NFL Might Suspend Players for Violent Hits

Meriweather's hit is what they should flag because how he launched himself up towards Heaps head and lowered his head.

yeah it is my understanding that you can not lead/launch leading with your helmet to a defenseless player. once a player establishes himself as a runner, hes fair game.

also, reading the exact words of another rule regarding the helmet to helmet hits, it doesnt matter if you hit a guy with your helmet in his chest initially, if your helmet then rides up and hits him in his helmet . . its helmet to helmet.

the merriweather hit was one that i think squarely falls into an illegal hit on 2 levels. it was helmet to helmet and he launched himself leading with his helmet into a defenseless receiver.

weve seen consussions happen on all types of hits. dallas clark got that concussion from a wrap up type tackle but his head did the slightest whiplash thing into the ground. that was a routine tackle in the nfl, clark still got concused. we cant even point nor can the skins coaching staff point to the hit that gave cooley a concussion.

also, i think the rise in reported concussions is def an attribute of team doctors become more aware of the signs of concussion as well as push to immediately pull players out and have them evaluated teh second a concussion is suspected.

I personally think the Cribbs hit was dirty, but the on Massaquoi ended up worse because he braced for the hit. On the Cribbs hit, he was going down and Harrison didn't need to do it, so I'd say that him going to helmet to helmet on that one was a dirty hit.
So if MM had time to brace himself, it wasn't a hit on a "defenseless" player.

Not defending Harrison, but the only "illegal" hit I saw was the hit on Heap. The others just looked like football.

from what i read, cribbs was the "qb" in wildcat so he is an established runner and it is legal to go helmet to helmet.

massaqoui (sp?) was a defenseless receiver so the helmet to helmet and leading with your helmet rule applies.

does anyone know the criteria for when a defenseless receiver turns into an established ball runner? is when he takes 2 steps on the field with possession of the ball? makes a "football" move?

i fear for some overreaction by the refs this week, then by seasons end things will be balanced back.

has any skin gotten a fine yet this year? i cant think of one

Video submitted by NFL to teams outlining what hits are legal, and which are not

NFL Videos: Player safety (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d81b80962/Player-safety)

didn't read the whole thread but here's my view on the issue:

Player safety should always be first. we can say the league is getting watered down, but back then nobody knew any better. we know now that these concussions are causing life long injuries down the road.

i dont know that suspensions are in the best interest of the game however. i dont want Laron thinking twice about putting Hester on his ass this weekend. I truly believe these head to head hits are not intentional, as the decision to hit someone and how is made in less than a second. besides, if i wanted to take someone out i would go at their knees... head to head injuries put both parties at risk, not just the guy on the receiving end.

concussions are nearly unstoppable... it doesnt matter where you're hit. players are always trying to hit someone as hard as they can, and instead of telling them "dont do this or else" the NFL should be looking for better technology to protect these players when it does happen. i think the best solution for the game overall is better helmet technology (better padding on the inside, etc.) not a green sticker and not suspensions or fines.

Video submitted by NFL to teams outlining what hits are legal, and which are not

NFL Videos: Player safety (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d81b80962/Player-safety)


Excellent video.

i'm with matty on this one, i'm sure the nfl is just gettin their panties in a wad because there were some many bit hits and concussions all in one day. we will just have to see how it really is inforced this weekend. that said my biggest issue with what the nfl is trying to do is that it is all about the defense and safeties and lb's hitting people helet to helmet, but what about the offense. lavar was talkin about it today and he got pretty worked up but he brought up some really good points imo

1. a receiver isn't defenseless unless they themselves or their qb put them in that position. i mean when a receiver runs a cross route and the qb throws the ball the receiver has a choice to go up and get it or not. just ask tood pinkston, and desean jackson for that matter, anyone see his alligator arms at the end of the philly game when he was about to get pwned by laron?

2. what about when a rb truck sticks a db? like when landry got pwned. by the nfl rule that was an illegal hit because he struck him in the head with his forearm

my biggest beef is that the nfl doesn't really care that much about player safety, but they are concerned with high scoring games and an 18 game season, but i guess we'll see this weekend when fat al busts cutler up.

Don't forget that Portis was sandwich hit last year on MNF. Was there an Uproar over his Concussion?

I saw Birds chirping.

[QUOTE=mlmdub130;750572]

2. what about when a rb truck sticks a db? like when landry got pwned. by the nfl rule that was an illegal hit because he struck him in the head with his forearm

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to my understanding, this rule only applies to defenseless players (receivers attempting to make a catch or what i just learned from the video, a punter running down the field on coverage).

landry could have gone helmet to helmet, forearm to helmet or shoulder to helmet on jacobs and vice versa.

when a player is an established runner, you can hit him in his head.

A RB is fair game, he's not defenseless when he's coming through the line, head down ready to strike.