[Schfourteenteen]

We don't know that the NFL would suspend Robinson. In fact, the NFL has spent the last two says saying a bunch of nothing while they figure out how they're going to deal with these players.

Robinson's hit was legal, although a head to the chest may as well be a head to head shot. His was a bang bang play. he didn't lead with his head, it just worked out that way.

I'm not a fan of players using their helmet as a weapon. It's not football.

[Th3rd]

Yeah I'm not sure what they will do with the Dunta Robinson hit as at the time it wasn't against the rules, but I've no problem with them changing the rule for the future effective immediately. They do need to clarify what will count as "devastating hits" as this is much too broad. But to say its football people get hurt so don't change the rules is just dumb.

i could see putting the rule in place to stop hits by a Lawrence Taylor that ended peoples careers and what we say with Robinson on Sunday. I think this is going to hurt more than help because we will see more knee and ankle injuries since the DBs will just lower the "hard hits" to below the waist causing career ending injurys

Robinson didn't use his helmet as a weapon though. he hit him with shoulder pad first and the amount a force took his helmet into him and pushed upward just as you are taught to do in football. It was completely legal...

[From the class of 09]

Yeah I'm not sure what they will do with the Dunta Robinson hit as at the time it wasn't against the rules, but I've no problem with them changing the rule for the future effective immediately. They do need to clarify what will count as "devastating hits" as this is much too broad. But to say its football people get hurt so don't change the rules is just dumb.

i could see putting the rule in place to stop hits by a Lawrence Taylor that ended peoples careers and what we say with Robinson on Sunday. I think this is going to hurt more than help because we will see more knee and ankle injuries since the DBs will just lower the "hard hits" to below the waist causing career ending injurys

Robinson didn't use his helmet as a weapon though. he hit him with shoulder pad first and the amount a force took his helmet into him and pushed upward just as you are taught to do in football. It was completely legal...

I understand that the hit was legal (under current NFL rules) however that doesn't mean the rules shouldn't be reviewed at a minimum (if not changed).

Here is where you and I apparently disagree. I would rather see a player blow out an ACL and be done playing football than see him suffer multiple concussions that result in long term brain mental problems after he is done playing football at the ripe old age of 30. If he still has his head working right a player can go on into any career he wants at 30 (many closely associated with the game) however if he has mental problems obviously this will cause problems wherever he chooses to go in life.

[ToTheLeft]

You can call this the Brandon Merriweather rule.

Every time he goes for a tackle, he's lunging upward with his helmet first. That's stupid, it's dangerous, and it's not football.

Remember that hit? PERFECTLY legal and the best hit I've seen since John Lynch retired. Why can't guys do that? Aim for their belly (aka center of gravity) with your shoulder (which carries the weight of your chest and body with it better than your head) and give them a huge hit. Guys don't carry the ball at their head, they carry it on their body. Go for the body, create a fumble/incompletion, and do something good for your team, rather than going for the head, doing nothing but creating an injury for the other team.

No one would have fined or suspended Sheldon Brown there. And he had one of the more memorable hits in the past few years.

No one is going to remember Merriweather's hits in the Ravens game except that they were the reason we have new rules because he has no control over himself and plays to injure.

I think it was Darren Rovelle who said on twitter that the players should be given leather helmets for a week and see if concussions decline. The players are made bold by the protection around their head. Imagine if they didn't have that. Also, I can't imagine the helmet of the player being hit helps much, if anything it creates a hard surface for your head to bounce around on. But oh well.

[ALUmnus]

I think this is going to hurt more than help because we will see more knee and ankle injuries since the DBs will just lower the "hard hits" to below the waist causing career ending injurys

Robinson didn't use his helmet as a weapon though. he hit him with shoulder pad first and the amount a force took his helmet into him and pushed upward just as you are taught to do in football. It was completely legal...

Wait, so now we're going to go from hitting too high (to the head) to hitting too low? "well, since I can't knock his head off, might as well go for the ankles" I don't think that's how it works.

And the legality of the Robinson hit has nothing to do with this, so I don't know why it's being mentioned in every post.

[LUconn]

I think it was Darren Rovelle who said on twitter that the players should be given leather helmets for a week and see if concussions decline. The players are made bold by the protection around their head. Imagine if they didn't have that. Also, I can't imagine the helmet of the player being hit helps much, if anything it creates a hard surface for your head to bounce around on. But oh well.

people always say this, and you do in fact launch your body in ways you wouldn't if you didn't have a helmet, but many many tackles result in someone's head hitting the ground. You'd probably get more concussions.


