NFL cracks down on "devastating" hits...

NFL to crack down on devastating hits

so what is your opinions on this? as for me, im all for player safety. im against helmet to helmet hits, but this is overeaction! there are thousands of hits a weekend in football and we take 4 incidents, 2 of which for sure were legal hits, and all of a sudden there can be no more devasting hits or a suspension, ejection, and fine will proceed.

first, how do you define "devastating"? second, this is FOOTBALL!!! if players are going to start whining because their got their a$$ decked for coming across the middle in from of james harrison, ray lewis, urlacher, etc, then they need to find a new sport. this absolutely burns me up.

like i said, lets protect the players, but dont go and tell defensive players how to tackle/not to tackle. this is going to change the play of the game, and lead to more missed tackles or even more injuries!

BTW: I made the poll mutiple choice, use it wisely

 

There is a saying in the Coast Guard- Choose your rate-Choose your fate. They get paid an INSANE amount of money to work out all day, get arrested for all manor of BS, and play some football for like 4 or 5 months...They can learn to not run with the heads/ribs exposed and take a hit or two.
Let them duke it out!!

 

touche!

 

Sorry man...Had to unf**k my spelling so my post changed a bit.

 

They need to go back to leather helmets. Let's see who's dumb enough to lead with their helmet then. I played college rugby for 4 years. It was all about wrapping up and form tackling.

 

I'd have to disagree with this.

Did you know that the average lifespan of an NFL player is 10 years shorter than everyone else?

Did you know that the average age of death for an NFL lineman is 56?

Yes, they get paid tons of money, but I'm sure most of them would trade that in for a chance to play with their grandkids for 10 more years.

The amount of hits that players take to the head over the course of a career (remember -- most NFL players played 3-4 years of college ball, on top of 4 years of high school, and possibly more) is a significant amount. Many studies are just starting to understand the ramifications of what that does to the brain.

That's not to mention the toll it takes on the body to carry all that weight around.

With the way players train in college and the pros, today, the violence of collisions are amplified to such a degree that it's no wonder that people are getting hurt.

Finally -- the NFL is a year-round job. You have to constantly keep yourself in extreme physical shape, because if you get hurt, you're out of a job. Plus, veterans with extended deals are constantly having to learn new schemes, formations, timings, etc. Even in the offseason.

I agree with Mike Holmgren in the article. There needs to be someone who is familiar with the nuances of tackling making the calls on whether a hit should be fined or not. Sometimes, it's avoidable. Other times, it's not.

One thing I'm certain of, though, is that the NFL needs to do a better job of protecting its players and providing assistance for them after retirement.

I'll get off my soapbox, now...

 

Hell yeah, I played during my time at UF, still trying to get out with the local club team when I can. Cheek to cheek tackling prevents injuries. The only issue with that is they can still gain a yard or two, and while thats not a big deal in rugby, it can be a very big deal in football. People just need to get on board with rugby...

 

And every soul in the NFL knows these inherent risks...not saying I don't agree, just that you tell a 22 year old that he can make tens of millions but might die ten years early, they will more often than not take the money.

 

They should just play flag football then .. All the B.S. Rules

 

I agree with the rule change. While I am an Eagles fan I've been saying this for awhile before DeSean Jackson got leveled on Sunday. There is NO reason to lead with your helmet into someone like that. So many players don't know how to form tackle. You can get huge hits on someone without launching with your helmet. Sure, sometimes it's unavoidable, especially when say a running back is lowering his helmet on a run. But with a receiver say doing a crossing route, it's completely inexcusable IMO to lead your helmet up high into someone elses helmet.

So many players even miss tackles now because they're going for the highlight reel on ESPN rather than wrapping up and doing what they're supposed to. Hell look at the kid from Rutgers who's paralyzed now for leading with his helmet.

 

Yes- I do know those facts- And instead of selecting to be a football player- I'm a pilot. I played 16 years of soccer, swam for 8 years, played 5 seasons of rugby instead.

That was the "Choose your rate-Choose your fate" part of my post. They elect to treat their bodies the way they do in exchange for the money...I don't make nearly as much and my life is at risk every time I got to work.

As far as doing more for them in retirement- The NFL should start by doing more for them as active players- The atrocious behavior displayed by so many pro athletes needs as much attention (if not more) than hard hits. IF we are going to get all nanny command and control on their post playing days.

Amen for playing rugby!!

 

I agree with Lost Humanity. These guys need to be protected and people that make blatant hits to injure need to be kicked out and Suspended. Definitely getting away from the fundamentals of football... Theyre all trying to be like Jack Tatum and need to be kicked out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1lYWg0_Yz8?fs=1

 

if they launch and lead with their helmets (the new and improved battering ram) they should be suspended. if its a hat to hat collision. 1yr suspension. if they launch and have a helmet to helmet collision causing injury, lifetime suspension. just my 2 cents. but fuck its fun to watch. Remember Ronnie Lott. hardest hitter ever and never lead with his head.

 

My point exactly! You can deck someone without risking serious head injury.

Also, your avatar makes me happy. That is all.

 

A little finessing of the helmet-helmet rule to allow for some sanity wouldn't be a problem. I mean, Christ, did you guys see DeSean Jackson very nearly get murdered?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmsAdwm7LHQ

Dayum.

 

As an Eagles fan that was very scary watching that. As a fan in general its scary anytime theres a hit like that and someone just goes down motionless.

 

Ya... see the difference between legit hits from ronnie lott compared to the Tatum vid I posted earlier...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVKVHvMJKT8?fs=1

 

Wow, we got a few ruggers here. Give blood. I played fullback. Been looking for a local men's club.

 

Agreed, they know the risk. It is a cause of concern though for the NFL, they are taking a huge PR hit in the last couple days. I can guarantee you that played into Goodel's decision to come out with these fines. The NFL is like any other multi billion dollar org, it is all about the cash, and bad PR is not good for cash flow.

As far as the NFL taking care of these players after retirement isn't that their unions job they pay into? These players know the risk, and understand the average life span of a player is like 3 years. You gotta get that cash, and being a headhunter is part of their jobs. It is dangerous, but so is auto racing, skiing, snowboarding, you get the picture.

 

God damn, I just rewatched that and after the hit he ISN'T motionless...he's TWITCHING. That was probably a brain injury, concussion at BEST.