NFL getting out of control with fining for helmet hits

zimmy3

This is getting ridiculous. Harrison fined like over $100K and suspended for hitting Jerry Rice? I don't get it, there was nothin wrong with that. When you are heading at a player full speed and your helmets just happen to collide oh well. Thats the breaks of it. It seems like the NFL is fining and calling penalties on plays ANYTIME a helmet hits another helmet, no matter if it was intentional or not. Going back to the Harrison hit, he didnt put his head down. He had his head up, nailed Rice and pushed him with his arms while hitting him, and their helmets unfortunately hit. What are they supposed to do? Lean backwards somehow while hitting people? I mean jees. Some examples of illegal hits are like when that Browns DE at the end of a play last year seeked out I think it was Brunell and nailed him with the helmet. Or other times when a defensive lineman leads with the helmet into the helmet of the QB. Or when a defensive back puts his head down so he basically is not watching the play and hits the other player (and this doesnt matter if he hits him in the head or the body, ANY leading with the head by putting it down should be punished like the hit by Dawkins in monday nights game). These players have got to learn how to hit people, especially the DBs. That thing is not a weapon. Putting your head down like that is not only dangerous to the reevier but also to your own neck and possibly to your own teammate. Watch tapes of Ronnie Lott. He mailed peopel with his head up and nailed them with his arms, chest, and shoulders. That is how you hit. Not arm tackling and not leading in blindly with a helmet. However, sometimes helmets will collide, and if the player clearly had his head up so he could see the play than he should not be fined or suspended.

uwftke26

I couldn't agree more. Seems like it's a kneejerk reaction for the NFL to fine people if helmets hit. I thought the penalty for the Darren Woodsen hit on Darrell Jackson was BS, and I thought the fine and suspension for that guy from Denver's hit on Chris Chambers was BS too.

JErik20

It boils down to dollars. The NFL cannot afford to have it's offensive stars (ie Jerry Rice, and quarterbacks) on the injured list because some no name (usually) safety took him out. I agree with you guys, but it all has to do with ratings, and ratings = money

Erik