This weekend was packed full of questionable hits. These hits have caused the NFL to tighten up on their policies and rule enforcing. In this day and age they are unacceptable, and can be avoided in many cases.
The game that I was able to see contained two disturbing hits. James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers delivered two cheap shots to two Cleveland Browns players, resulting in two injures. The first hit I saw was the hit on wide receiver Joshua Cribbs. I still think it could have been avoided, Harrison pretty much attacked his head, but I can see it as being an accident because things do happen in a sport like this. The second hit I saw was absolutely on purpose. Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi was in the process of catching a pass from rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, when Harrison ran up and head tackled Massaquoi, leading with his shoulder.
I know what the proper way to tackle is and the tackler certainly has control over where he tackles the receiver in this situation. Hit him in the stomach, in the chest, but not in the face. Football is still a game after all even if it may be your job, its not worth it to go out and try and break someones neck. Both receivers had concussions from these hits.
If the this alone weren't enough to piss me off, Harrison had to go and open his mouth, saying "he didn't care whether he hurts people or not." Any players int he NFL could go around head tackling eachother, but do they? No. It is one thing to play the game hard, but it is another to go out trying to sideline players for life. There can be a balance and I don't feel that fining a player for these actions is going to cut it. $75,000 is pocket change for these players in this day and age. If you take them out of the game, maybe they will reconsider not their style of play, but attacking a defenseless receivers head when instead they could have hit them a tad lower and still had the same affect, a tackle.
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ReplyDeleteI know for a fact the hit on Cribbs was legal because he was in the Wildcat and had possession of the ball but this is football and they need to expect the possible injuries that can occur. I just believe that instincts come into factor and its hard to be taught a different way after so long.
ReplyDeleteYea like I said I dont have that big of a problem with Cribbs he was just playing football but watch the video again, if it is instinct to head tackle there is something wrong, You go for the chest or the gut not the head.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying, but thats just how football is played. Players go out every week and play their hardest because that is how they were taught, basically to hit as hard as they can. Now the NFL is fining these players for playing the right way? Soon football will turn into soccer with their new rules. I don't agree with Harrison decision on retiring, but I understand where he is coming from.
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