James Harrison
 

I think this is going to be one of the funniest years ever in terms of irony for the nfl. The league is fining the wazoo out of this guy, making him the poster child for what type of players, or playing style, they don't want in the league. But look at his numbers, he is without a doubt a lock for defensive mvp of the year. Right now with 5 games left, Harrison is third in sacks with 10, he has at least 20 more tackles than everybody in the league who has more than half the amount of sacks he has, he is the only player with multiple ints that more than half the amount of sacks he has, he has the second most passes defensed in the league out of all pass rushers with 6, and he has 6 forced fumbles which is second in the league behind osi umenyiora. If he produced half the amount he has so far the rest of the year, he would still get defensive mvp. The league is gonna hate having to award this guy after they are trying to make an example out of him.

Re: James Harrison
 

I still can't get over the fact that Andre Johnson walked away from Sunday's game with only a $25,000 fine and I firmly believe it had everything to do with the fact that Texans play the eagles tonight on the league's flagship station.

And yes, this is a banner year for irony in the NFL. Starting mid-season you fine guys like crazy for hits that, while illegal, happen in the context of the game, but you basically slap Johnson and Finnegan on the wrist for an out and out fist fight on the field. On top of all that you say that the increased fines are an attempt to make the game safer for players but then you start pushing an 18 game season down everyone' throats. Seriously, Goodell is a total idiot IMO.

Re: James Harrison
 

Feel bad for Harrison. He's simply a monster in the Pitt 3-4. The hit on Fitzpatrick was perfectly legal. As Troy P. said Roger Goodell has too much power. There needs to be some type of group formed of ex players, and that group should be able to have input on fines and so forth. The refs and the league office are out of control.

Re: James Harrison
 

Yes. I agree with everything above. there needs to be some organization formed that can over-rule a referee's fining decision in cases like this. Goodell has to be stopped

Re: James Harrison
 

he's on my fantasy team .. and i love him

Re: James Harrison
 

They just need to make it objective, IMO. A hit to a QBs head is always the same fine and/or suspension. A hit to a WRs head is always the same fine/suspension. Maybe it's the same as for QBs, maybe not, but whatever the rules are they can't be subjective.

So, just make a list of all the illegal hits/behavior and come up with fines and suspensions for each offense. Then, changes can be voted for each year. Simple.

Re: James Harrison
 

Problem is they dont have set tiers of offenses and fines. They need that, and clear language defining offenses and tiers of punishments. Obviously there will be exceptions here and there but it needs to be standardized.

Goodell probably gets off to having the power to levy variable fines.

Re: James Harrison
 

I really don't have much pity for Harrison. Fact is he's led with his helmet on several hits. Intentional or not, he needs to change his technique.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=Mattyk;764668]I really don't have much pity for Harrison. Fact is he's led with his helmet on several hits. Intentional or not, he needs to change his technique.[/quote]

It's pretty hard to hit a QB square w/out putting your helmet on the guy. His facemask went into his chest where the QB already has protection. Totally ridiculous. RB's lower their heads to finish off runs and they don't flagged.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;764620]I still can't get over the fact that Andre Johnson walked away from Sunday's game with only a $25,000 fine and I firmly believe it had everything to do with the fact that Texans play the eagles tonight on the league's flagship station.

And yes, this is a banner year for irony in the NFL. Starting mid-season you fine guys like crazy for hits that, while illegal, happen in the context of the game, but you basically slap Johnson and Finnegan on the wrist for an out and out fist fight on the field. On top of all that you say that the increased fines are an attempt to make the game safer for players but then you start pushing an 18 game season down everyone' throats. Seriously, Goodell is a total idiot IMO.[/quote]

No way would the NFL suspend Johnson cause he was going to be playing on the NFL Network game tonight. He was trying to do some serious damage with those punches. You're correct. Goodell is a idiot.

[QUOTE=skinsfan69;764670]It's pretty hard to hit a QB square w/out putting your helmet on the guy. His facemask went into his chest where the QB already has protection. Totally ridiculous. RB's lower their heads to finish off runs and they don't flagged.[/QUOTE]

Actually it's not that hard at all, it's called tackling 101. Lead with the shoulder and keep your head out if the way. Incidental contact is going to happen from time to time, but Harrison clearly has poor technique.

Re: James Harrison
 

Johnson was physically instigated by Finnegan. Finnegan kept jamming Johnson in the facemask. Hands to the face is illegal and did not get called on Finnegan the entire game. There was not and should not have been a suspension on Johnson.

[URL="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-sound-efx/09000d5d81c908d5/Sound-FX-The-fight-before-the-fight?module=HP_cp2"]NFL Videos: Sound FX: In Andre Johnson's corner[/URL]


Seymore on the other hand just staight bitch slapped Rothlisberger without physical instigation, a suspension was warranted. My point being that if someone gets physical with you then you have a right to get physical back.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=Mattyk;764676]Actually it's not that hard at all, it's called tackling 101. Lead with the shoulder and keep your head out if the way. Incidental contact is going to happen from time to time, but Harrison clearly has poor technique.[/quote]I feel bad for any player who gets flagged for a perfectly legal, textbook hit, but in the case of Harrison, most of his hits are dirty anyway and he doesn't always get called for them.

The game would be safer without James Harrison. Great defensive player. Seems like a good guy. But he's a dirty player and Steelers fans who think he's getting fined for the equivalent of shutting his car door too hard are mindless homers.

