NFL's new safety policy

What do you guys think of the NFL headquarters changing the way defense is played. Like most people I don't want to see guys get seriously injured when watching a game. However, I love smash mouth, hard hitting, good tackling defense. I enjoy that as much if not more than watching the offense score touchdowns. I have no problem with the NFL going after deliberate hits to the head. But for going after James Harrison for making a smart football move is ridiculous. Whats you take?

[LostAbbott]

I don't even know what happened.

[Whee]

I hear they will be handing out the flags this weekend. If they don;t arrive in time, then it will be two hand touch on Sunday.

[Mugen910]

I say go back to the leather padding and leather helmets and lets see how often guys launch themselves at others.

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

I say go back to the leather padding and leather helmets and lets see how often guys launch themselves at others.

I agree. The equipment allows these guys think they're indestructible. It's a tough thing to balance though.

I love smash mouth football too, but I think something has to be done. Truthfully, I thought Harrison's hits to were both unnecessarily dangerous. One was a blatant helmet to helmet, and on the other he didn't even make an attempt to wrap his arms (they actually expanded outward). Making yourself a head-first missile is dangerous to both the hitter and the hitee. Those hits and the one by the Patriot (forget his name) were worse than the one on DeSean Jackson IMHO.

Originally Posted by yourchoice

I agree. The equipment allows these guys think they're indestructible. It's a tough thing to balance though.

I love smash mouth football too, but I think something has to be done. Truthfully, I thought Harrison's hits to were both unnecessarily dangerous. One was a blatant helmet to helmet, and on the other he didn't even make an attempt to wrap his arms (they actually expanded outward). Making yourself a head-first missile is dangerous to both the hitter and the hitee. Those hits and the one by the Patriot (forget his name) were worse than the one on DeSean Jackson IMHO.

You gotta watch it at real speed though. Its easy to slow down a replay and say he could of done this. That game was the fastest most explosive I've seen a defense play in a couple of years. That rookie reciever didn't know any better. I saw Harrison Lead with his chest and forearm into the other guys shoulder. The guy got rattled got up and walked off the field. Whats the big deal?

[Sauer Grapes]

Originally Posted by Steelergar

You gotta watch it at real speed though. Its easy to slow down a replay and say he could of done this. That game was the fastest most explosive I've seen a defense play in a couple of years. That rookie reciever didn't know any better. I saw Harrison Lead with his chest and forearm into the other guys shoulder. The guy got rattled got up and walked off the field. Whats the big deal?

I have to disagree. Both of Harrison's were helmet to helmet. I know it's hard to control your aim when things happen so fast, but both of his hits were illegal before the new "safety policy." The one from the patriots was also helmet to helmet.

I do agree that the one on Jackson was a legal, albeit extremely hard, hit. I don't think the guy on the falcons should have been fined. It was a clean hit.

Originally Posted by Sauer Grapes

I have to disagree. Both of Harrison's were helmet to helmet. I know it's hard to control your aim when things happen so fast, but both of his hits were illegal before the new "safety policy." The one from the patriots was also helmet to helmet.

I do agree that the one on Jackson was a legal, albeit extremely hard, hit. I don't think the guy on the falcons should have been fined. It was a clean hit.

There was definately helmet to helmet on the cribbs hit and as soon as it happened I knew it was a dewsy. But both were legal hits. Cribs was not defensless he jumped head foward into a group of guys tackling him. One LB wrapped him up while Harrison went in for a waist high hit, that became a incidental head hit. The reciever hit was a lesson learned for 2 rookies. Neither play was a penalty. Both players walked off the field.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

I say go back to the leather padding and leather helmets and lets see how often guys launch themselves at others.

Originally Posted by yourchoice

I agree. The equipment allows these guys think they're indestructible. It's a tough thing to balance though.

I couldn't agree more.
Take a look at rugby. Minimal padding (compared to American football). Much more controlled contact. But still hard hitting. And those motherfokkers are tough.

The NFL these days is more about collision and violent contact. Not to mention the "look at me" showboating. More often you hear "what a hit" as opposed to "what a tackle". Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the game. I just think the game has more of a focus on collision than it needs to be.

[icantbejon]

Originally Posted by pnoon

The NFL these days is more about collision and violent contact. Not to mention the "look at me" showboating. More often you hear "what a hit" as opposed to "what a tackle". Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the game. I just think the game has more of a focus on collision than it needs to be.

I'm with you on this....the art of the tackle has gone away. Defensive players use themselves as human missiles to blow something up, as opposed to good ole' fashioned breaking down, wrapping up, and taking to the ground. It has so much to do with making a highlight reel now.
That being said, I believe the "business" of football is really driving these rules. The NFL has to pay lifetime healthcare costs to the guys getting all these head injuries, so they see it as cost cutting from my perspective.

Originally Posted by Mugen910

I say go back to the leather padding and leather helmets and lets see how often guys launch themselves at others.

+1

Too many people launching themselves head first, and leading with their forearms. How exactly does one tackle someone with your head or forearm?

time to get back to the basics where tackling meant hitting low, wrapping up and taking the runners legs away with your arms.

I mean how many times a game do you see a text book tackle where the tackler hits the runner, wraps up, grabs his thighs and lifts him?

