James Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Mohamed Massaquoi. Brandon Meriweather was fined $50,000 for the hit on Todd Heap; Dunta Robinson was fined $50,000 for the hit on DeSean Jackson. According to a report on ESPN, Harrison's fine was the largest because he is considered to be a repeat offender by the league office.
There ya go. Happy?
I think those hits (for the most part, Harrison/Massoquoi and Meriweather/Heap were pretty nasty) are just consequences of the nature of the game. Football is violent, and these hits are going to happen. Dunta Robinson shouldn't have been fined. That hit was inadvertently dangerous, and it messed him up almost as bad as D-Jax.
Harrison is about as dirty as his teammate Ryan Clark is. The Steelers might be a good team, but they definitely play dirty sometimes.
Granted, there are several other teams like that (ahem, Saints).
Clark isn't dirty, he's just reckless. He usually fucks himself up just as bad as whoever he hits.
And honestly, is there ANY team in the NFL that doesn't use dirty tactics, whether accidental or intentional? Terrel Suggs admitted last year that the Ravens' D had "a hit out" on Hines Ward. That doesn't sound very sporting. What about Albert Hayneworth's stomping on Andre Gurode's head? I remember there had been hell to pay for that one.
Thing is, it's a violent game with violent hits. Emotions run high and some people do stupid shit, just like anyone else in any walk of life would. But in all honesty, this whining and bitching about hits is what has other countries making fun of American football for being soft. Ask a rugby player how they'd feel about a hit like that. They'd most likely get up and get back in for a revenge shot.
Clark isn't dirty, he's just reckless. He usually fucks himself up just as bad as whoever he hits.
And honestly, is there ANY team in the NFL that doesn't use dirty tactics, whether accidental or intentional? Terrel Suggs admitted last year that the Ravens' D had "a hit out" on Hines Ward. That doesn't sound very sporting. What about Albert Hayneworth's stomping on Andre Gurode's head? I remember there had been hell to pay for that one.
Thing is, it's a violent game with violent hits. Emotions run high and some people do stupid shit, just like anyone else in any walk of life would. But in all honesty, this whining and bitching about hits is what has other countries making fun of American football for being soft. Ask a rugby player how they'd feel about a hit like that. They'd most likely get up and get back in for a revenge shot.
How Merriman only got 50,000 is a huge shock but when you watch the replay on slow motion they look bad but when you watch the replays like on you tube and a reciever doesn't have the ball then 1 & 1/2 seconds laters there on the ground how can you say he didn't think he was timing it to hit the ball to pop it loose. I'm pissed the Eagles won't have DeSean this Sunday but I look at his hit as football I wouldn't of fined him. Of the 3 plays mentioned only Merriman leaves the ground leading with his head. I hate to see guys getting hurt but heck we won't have football to watch next year cause there is no way the players union is going to let them add 2 more games and then turn around and say sure what is 2 more weeks of fines to make the NFL richer. I will wager anything in 3 weeks everyone will be sitting home and yelling at there TV cause someone pulled up on a hit and cause of that someone can now get a extra step and make a first down and keep drives going. I know I didn't hold a gun to anyones head telling them they have to go play in the NFL and make millions and promise them that they won't get hurt. Let's go to 2 hand touch the NFL can stand for Nat'l Flag League like we played in Elem school so no one got hurt.
Very well said. As much as I love football, if this trend continues, I won't be watching anymore. I gave up on baseball about 15 years ago. I can do it to football too.
Very well said. As much as I love football, if this trend continues, I won't be watching anymore. I gave up on baseball about 15 years ago. I can do it to football too.
Personally, I think Rick Reilly nailed what Harrison is really like and what the NFL should do for hits that are overboard in the violence department.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5706465
Oh please. That is a total load of horseshit. I can't believe you'd even subscribe to that sort of thing, Mac. If all that were true, why is there such an outcry from other linebackers in the league?
Ray Lewis: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2010-10-20-ray-lewis-hits-policy_N.htm
Brian Urlacher: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4667136/urlacher-we-know-risks-of-playing-game
And there are many many more. Like Matt Millen said (who I actually can't stand), "This is a case of people who never played the game not knowing what they are doing".
I wonder how Jack Lambert or Dick Butkus would feel if they had been told they weren't allowed to hit hard anymore. It's a pussification of the sport that we can thank political correctness and the TV ratings clowns for.
Then surely you wouldn't mind Joe Paterno's suggestion.
Remove facemasks from the game. A lot of players are basically using them as weapons now. If players didn't have them, then people like James Harrison might be a little more careful about using their helmet for hits.
In fact, Troy Aikman might have the best suggestion of all -- lose the helmets altogether.
A point was made earlier that rugby players take harder hits than football players because of a lack of wearing as many pads. Well, let's start with the helmet.
If this is a sport about violence and dealing punishment out, then wearing pads is truly the "pussification" you're aiming to find.
Honestly, I have no issues with that at all. Maybe the hits won't be as devastating and maybe it would make the game a bit more fun to watch. I've played pick-up games in my youth and played without pads and helmets. And like Natural said, there was still many brutal hits. Maybe all that armor they wear is what's making it more dangerous.
Works for me. If people don't want fines to occur, then maybe the simple realities of injuries without padding will be enough to "knock" some sense into the more reckless players.
To me, football is about strategy. Hard hits aren't the reason I watch it. What I like to see is a well thought out play or quick-witted reactions that lead to something impressive to view.
I realize Harrison probably feels like he's just doing his job, but again, maybe the pads are giving certain players an unrealistic sense of invincibility.
Then we are in agreement. Yes, I like the strategy aspect of the game as well. But there is a lot to be said for the big hits too. That may be my warlike American heritage showing, but it is what it is.
And yes, the padding does have a negative affect. Take boxers for instance. Way back in the day, boxers didn't wear the padded gloves. They fought bare-fisted. Because of that, they usually avoided hitting in the head because A) These guys all had to go to work the next day and B) They could easily break their hands hitting someone else's skull. Then the padded gloves were put into play. Now, boxers hit each other full blast in the head. All that padding does is protect the hands, not the opponent's head. Take those gloves away, and you won't have so many retired boxers with all kinds of brain damage.
Something to think about.
Hmmm... I never thought about boxing that way.
Isn't it true though that MMA fighters don't wear much padding but still aim for the head?
