Suspensions Coming

[purple.n.black]

Well I hope this is in the right place. I put it here because of the Todd Heap incident.
Goodell stated that suspensions would be coming for these controversial hits on players. There were multiple yesterday. Harrison took out two guys on the Browns, dude on the Falcons took out DeSean Jackson.
And most importantly to us, Meriweather tried to take out Heap and later Mason.
Fines don't deter these people because they do it for their team. But them not being there can hurt their team. I hope Harrison and Meriweather get suspended. They both look like they are trying to end seasons when they hit. I love hard hits but there is a difference between trying to make a guy scared to catch the ball, and trying to take him out for good.
Let's hope that the hit on Heap and the others will not be in vain.

[berad]

Link to Goodell's statement?

[Shawn`]

I definitely agree with suspensions, but hopefully they don't get too out of hand, it'll be a challenge for Goodell to find a balance between keeping the NFL a hard hitting entertaining sport and safe for players at the same time.

Suspensions for multiple helmet-to-helmet hits in one game is understandable, ahem, Merriweather.

But if it's an isolated incident then I can understand a $ fine.

[flynismo]

Yesterday when we saw Belichick chewing out Merriweather on the sidelines, I noticed that Merriweather had three black stripes on the top of his helmet as a result of his hit on Heap's facemask.He needs a couple weeks off to think about his little hit.

[ravensdfan]

Here is the link http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b6d381/article/suspensions-could-be-coming-for-helmettohelmet-hits?module=HP_headlines

The way I read this however, seems to be they are "considering" harsher penalties. It does state that those penalties could go into effect immediately but does not really state that it would involve any of the hits from Week 6. It might, but it seems to read that it would be something going forward.

[CapoRocky]

It's too late when a player is permanently injured from a neck injury or concussion. Play the game to win but not to hurt another player. Just remember, what comes around goes around.

[DrMoonTooth]

I think we'll start to see some higher fines or longer suspensions for hits like these. Players obviously aren't getting the memo about the life-threatening effects of concussions and neck/spinal cord injuries.

[DrMoonTooth]

Also, I think the NFL should start having seminars on these injuries at the rookie symposiums and other gatherings of that nature (if they haven't already). I know this isn't Pop Warner football, but these are real people with real families. A big paycheck isn't worth paralysis to any one.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

rumor a friend of mine told me is marriweather may if this passes get a 3-5game for premeditation of the hit , he did it not 1 time but 4 times the game on multiple players. heap will more then likely feel better about the league protecting him and the head of the players unions is asking for stiffer penalties because its not just the recievers at danger on the hit .

[RavensAllTheWay]

I know I'm gonna sound biased for saying this, but imo Robinson does not deserve to be suspended while Harrison and Merriweather do.

The difference is Robinson didn't lead with his helmet. The penalty was for hitting a defenseless receiver. But Harrison and especially Merriweather led head first and Merriweather's hit was way late.

It's funny, Rodney Harrison said the same thing last night. You won't get players attention by fining them, they make millions upon millions of dollars anyway. You get their attention by suspending them and keeping them off the field.

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1287439153' post='512845']
I know I'm gonna sound biased for saying this, but imo Robinson does not deserve to be suspended while Harrison and Merriweather do.

The difference is Robinson didn't lead with his helmet. The penalty was for hitting a defenseless receiver. But Harrison and especially Merriweather led head first and Merriweather's hit was way late.

It's funny, Rodney Harrison said the same thing last night. You won't get players attention by fining them, they make millions upon millions of dollars anyway. You get their attention by suspending them and keeping them off the field.
[/quote]
I agree about Robinson. He seemed like he was trying to make a big hit and loosen the ball. He didn't seem like he wanted to take Jackson out for multiple weeks like he did. Merriweather and Harrison both did it multiple times too.
And what Rodney Harrison said last night really surprised me. Saying for one he didn't care about fines, he saved up enough money to set aside each year just to be prepared for the fines not if, but when they happened. The point is these fines are not issued just because you hit a guy hard. They are issued when you are doing something where the only "benefit" is to at the very least knock him unconscious or injure him.
All the rules we have to protect the QB's around this league and how sensitive refs are on that, why can we not protect these other players from situations that actually could put their careers in jeopardy, not just rough them up.

[purple.n.black]

And what really, really ticked me off about it is that Meriweather later stated that he would not change his style because of it. He could have ended Heap's career, or even killed him. Seems Harrison taught him "well"

[thewarden86]

I think Goodell needs a seminar on tackle football. He will go down as the worst NFL Commissioner in history.

[cursona pirate]

I feel bad for heap. He took such a hit.

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1287447815' post='513068']
I think Goodell needs a seminar on tackle football. He will go down as the worst NFL Commissioner in history.
[/quote]
He has already earned that title

[steeler hater]

Harrison will get off easy, despite the outrageously cheap hit on Cribbs, who was being tackled by another player and was on his way to the turf. Check out the replay and you'll see #92 lining it up. Cribbs wasn't coming across his the middle, so Harrison's hit wasn't designed to send a message. He saw an opportunity to knock the Brown's best player out of the game and he took it. No flag, either, of course, on either hit. Any guesses as to why?