Those can be as bone crushing as anything else, if done properly

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

+1

Too many people launching themselves head first, and leading with their forearms. How exactly does one tackle someone with your head or forearm?

time to get back to the basics where tackling meant hitting low, wrapping up and taking the runners legs away with your arms.

I mean how many times a game do you see a text book tackle where the tackler hits the runner, wraps up, grabs his thighs and lifts him?

Those can be as bone crushing as anything else, if done properly

B-B-b-but Vic... they have been told for their whole careers that "harder is better" and that they can be big walking ccok on the block if they are the hardest hitting badass out there... You think they could retrain themselves, their egos, and the system that inculcates this attitude to ... uh... play.. er.... better football?

[357]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

B-B-b-but Vic... they have been told for their whole careers that "harder is better" and that they can be big walking ccok on the block if they are the hardest hitting badass out there... You think they could retrain themselves, their egos, and the system that inculcates this attitude to ... uh... play.. er.... better football?

Getting that highlight hit on SportsCenter might get them a bigger contract. It's all about the benjamins baby

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by 357

Getting that highlight hit on SportsCenter might get them a bigger contract. It's all about the benjamins baby

You are correct, Mike, it is all about the Circle of Ego and Money, no matter the costs.

I propose a new sport, properly televised, advertised, and sponsored, of course, where there are just two types of players, the Clubbees, and the Clubbers. The sport is called Clubbing. You take a large Club, and you swing it at the other dudes head. That is all. Now, imagine the market forces at work, and the incredible salarys you could get for being a prime Clubbee or Clubber.... Aw crap... I forgot about that whole "law of diminishing returns" thing again.. I would make a really crappy pro-Clubber.

[chachee52]

The only problem with starting these fines/suspensions is: Where do they draw the line? Every flag thrown? Because there are some flags that shouldn't be thrown. I want people to be safe, but the NFL doesn't allow the defense to do anything any more. They aren't even allowed to look at the QB any more. it's like the "roughing the kicker" rule. A couple weeks ago they were throwing the flags around in some very questionable calls. So do those defensive players also get fined/suspended for the roughing flag?
Pitterno (from Penn ST) has gone public to say that he think that they should take the face masks off.

[Volt]

I say suck it up. This isn't a chess match we are watching. These guys get paid more in a year than I'll see in a life time, get out there and earn it. All they need now is to say no contact with the QB and pass out the belts with the flags. I guess the girls field hockey league will take over as the toughest sport in America. YMMV.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by Volt

I say suck it up. This isn't a chess match we are watching. These guys get paid more in a year than I'll see in a life time, get out there and earn it. All they need now is to say no contact with the QB and pass out the belts with the flags. I guess the girls field hockey league will take over as the toughest sport in America. YMMV.

No way Mike...I'm all for seeing a guy get a good hit but this is overboard. There are plenty of good hits in rugby with the whole "ohh ahh" factor without people ending their careers. Yes, this is American Style (I'm bigger, badder and stronger) style football but it's about the safety of it all the way down to pop warner. You think it's only the NFL that worries about this? My friend told me when he played football in his teens, all that padding made him feel like he was safe to launch himself at someone else. Kids see NFL players do it and they think they can too.

They make tons of money because the injury is a factor of their career. They go with the "I'm taking what I can now before it's over" frame of mind.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

No way Mike...I'm all for seeing a guy get a good hit but this is overboard. There are plenty of good hits in rugby with the whole "ohh ahh" factor without people ending their careers. Yes, this is American Style (I'm bigger, badder and stronger) style football but it's about the safety of it all the way down to pop warner. You think it's only the NFL that worries about this? My friend told me when he played football in his teens, all that padding made him feel like he was safe to launch himself at someone else. Kids see NFL players do it and they think they can too.

They make tons of money because the injury is a factor of their career. They go with the "I'm taking what I can now before it's over" frame of mind.

I actually like Aussie rulles football better than the NFL. Similiar to rugby but a bit different. From what I see on tv, they hit every bit as hard as any NFL type and wear next to nothing as far as pads, helments, etc. A ton more action/play time and a faster paced game. They leave the game way more bloodied and beat up and don't whine about it. It's a strength game with who can move the ball.

As to the rules. I don't want to see peeps get hurt, but it is a physical sport. That's why little guys like me and girls don't play it. It's getting to the point the offense is almost untouchable except in certain points of a play and only in some specific format. I'm fairly serious, they might as well attach flags to their waist's.

Of all the hits over the last weekend, I still think the hit Harrison hit on Massoqui was legit. From my point of view he dipped just as Harrison was tackling him. Maybe we need a rule that phohibts the offense from such actions and drawing the helment penalty? In baseball we have balks? For the record I am a Steelers fan, be that as it may.

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Volt

Of all the hits over the last weekend, I still think the hit Harrison hit on Massoqui was legit. From my point of view he dipped just as Harrison was tackling him. Maybe we need a rule that phohibts the offense from such actions and drawing the helment penalty? In baseball we have balks? For the record I am a Steelers fan, be that as it may.

Are you sure you're not referring to the hit on Cribs? The Massaquoi hit looked like a swan dive with his arms spread the way they were. That's what they used to call spearing. Head down, no attempt to wrap. Poor tecnique IMHO.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by Volt

For the record I am a Steelers fan, be that as it may.

damn and here I thought we were friends