I don't get all of the "getting soft" or "put a skirt on them" comments. Not many players played defense like this 10-20 years ago so it wasn't a problem (Ronnie Lott is the only one that pops into my mind). On top of every DB being trained to play like this, they're faster and stronger than they were 5 years ago. Something had to be changed before it got to the point where people were getting Aikmaned out of the league, or worse. The fact that such a devastating hit was in fact legal, I think is what is so concerning. The fact that everyone keeps mentioning that it was legal is just driving home the point.

[ALUmnus]

Not many players played defense like this 10-20 years ago so it wasn't a problem (Ronnie Lott is the only one that pops into my mind).

Chuck Cecil and Steve Atwater would beg to differ.

[Th3rd]

Big question is how does this rule change, change the way that defense will be played on the college level.

Anderson (the Exec VP of Football Operations) is quoted with this "... We're talking about avoiding life-altering impacts."

Isn't every hit a potential life-altering impact?? So are we just going to take all hits out of the game of football now?

[prototype]

Not many players played defense like this 10-20 years ago so it wasn't a problem (Ronnie Lott is the only one that pops into my mind).

Chuck Cecil and Steve Atwater would beg to differ.

I agree - I could rattle off 20 of them.

The reason Jackson is being mentioned so many times is because that was the play that led to this rule. I'm sure the NFL has been discussing it, but that was the hit that sent them down this path OFFICIALLY.

You guys must all be really young that are arguing for more rules - you probably are the same ones yelling about the players being too happy when someone scores - "Now that's just unsportsmanlike - did you see that other guy lift up that other guy - I mean act like you been there before - oh man- they're jumping into the stands..." Don't worry that's coming next... What happens if someone spills a beer in the players eyes???? He might lose one...

[prototype]

Big question is how does this rule change, change the way that defense will be played on the college level.

Anderson (the Exec VP of Football Operations) is quoted with this "... We're talking about avoiding life-altering impacts."

Isn't every hit a potential life-altering impact?? So are we just going to take all hits out of the game of football now?

Stock in companies who produce flag football gear are going to go through the roof - you better buy up now... I can see the replays - "Jon there's a challenge flag being thrown - I'm not sure if Ray Lewis pulled that flag or it just blew off..."

[Th3rd]

here is what some players are saying on twitter

So the NFL wants to suspend players for helmet to helmet due to injuries, yet the NFL wants 2 more games. Make sense?

Wondering is the NFL concerned about protecting players or the bottom line. Please protect players not only w/ suspensions but common sense.

If you want us protected, why would risk players bodies 2 more times. Suspensions aren't wrong but 2 more games isn't right.

Seems people are upset! I don't want concussions,neck or spinal injuries. If they rule to suspend players then ok. Dont want 18 either. Nite

https://twitter.com/#!/RyanClark25

I guarantee u Dick Butkus,Mike Singletary, Richard Dent,Doug Plank,Otis Wilson didn't think twice when hittin someone but NFL want us to now

I feel the NFL is singling out defensive players. What about the running backs who are running towards me then lower their heads at contact. Will they get suspended as well?

Maybe we should go back to leather helmets. I bet u wouldn't have the concussions bc u couldn't use ur helmet as a means to tackle

I know the ramifications of them but again nobody put a gun up to my head and said I had to play. Its a conscious decision. we choose as players so I personally know the risk I put myself n everytime I step foot on the field(concussion, brain damage, spinal injury and even death) but that a decision I made noone else. If its too dangerous then ban the sport n make it illegal

http://twitter.com/#!/chrisharrisnfl

[prototype]

Come on Th3rd - Am I supposed to believe these are real tweets - No one in the NFL wants to hit?

[Schfourteenteen]

You guys must all be really young that are arguing for more rules - you probably are the same ones yelling about the players being too happy when someone scores - "Now that's just unsportsmanlike - did you see that other guy lift up that other guy - I mean act like you been there before - oh man- they're jumping into the stands..." Don't worry that's coming next... What happens if someone spills a beer in the players eyes???? He might lose one...

I can't speak for the others, but I really don't care about this. The celebrations are stupid. The rule against them is just as stupid.

The NFL was never safe....but that doesn't mean they should ignore a safety improvement, especially if it doesn't take anything away form the game(I guess we disagree here). Banning clotheslines and using the facemask to bring a player didn't take anything away from it. Taking away horsecollar tackles didn't take anything away from it. I have no reason to believe that taking away the human missile will do any damage to the game.

