NFL: Concussions Like DeSean Jackson's Becoming Real Headache in League

The NFL is a ruthless jungle of evolving players who are built to withstand massive doses of punishment throughout the course of a game. To make it worse, the players must endure this 17 or more games a season depending on how well they do that year.

This past weekend, I have seen more violent hits than in the previous few years and with that comes the much greater risk of a player getting badly injured. That was just the case in too many games on Sunday.

First, if you haven't already heard, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand suffered a serious neck injury in Saturday's matchup against Army, which sadly has left him paralyzed from the neck down.

He had emergency surgery to stabilize his spine and appears to be in good spirits according to head coach Greg Schiano—my prayers are with him!

Back to the NFL, which had its fare share of nasty hits yesterday. The most violent had to be the helmet-to-helmet hit Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson received from Falcons CB Dunta Robinson.

Before you say anything, it was a cheap shot on Robinson's part because of the helmet-to-helmet contact. He got slapped with a penalty, but justice hadn't been served.

Both Jackson and Robinson laid on the turf for several minutes after the collision in one of the more violent hits I've seen in recent years. Jackson suffered a severe concussion and has memory loss.

Neither team's head coach commented on an expected time frame for how long both players will miss as a result. They must first pass all the tests by both team doctors and independent surgeons before either can return.

Then in the Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup, an almost identical thing occurred.

Browns WR Joshua Cribbs was wide open on a short pattern pass—just like Jackson—before being absolutely hammered by Steelers LB James Harrison. Again, the NFL has yet another serious head injury on their hands.

Lastly, and without question, the most violent hit yesterday occurred in the Detroit Lions-New York Giants game when LB Zack Follett collided with Giants rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul during a fourth quarter kick return.

Follett was last seen being carted off the field on a stretcher—an image that nobody, and I mean nobody, should want to see.

It is almost to the point where NFL fans can expect to hear that a player has become vitally injured, and it is a trend that needs to stop.

Here's my proposal to end the madness. Call me crazy, but if this doesn't do it nothing will.

In any instance where a helmet-to-helmet occurs on a defenseless player: mandatory four-game suspension and a fine no less than $75,000. You all read that correctly. I said 75 big ones if a player wants to have disregard for another person.

That sounds great to me in all honesty, but it goes beyond the players.

NFL athletes are bigger, stronger and faster than their ancestors, and with that, the equipment also needs to be upgraded on a consistent basis. I don't know if there is a way to improve the helmet to make a player safer, but it should be looked at.

In Eric LeGrand's case, it should have immediately reminded you of the 2007 injury to Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett. Doctors feared he would never walk again, although he proved triumphant and was walking by November of that year!

My point is simple: These types of injuries have always occurred in this league, but are becoming more of a common factor nowadays. It has to be eliminated from the game.

It doesn't matter if the person plays on a rival team. No one should want to see another man go through that type of pain, and potentially life changing for that matter, in the name of a game.

These defenders have to do their job and make the tackle, but player safety should be first and foremost, and that is the responsibility of everyone on the field.

I will keep all of the impacted players during yesterday's hitfest in my thoughts and prayers and I ask that you all do the same as well. Remember everyone, in the grand scheme of it all, football is just a game!

If you're a Philadelphia Eagles fan, or just want to check out my website to be nice, head on over to Bleeding Eagle Green. A new window will open for you!