high, and by doing that, they are telling them to hit lower. Why not just change the game and force players to re-learn the sport? It doesn't make much sense to me. Players wear pads and helmets to prevent injuries. If they aren't protected enough, fix it by innovation, not by elimination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 It's not an added elimination, launching and helmet to helmet hits are outlawed in the NFL rulebook. It's simply more strictly enforcing the rules that are not being followed. People WILL go low now, and it's a shame. The art of the form tackle has disappeared from football. Makes me appreciate a guy who plays right that much more. You also have to factor in that a low hit might result in a prematurely ended career, but a high hit might result in a prematurely ended life (as studies have shown with former NFL players with trauma to the head, which is what adds to the crackdown and handling of concussions). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 19, 2010 Owner Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 It's not an added elimination, launching and helmet to helmet hits are outlawed in the NFL rulebook. It's simply more strictly enforcing the rules that are not being followed.Well, what I meant was that, by handing out the suspensions instead of fines, it's going to take away a lot of hits up high, in the chest and shoulder area. This weekend, I saw just one of those helmet-to-helmet hits that, to me, was intentional (Meriweather's hit on Heap). I'm sure I could argue that Harrison's helmet-to-helmets were intentional, since he's brain dead and doesn't care who he cripples, but most of these concussed QB's and those other hits had targets in the chest and shoulder area. When Jackson was demolished, it was an attempt to cause a fumble. Robinson hurt himself doing it. So, logically, this will lessen the amount of hits up high, almost certainly. QB's like McNabb and almost all RB's will love this, also, because a spin move will throw someone off your waist easier than escaping a guy slamming into your upper body and wrapping you up (more to grab up high, easier to alter a player's balance as well). Tell me what happens when the Jets are at the one, and they send Tomlinson over the pack, and Polamalu dives (like he did at Collins earlier in the season) and cracks helmets with him? I don't see very many coaches changing their philosophy when it comes to tackling a ball-handler or sacking a QB, but I do see players changing, and it could ruin the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Suspensions will only be applied to malicious hits, like Meriweather's on Heap and Harrison's on Massaquoi. Unintentional and lesser occurences will continue to be fines. That part is not an issue. A ton of the concussed QB's were on wrap ups where their head hits the ground on the follow through of the tackle. Not an issue either. Robinson's hit was an attempt to cause an incompletion, which he accomplished. I have no problem with his hit, and he's appealing the fine... Should win. His hit also won't apply to the new suspension guideline. This will lessen the amount of guys launching their body and leading with their helmet, which is supposed to be outlawed to begin with. If you can't face up your opponent, face up, and form tackle your opponent... You aren't much of a football player to begin with. This will be a huge problem for a Cortland Finnegan type player, who generally doesn't know how to tackle without launching and leading with his helmet. The Tomlinson thing will not be a suspension, because as you've outlined it, it is not malicious in intent and is not a purposeful act. Making a play is not the same as making a dirty hit. There are overreactions going on. They are further enforcing a rule in the NFL, and instead of a meaningless chunk of salary (which obviously wasn't keeping these players from the hits), they will miss a full game - impacting their team. Players will be forced to play the game right... What a travesty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 The only bad helmet to helmet hit was the hit Brandon put on Heap. The others were just guys playing football. Stuart Scott made the best point he's probably ever made on SC last night. He said that these guys don't have to play in the NFL, its their choice and their privilege. No one is forcing them to do this considering all of them went to college. The phrase "devastating hits" is so vague too. They're playing football, let them play the game the way it was meant to be played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 Also, how many tackles are there on Sunday's and Monday's? 100+ I'd assume? To make rule changes based on 3 or 4 isolated incidents its ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 (edited) Only one or two hits would have qualified Sunday. What's your point? It's not a rule change, it's an enforcement change. It's something they're trying to stop from happening, and the players obviously don't care about the fines. It's what has to happen. Edited October 19, 2010 by The Reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5706315 I've just gained so much respect for Mark Schlereth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdog17k Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5706315 I've just gained so much respect for Mark Schlereth. He really called it how many see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 the real problem for the NFL is former players testifying that it is not safe. It's like steroids and HGH - they cause problems. If the NFL was able to design a new helmet that better protects the head, we wouldn't have these problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b811df/article/nfls-video-message-to-players-you-are-on-notice-about-hits?module=HP_cp2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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