NFL: Larger Fines and Suspension for Illegal Hits

The NFL in an effort to curtail what seems to be an increasing amount of helmet to helmet hits levied large fines on three players Monday evening.

James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers was fined $75,000 and both Brandon Meriweather of the New England Patriots and Dunta Robinson of the Falcons were fined $50,000 for their hits.

I've watched and re-watched the hits in question and to me the fine on Meriweather seems justified, and Harrison's fine was a close call.  However, the hit from Dunta Robinson I don't agree with.

For the Harrison hit on Cleveland Browns' receiver Mohamed Massaquoi Harrison it's tough to tell, but it does appear he launches himself at the receiver with his head which is against the rules.  Also he didn't do himself any favors by saying on the Dan Patrick Show that he goes out there to hurt people.

The same thing applies for the Meriweather hit on Baltimore Raven Todd Heap.

However, the Dunta Robinson hit (though the most violent of the three) to the Eagles' DeSean Jackson appears to be a legal hit. 

First off, Robinson doesn't launch himself at Jackson. Robinson was running at him to make the tackle and though his head makes contact first with Jackson, his facemask went to the chest region and then the moment brings the top of his head to the head area of Jackson.

Like I said, it was the most violent hit of the three, but it was because of the speed of the two players, not the intent of the defender.

Even before the fines came out, many former players who are on television and radio were already speaking out against them, including Mike Gohlic (Mike and Mike in the Morning), Mark Schlereth (NFL Live), and LaVar Arrington (LarVar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes).

All three made great arguments and LaVar and Mike were both very passionate about the league becoming softer.

They are right that the league in recent history has made a number of rules (especially regarding hitting) that seem to put the defense at a disadvantage, especially when it comes to hitting the quarterback.

However, the league has been put under a large microscope by special interest groups along with Congressional inquiries regarding concussions and the overall health of the players.

Just ask MLB commissioner Bud Selig the kind of pressure a Congressional inquiry puts on your sport.

The NFL has to act in order to diminish these types of hits in order to get these groups off of their backs.

Former New England Patriots Rodney Harrison said on Football Night In America said (and I'm sure the NFL was listening) that the fines didn't catch his attention, it was the threat of suspension that made him change his game.

Now, the league couldn't retroactively suspend these guys, so they handed down larger than normal fines and let it be known that suspensions are right around the corner.

Also regarding the fines, no new rule was instituted here.  It's a rule that is already on the books and simply the punishment has become harsher.

But LaVar Arrington was very correct when he stated that certain players of a bygone era wouldn't be able to play in this league.

Also Arrington was correct in stating that football is a violent game played by large and fast men who have a split second to decide what actions to take.

I think a lot of these hits, like the Robinson hit, are not intentional.  A lot of the time when a helmet-to-helmet hit occurs it's because the receiver has changed the position of his head and the defender doesn't have a chance to change his.

However, the NFL is right in their crusade to diminish the number of hits caused by a player launching his head at another player.

It's dangerous for both players involved.  A concussion is the first thing you worry about with a head on head hit, but also for the defender launching the top of his head at another player there is the danger of a serious neck injury.

And I think the first thing the league needs to do is talk to those networks that show games and highlights and tell them not to show those highlights anymore.

As far back as I can remember the hits we see more often on highlight shows are the big violent type where the defender launches his shoulder (legal) or head (illegal) at the ball carrier or receiver.

Now, when younger players (be it rookies, college players, high school, etc.) see these hits being glorified on SportsCenter they want to go out and make those hits so they can make the highlight reel.

It's not just the media, though. We the fans love to watch those hits as well, the three hits I mention above all have numerous YouTube links for your viewing pleasure, heck some even have a heavy metal soundtrack in the background.

Honestly, on the issue of these types of hits I'm torn.  On one hand, I don't like to see players hurt but on the other hand football is a violent game where large men hit each other, injuries are going to happen.

But I have to side with the NFL on the helmet-to-helmet issue because of the higher risk to injury from these kind of hits and all the mounting pressure from outside the league when it comes to concussions.

Also, even though the fines are larger and suspensions are right around the corner I don't think the spirit of the game will change.  However, the NFL does need to watch out about how "safe" they make the game in the future because they could be on a slippery slope to ruining the best spectator sport out there.