All the evidence suggests that the NFL can improve head safety over something like a five year period doing exactly what they are. I mean, how often do you see a personal foul -- late hit called compared to just five years ago? They don't need to over-enforce it anymore because defensive players understand what a late hit is, even if it's not very well defined by the NFL rulebook. They know it's a 15 yard flag, so they don't do it.

Re: James Harrison
 

Other guys have changed up their technique, for whatever reason Harrison refuses to, so the fines will continue and he's eventually going to get suspended.

Re: James Harrison
 

Gtripp you dont think Finnegan(sp) or Seymour deserved more than a slap on the wrist? Everything is relative, and Harrison's just doesn't compare for me.

Sure his technique could not be the best, but he is trying to play the game. All the others are extracurricular and are not part of the game. What this does is basically equate open fighting and attacking to playing NFL football.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=hooskins;764686]Gtripp you dont think Finnegan(sp) or Seymour deserved more than a slap on the wrist? Everything is relative, and Harrison's just doesn't compare for me.

Sure his technique could not be the best, but he is trying to play the game. All the others are extracurricular and are not part of the game. What this does is basically equate open fighting and attacking to playing NFL football.[/quote]Well, an ejection is not something I consider to be a slap on the wrist. I thought both Finnegan and Johnson deserved a game in addition to their ejections because it was a fourth quarter brawl in a game that was likely already decided.

Seymour was ejected for hitting Roethlisberger in the face after a play as well he should have been. Didn't believe a suspension was necessary, but could have been justified given the circumstances.

I don't think fighting is being equated to hitting because comparing just the punishments in a vacuum is drawing a link where one may not exist. A $25,000 fine with no suspension for a hit that the NFL actually determined to be illegal AND a point of emphasis would qualify as a slap on the wrist. It's different if the argument is that the hit on Fitzpatrick was perfectly legal and should not have been flagged or fined. Then I would side with Harrison. I do think it broke a point of emphasis, and should have been flagged and fined.

If Harrison hasn't yet been suspended, bound, and gagged, I'm not sure how serious the league is about suspending players for dirty hits. It seems like they are trying to uphold the status quo of fines, fines, and more fines until they can get to the offseason and work something more concrete into the CBA. Which I think is exactly the case.

Re: James Harrison
 

If Harrison tackles by the shoulder then he drives the QB in the ground which would be a 15 yarder. IMO the refs and the FO have it out for the guy and they're clearly making an example out of him. I've heard former players comment on Harrison and they think it's a joke as well.

Re: James Harrison
 

Anyone remember the Philly/Indy game? The refs pretty much didn't want Philly to win the game, for what ever reason. One of the Philly defenders got a 15 yarder for accidently LIGHTLY slapping his hand on Manning's helmet. Not sure if there was a fine there but when are the refs going to be held accountable for awful calls? Or that hit on Austin Collie? Two of the worst calls I've ever seen.

Re: James Harrison
 

Fighting and illegal hits are seperate issues and should be treated as such.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=skinsfan69;764697]Anyone remember the Philly/Indy game? The refs pretty much didn't want Philly to win the game, for what ever reason. One of the Philly defenders got a 15 yarder for accidently LIGHTLY slapping his hand on Manning's helmet. Not sure if there was a fine there but when are the refs going to be held accountable for awful calls? Or that hit on Austin Collie? Two of the worst calls I've ever seen.[/quote]

Anytime you even touch a QB's head it's going to draw a flag, simple as that.

The call on Collie's hit was just an example of the refs being instructed to throw the flag on anything questionable and sort it out after. It definitely wasn't an illegal hit and they admitted it after, but they are going to err on the side of caution every time.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=Mattyk;764705]Fighting and illegal hits are seperate issues and should be treated as such.[/quote]

What about Seymour? Is that fighting or an illegal "hit?" Because the saying says it takes two to fight but that was clearly a punch.

Re: James Harrison
 

Lets fine everyone on every down.
Lets make them all wear 747 inner tubes.
Lets play two hand touch.

Re: James Harrison
 

[quote=Mattyk;764707]Anytime you even touch a QB's head it's going to draw a flag, simple as that.

The call on Collie's hit was just an example of the refs being instructed to throw the flag on anything questionable and sort it out after. It definitely wasn't an illegal hit and they admitted it after, but they are going to err on the side of caution every time.[/quote]

Yeah but there was no intent and it doesn't hurt the QB one bit if a hand hits his helmet. These guys have got to start using simple common sense.

Re: James Harrison
 

^ Then you're asking officials to make judgement calls, not a good road to go down. A rule has to be called by the letter of the rule.

Re: James Harrison
 

I have Zero sympathy for Big Ben getting clocked by Seymour. Lets not forget this is the dude who uses his power to harrass/abuse girls in the girls bathrooms. A kid I used to play poker with went to Miami of OH and said Ben walked in one day saw that they had named a sandwhich after him and demanded they take it down. He is a premadona and got what he deserved for talking trash to a bigger man. Also did you notice how his team mates didnt do much in terms of retaliation? Imagine if that happened elsewhere? I guarantee you 90% of the OLs in this league would have pounded any Defensive player who smacked their QB like that.

As for Harrison he is an extremely aggressive player and yes he is probably being watch a lot more closely than other players but they are watching him like that because he has knocked out more players than anyone else recently. The league is serious about head injuries now and he is going to have to adjust his style to continue to be effective.

After saying all that though I agree that someone needs to have some power to balance goodell he is trying to run roughshod over the players too much