NFL New Policy on 'Violent' Hits: Suspensions To Be Leavied Down

Just last July the NFL lost one it's most feared hitters of all time, Jack Tatum. It would be interesting to hear Tatum's take on the NFL's new ruling to hand out suspensions for what they see as "Malicious" hits.

The NFL says these new harsher punishments are intact to protect offensive players safety and prevent concussions, but are these new rules going to have a negative affect on the integrity of the game?

Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis had this to say: My opinion is play the game like that game is supposed to be played, and whatever happens, happens," said Lewis, "If you go into the game thinking about any of that stuff, I'm telling you, the game will be diluted very quickly."

I agree with Lewis on this one. How much further is the league going to take this until it does in fact affect the game? Call me old school but if a receiver runs a route and and a defensive player has a chance to prevent him from catching the ball by landing a big hit, isn't that football? Isn't that how your taught to play Defense? Isn't that why moms don't want their sons to play football? With fear of an over the top fine or suspension, Defensive players might have to start letting receivers catch the ball, then try to tackle them.

I don't think this is as much about protecting players from getting knocked out of games, but more about the NFL protecting it's "money makers."

The Miami Dolphins Channing Crowder was not afraid to voice his opinion:"They want to save the receivers and quarterbacks because they sell all the jerseys," Crowder said. "They don't give a damn at all about defensive players because we don't sell as many jerseys as them." Crowder went on to say, "If they want to change football to a graceful sport, change it all the way to a graceful sport. Don't try to save the quarterbacks and receivers because they make the money, which that's what they're doing."

Strong words from Crowder, who also said "If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me," Crowder said Wednesday. "They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it..." It will be interesting to see what over the top kind of fine Roger Godell sends Crowders way for his statements.

All of the talk about "violent" hits started after Sundays games involving Pittsburgh's James Harrison, Atlanta's Dunta Robinson and New England's Brandon Merriweather. After reviewing those hits multiple times, the only one I found to be violent or malicious was Brandon Merriweathers who went out of his way to lead with the helmet on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap, and I have no problem with the league issuing a fine for a hit like that, the problem I do have is issuing fines for Harrison's and Robinson's hits, both of which were just good solid football plays.

Bears corner back Charles Tillman summed it up nicely,  What they're trying to say  'We're protecting the integrity'  no, you're not," Tillman said. "It's ruining the integrity. It's not even football anymore. We should just go out there and play two-hand touch Sunday if we can't make contact."

Two Hand touch might not be a bad idea, hear that NFL executives? Maybe that's a good way to see offenses score 100 points a game.