[TDDance234]

This is a perfect example of why this rule is going to cause headaches.

[youtube]

[/youtube]

Steven Jackson is running with his eyes locked on the QB, does this make him a defenseless receiver? He can't see Sheldon Brown about to eat his lunch...who's at fault here? Sheldon is doing what he's supposed to do but according to the new rules, is likely the one to get a flag and/or fined.

[Schfourteenteen]

The new rules haven't been set yet, unless you're talking about the ones in 2007.

That's not helmet to helmet. He led with the shoulders, and extended his arms after the hit. Plus, there's a good chance Jackson's helmet fell off because it wasn't fastened right or is too lose to begin with.

[Schfourteenteen]

Anderson also said the league is looking to set an example for the lower levels of the game, from college to youth football, by emphasizing safe play. He said there's no intent to change the rules -- specifically, Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8 -- but that the league will enforce its current rules more strictly.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5702673

h) If a receiver has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself, a defensive player is prohibited from launching (springing forward and upward) into him in a way that causes the defensive player's helmet, facemask, shoulder, or forearm to forcibly strike the receiver's head or neck area -- even if the initial contact of the defender's helmet, facemask, shoulder, or forearm is lower than the receiver's neck.

[ToTheLeft]

Wahhhh enforcing rules. Wahhhhh. This league is no fun! Wahhhh!

[TDDance234]

The new rules haven't been set yet, unless you're talking about the ones in 2007.

That's not helmet to helmet. He led with the shoulders, and extended his arms after the hit. Plus, there's a good chance Jackson's helmet fell off because it wasn't fastened right or is too lose to begin with.

But the term "defenseless" is being thrown around. Jackson's head is turned and not in a position to brace himself for impact.

What's the difference between this hit and the one Jackson hit?

[Schfourteenteen]

The new rules haven't been set yet, unless you're talking about the ones in 2007.

That's not helmet to helmet. He led with the shoulders, and extended his arms after the hit. Plus, there's a good chance Jackson's helmet fell off because it wasn't fastened right or is too lose to begin with.

But the term "defenseless" is being thrown around. Jackson's head is turned and not in a position to brace himself for impact.

What's the difference between this hit and the one Jackson hit?

Too many Jacksons for me to keep up. IMO neither are worthy of suspensions. Apparently the NFL disagrees with me.

[ALUmnus]

This isn't about the hit on DeSean Jackson!! There was no fine, penalty, or suspension for that hit. This is a culmination of all the concussions in the last few weeks, with several happening this Sunday, and the Merryweather hit on Todd Heap. Let's all leave DeSean Jackson alone, please.

[thepostman]

I understand where the NFL is coming from they are getting a ton of pressure from groups doing studies on the brains of former players and the harm the game has caused them...

with that said, its football...its a violent sport...every kid in america realizes it so I am pretty sure these grown men know the risks. The game is about as safe as you can make it, punishing players this severely is going to hurt the game and ultimately league.

The NFL feels like they can operate however they want and people will continue to love the NFL...but if they continue to hurt the game by taking all the fun and action out of the game the league will not stand the test of time...Its crazy talk to most, but I really believe that

[01LUGrad]

Where we are heading with this:


"After further review, it was determined that the runner's flag was, in fact, pulled at the 3 yard line, but the wind carried it into the endzone. The ball will be placed at the spot of the flag-pull, first and goal Philadelphia."

Michael Vick looks different without a helmet on, by the way.

[Th3rd]

Where we are heading with this:


"After further review, it was determined that the runner's flag was, in fact, pulled at the 3 yard line, but the wind carried it into the endzone. The ball will be placed at the spot of the flag-pull, first and goal Philadelphia."

Michael Vick looks different without a helmet on, by the way.

"Wait there is a flag on the play... lets see the call"

"Unnecessary roughness. The defender pulled the flag to hard"


hahaha

[PAmedic]

with this new rule we are going to see more career ending injurys though. more guys will start taking those powerful throw your body hits and lowering them to the waist and knees. id rather have a guy pop someone in the shoulder pad and accidentally make contact with his helmet then take out a guys knee. you can come back from a concussion and be the same player. you cant come back from a blown knee and be the same player (i.e. willis mcgahee)

somebody was listening to Mike & Mike

[olldflame]

Speaking of Mike and Mike. Their news flash today is that the NFL is SELLING pictures of the Merriweather and Harrison hits on their website after fining them a total of $125,000. Buncha Pharasees. I predict they will say that they weren't aware of it and the pics will come down.