NFL's 10 Dirtiest Hits of 2010 (with Video)

Dirty hits have become a huge topic of discussion in the NFL this year and there have been plenty of hits that have drawn the attention of the league and the fans.

Some of them have resulted in fines and penalties, but some have gone under the radar. Inside are the 10 dirtiest hits of the year along with two honorable mentions.

What hit do you think was the worst of the season? How would you try and fix the problem the league is having with these hits?

Is there an answer? Leave it in the comments.

Honorable Mention: Bernard Pollard on Anthony Gonzalez

This play did not set will with the Colts fans in attendance watching Indianapolis avenge a Week 1 loss to the Texans.

Anthony Gonzalez was heading out of bounds when Bernard Pollard latched on to Gonzalez and drove him into the turf out of bounds. The crowd immediately reacted and got angrier when it became clear that Gonzalez was hurt.

The wideout is out for the season and there was no flag on the play, much to Peyton Manning's displeasure.

Honorable Mention: Dunta Robinson on DeSean Jackson

This is probably the most infamous hit in the NFL this season, and the only reason it didn't make the top 10 is that he didn't hit him in the head with his helmet.

Robinson hits Jackson in the chest, and then his helmet slides up the body to the head. The force of the collision hurts both players.

Jackson was defenseless and that's why this hit was so hotly debated. You can see both sides of the argument as to whether it's dirty or not.

It's easy to say he shouldn't have hit a defenseless wideout, but that's an instinct play.

No. 10: Earl Bennett on Jon Ryan

Devin Hester doesn't exactly need help to beat a punter to the outside, but don't tell Earl Bennett that.

On Hester's return, the punter comes down the field. From behind, Bennett destroys Seattle punter Jon Ryan and sends him flying to the turf, where he had to be helped off the field by the Seahawks training staff.

I feel like that hit was totally unnecessary, even if there was no flag on the play.

No. 9: Kevin Burnett on Sam Bradford

Usually, the referees will go out of their way to protect the quarterback, but Sam Bradford didn't get that type of luxury.

Bradford rolled out against San Diego. Kevin Burnett charged the rookie quarterback and launched himself headfirst at the former Oklahoma Sooner, hitting him in the head with his helmet and sending him to the turf.

I'm stunned there was no call on that play.

No. 8: James Harrison on Drew Brees

This is the first of many appearances for James Harrison on this list.

This was a couple of weeks ago against the New Orleans Saints. Harrison got pressure on Drew Brees and rammed his head right into Brees' back as he threw the pass downfield. Brees went and a flag was thrown.

This was after Harrison became infamous, so it was doubly stupid.

No. 7: James Harrison on Josh Cribbs

What do you know? More James Harrison!

This was the first of two questionable hits by Harrison against the Cleveland Browns. As the Browns ran a trick play to Josh Cribbs, Harrison led with his helmet and nailed Cribbs right in the head.

Cribbs stayed down for a period of time, and it was a scary hit.

No. 6: T.J. Ward on Jordan Shipley

Carson Palmer's made plenty of bad passes this year, but this may be the worst.

He was looking for rookie wideout Jordan Shipley in the end zone against Cleveland, and in doing so, set Shipley up for a nasty hit. T.J. Ward came across and nailed a defenseless Shipley, sending him to the turf.

Ward said he'd do it again, which is not exactly a smart thing to say to the media.

No. 5: Ndamukong Suh on Jake Delhomme

This was the first dirty hit of the year, and it was in the preseason.

Detroit Lions rookie defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh ran after Cleveland quarterback Jake Delhomme on this play. When Suh finally got to Delhomme, he wrapped his arms around his head, trying to seemingly twist it off his neck, before throwing him to the turf.

Suh was fined for the hit and rightfully so.

No. 4: James Harrison on Vince Young

Now this is the James Harrison hit that started his hit parade.

This was in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Vince Young went back to pass, got in trouble and waswrapped up by Harrison. Harrison then proceeded to flip Young and dump him on top of his head in a piledriver motion.

There was no flag but there was a nice little fine in Harrison's locker from the league.

No. 3: James Harrison on Mohammed Massaquoi

This hit came after the hit on Josh Cribbs and was James Harrison's biggest offense this year.

Mohammed Massaquoi came across the middle and got put in a bad position by his quarterback. Harrison hit the defenseless Massaquoi, sending him to the turf where trainers had to check on him.

There was a flag on the play, after no flag for the hit on Cribbs.

It was just senseless to launch yourself like that at someone's head.

No. 2: Nick Collins on Roy Williams

The Green Bay Packers were stomping the Dallas Cowboys into the Lambeau Field turf, and then Nick Collins went too far.

The game was way out of hand when Jon Kitna looked down the field for Roy Williams. Collins launched himself at Williams' head and hit him with his helmet, sending the wideout to the turf and drawing a flag and a fine from the league.

He should have been kicked out of the game right away.

No. 1: Brandon Meriweather on Todd Heap

This is by far the dirtiest hit of the year. It's not even close.

Joe Flacco overthrew Todd Heap in a game against the New England Patriots and Brandon Meriweather took a cheap shot at Heap's head, sending the tight end to the turf and drawing a huge fine from the league.

Meriweather should have been suspended for a dirty hit that could have seriously damaged Heap's quality of life.