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='steeler hater' timestamp='1287461857' post='513418']
Harrison will get off easy, despite the outrageously cheap hit on Cribbs, who was being tackled by another player and was on his way to the turf. Check out the replay and you'll see #92 lining it up. Cribbs wasn't coming across his the middle, so Harrison's hit wasn't designed to send a message. He saw an opportunity to knock the Brown's best player out of the game and he took it. No flag, either, of course, on either hit. Any guesses as to why?
[/quote]
Nope tell me why. And Harrison also took Massaquoi out

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[quote name='steeler hater' timestamp='1287461857' post='513418']
Harrison will get off easy, despite the outrageously cheap hit on Cribbs, who was being tackled by another player and was on his way to the turf. Check out the replay and you'll see #92 lining it up. Cribbs wasn't coming across his the middle, so Harrison's hit wasn't designed to send a message. He saw an opportunity to knock the Brown's best player out of the game and he took it. No flag, either, of course, on either hit. Any guesses as to why?
[/quote]

I like hard nosed football as much as the next guy but Harrison does some blatant bush league things. He is a great player and shouldn't have to resort to that garbage.

[rlh445]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1287439153' post='512845']
I know I'm gonna sound biased for saying this, but imo Robinson does not deserve to be suspended while Harrison and Merriweather do.

The difference is Robinson didn't lead with his helmet. The penalty was for hitting a defenseless receiver. But Harrison and especially Merriweather led head first and Merriweather's hit was way late.

It's funny, Rodney Harrison said the same thing last night. You won't get players attention by fining them, they make millions upon millions of dollars anyway. You get their attention by suspending them and keeping them off the field.
[/quote]

I pulled up a youtube video of the Dunta/DeSean hit. He did in fact lead with his helmet, but not at DeSean's head. He led with his helmet and hit DeSean's shoulder, but due to the speed of both players, it slid up into DeSean's helmet. I don't think he intended the hit he got but damnit, these players need to stop trying to go for 'the big stick' and just make tackles. Leading with your helmet never ends in anything good and stuff like this happens. Just make the damn shoulder tackle and live to fight another day.

[JO_75]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1287447815' post='513068']
I think Goodell needs a seminar on tackle football. He will go down as the worst NFL Commissioner in history.
[/quote]


[quote name='purple.n.black' timestamp='1287449157' post='513130']
He has already earned that title
[/quote]

I know, I can't believe he got his contract extended through 2014... I don't think I can take another few years of soon to be flag football. I wish there was a way the fans could get Goodell booted out so we could get a commish to reverse every decision made that helps the offense and bring back true NFL Football the way it is meant to be played.

[indianstick]

For those of you who didn't watch the post game of MNF, stewart scott said that the league will announce on wed that all head shots and "devastating hits" will lead to a suspension. They understood suspending players for head shots but there was a hugeee debate about suspending players for "devastating hits" b/w steve young, matt millen, stewart scott and trent dilfer. Steve young was the only one taht agreed with the league and he made good points about how the league has to do something to prevent injuries and possible deaths because devastating hits are happeneing too often, but the other 3 felt that making a defensive player think twice before making a hard legal hit on a player will change the game and they need to define what a devastating hit is if they are going to suspend players for it.

I feel the same, they shouldn't suspend players for devastating hits because it is part of the game however helmet to helmet hits/head shots are really dangerous and players need to be suspended for them. However if they do suspend people for "devastating hits" they definetely need to define what it is.

If they define devastating hit as how steve young defined it im going to be PISSED. (He defined it as "legal or illegal hit that makes someone cringe watching it happen"). Becuase my question and concern is would the ray lewis hit on dustin keller be classified as a "devastating hit"? If it would be thats bs because ray lewis and company lives to make hits like that and thats one of the reasons why our defense is so effective. That was a legal hit and prevented the catch. If ray lewis gets suspended for a future hit like that im going to be pissed.

Heres the link to the debate for those of you who didn't see it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/29948/video-hard-hits-debate

[ravenspurple]

There are gonna be some hits that just cant be avoided due to the players speed. I mentioned this on another thread but if Goodell cares so much about the players health, why does he want to have them play more games during the season, seems like a real recipe for injuries

[edreedfromtheu]

I'm sure the league will wait until the week before the Steelers game, and then suspend Ray Lewis.

[PuRock]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1287499019' post='513654']
I'm sure the league will wait until the week before the Steelers game, and then suspend Ray Lewis.
[/quote]

Because that's exactly what the NFL wants, star players missing in big televised games.

[Marc2k6]

This is football not futbol, hard hits come with the game. Leading with the helmet on purpose is another thing but at the speed the game is played from time to time it will happen.

[bmorefan444]

The only hit yesterday that is worthy of suspension is Brandon Meriweather's hit on Todd Heap. Im not saying that because Im a Ravens fan either. This hit was obviously intentional and he leaped through the air leading with his helmet. Harrison had some questionable hits but they seemed legal to me. The hit Desean Jackson took was also a legal hit, just a damn hard one.

[TSizzle00]

Meriweather went for Heaps head twice. I would have called the hit out on Bradys knee after that. I guess thats why I'm not a coach lol.

[indianstick]

Mort just said they aren't going to suspend people for devastating legal hits but they will for helmet to helmet or shoulder to helmet.

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='Marc2k6' timestamp='1287500752' post='513698']
This is football not futbol, hard hits come with the game. Leading with the helmet on purpose is another thing but at the speed the game is played from time to time it will happen.
[/quote]
I am all for hard hits but some are just ridiculous. I hope the league will do a good job of separating intentional from one that just cant be avoided

[thewarden86]

[quote name='steeler hater' timestamp='1287461857' post='513418']
Harrison will get off easy, despite the outrageously cheap hit on Cribbs, who was being tackled by another player and was on his way to the turf. Check out the replay and you'll see #92 lining it up. Cribbs wasn't coming across his the middle, so Harrison's hit wasn't designed to send a message. He saw an opportunity to knock the Brown's best player out of the game and he took it. No flag, either, of course, on either hit. Any guesses as to why?
[/quote]

Cribbs and Harrison are friends and former teammates from Kent State. Harrison stayed on the field with Cribbs until the end and even Cribbs said it was a clean hit.....Steelers hater.