ESPN's Mark Schlereth on the new hitting rule in the NFL

There's a very large gap between fine and suspension, and to cross that line, smack-dab in the middle of a season immediately after a very popular, east coast major market player goes down, screams PR stunt rather than a serious attempt at making things better.

The fact that there's such a wide discrepancy in some believing the Robinson/Harrison hits are legal and others thinking they are worthy of MASSIVE fines/suspensions should tell you that the NFL has a long way to go to educate players and fans as to what they view as legal and what is not. You want to step up enforcement, and bring suspension into play? That's fine, but you need and sit down and educate players over the course of weeks in the offseason, as well as give them training camp, preseason, etc. to adjust to the policy. You don't make that change on the spur of the moment, mid-season, or it potentially impacts the integrity of the game.

 

I love the dumb hyperbole about how soft the game is if you try to save people's lives.

From now I think I'm going to start saying "might as well let them use guns on the field" anytime someone argues the rules are too stiff.

 

Exactly.

IMO it seems like posturing.

With the CBA coming up, and the players union trying to put public pressure on the NFL for not taking care of players in regards to head injuries, retirement, etc, this seems like a convenient way to score some points without actually giving up any ground in negotiations.

 

Even though I disagreee with him being fined, I completely agree with this statement. Sitting out a practice when you have no intention of following through with the bs you're spouting about retiiring is a b**** move.

 

The NFL is hypocritical, but they should attempt to reduce the number of hits to the head.

I don't really give a crap what James Harrison says. He is a repeat offender, and he came out and said he is out to hurt people after the fact. Its as simple as not aiming for your their head. I think at times they overprotect QBs, but rules that prevent blows to the head are in place for a very good reason.

Was it only at my school where you were told see what you hit, and hit them below the shoulders?

 

The PC answer is the player, the real answer the former.

 

Maybe the players should have followed the rules. Obviously the fear of the fine wasn't a deterrent, Harrison's comments prove that. So the NFL took proactive steps to protect the health of its players.

Maybe you'd be happy if they just got to carry guns on the field and shoot each other at the snap.

 

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i know what you're saying....everyone is taught to keep you head up when you tackle. It sounds good but really isnt possible in many situational hits. I really don't know how else Dunta would have made a hit. If his head was up it's almost certainly helmet to helmet. Try hitting anything with your shoulder and you head will dip alot of the time.

bottom line. Big hits and injuries will happen no matter what the rule is

 

If it was such a horrible and flagrant violation of the rules, why didn't any of the four officials on the field notice it?

I suppose you could argue the on-field officials just "missed it". What I would argue - and I think is much more likely - is that the rules are so vague and so inconsistently applied that the officials did not view Harrison's hits as a violation.

 

That's the whole point.

If he had to keep his head up, that hit wouldn't have been NEARLY as violent/dangerous.

It would've been a hard tackle, but nobody would've gotten hurt.

It's pretty bunk that it "isn't possible" in many situations. If you ever DO find yourself in that unlikely situation, then guess what, you can't tackle or you'll be penalized.

Make it the rule and the injuries will decline dramatically.

 

Just using extreme case, you really think it's good for NFL image to have more Kevin Everett stories?

My point in this is it's just PC song and dance from the NFL that it's proactively doing something instead of head in the sand to show the public.

 

big hits will happen even with your rule and people will still get hurt.

THere has been way too much knee jerk reaction about 2 hard hits and 1 cheap shot.

 

Yes, and yes.

But you'd be absolutely fooling yourself (or showing that you've never played a contact sport) to think that the number of injuries and hits like Drob/Djax wouldn't decrease significantly.

 

Look, I get the fact that we have progressed a lot in medical studies and I certainly don't want to see anyone's life altered. I work with boxers so trust me I'm quite familiar with head trauma and am certainly sensitive to the issue. That said, you know what you're signing up for when you choose to play football.

Basically what you're implying is that these guys have to change their games completely. How do you do that exactly? You have to make split second decisions here. Are guys supposed to take a moment to think before they attempt to break up a pass or make a hit? Guess what? You'll be watching your assignment doing a celebration in the endzone.

Again, crap like Merriweather pulled should be fined and suspended. No way you should be fining legal plays though. I've already stated I don't agree with the Harrison fine but I understand those who are supporting it. If you tell me Robinson's hit on Jackson was now possibly suspendable then you just changed the game of football mid season.

Not trying to be a dick here at all man so please don't take it that way. I'd like to hear your stance on the Harrison and Robinson plays so I have a better understanding on where you're coming from

 

This where we disagree vehemently. I don't think the vast majority of NFL players need to, or will be forced to change their games. The truth is most NFL defensive players don't practice the violent hits that are being cracked down. Most will never get a suspension for these hits.

Edit: And I won't comment on Dunta's hit because I haven't seen his. He doesn't have a reputation for being a head hunter or dirty despite being a hard hitter. James Harrison most definitely does.

 

i don't think any NFL player tackles anybody with the INTENT of decapitating that person. so it's a dumb rule unless you can justify the act.

again, when you are actually playing, it's read and react. dumb rule, might as well make it flag football then and get on with it.

 

Might as well let them take guns on the field and shoot each other!

 

That NFL clearly. Dying is a right the players have!

 

This is my thing. The way the game is officiated today already makes it very difficult to be a defender. I think you have to allow hard but clean statement hits like Dunta's (and I realize your opinion on it is open since you have not seen it) to keep all these guys from roaming free over the middle on slants and ins. If you're a CB or safety and you even try getting a little physical with a WR now you are looking at 5 yds for holding or a spot foul on PI. I think the risk of a suspension will actually make a difference. Look at a guy like Laron Landry. He's a guy who has worked within the rules to be a very hard hitter over the middle. From the NFL's initial reaction i would consider a bunch of what he does a problem. If he doesn't change his style he'll go eventually become a habitual offender imo. That's the issue for me. Fines? Who cares, but suspensions are my problem unless it's crap like Merriweather pulled.

I completely understand on Harrison. I didn't have a problem with the hit but he certainly does have a history. You won't get a dissenting arguement in his favor from me.