Hitting for Dummies: 25 of the NFL's Biggest Hits, Not Head-to-Head

David DanielsDec 5, 2010

There has been much outrage from fans about the NFL enforcing head-to-head hits this season.

It all started when in one week, James Harrison jacked up Josh Cribbs and Mohammad Massaquoi, Dunta Robinson speared DeSean Jackson and Brandon Merriweather KO'd Todd Heap.

People are calling the NFL soft.

No one can argue with how the protection of quarterbacks is being executed poorly, but head-to-head hits in general can be avoided without becoming "soft" as the following videos show.

Here are 25 of the hardest hits you'll ever see, all legal in today's standards.

Only the ignorant can continue to complain now.

No. 25

1 of 36

Predator: Keiwan Ratliff

Prey: Santonio Holmes

No. 24

2 of 36

Predator: Zach Thomas

Prey: Heath Evans

No. 23

3 of 36

Predator: Troy Polamalu

Prey: Terrell Owens

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No. 22

4 of 36

Predator: Antoine Bethea

Prey: Laurent Robinson

No. 21

5 of 36

Predator: Caleb Miller

Prey: Hines Ward

No. 20

6 of 36

Predator: Danieal Manning

Prey: Davone Bess

No. 19

7 of 36

Predator: James Harrison

Prey: Ed Reed

No. 18

8 of 36

Predator: Brian Dawkins

Prey: Michael Vick

No. 17

9 of 36

Predator: Rodney Harrison

Prey: Vince Young

No. 16

10 of 36

Predator: Malcolm Jenkins

Prey: Percy Harvin

No. 15

11 of 36

Predator: Antoine Bethea

Prey: Jamaal Charles

No. 14

12 of 36

Predator: John Lynch

Prey: Dante Hall

No. 13

13 of 36

Predator: Bart Scott

Prey: Ben Roethlisberger

No. 12

14 of 36

Predator: Lavar Arrington

Prey: Troy Aikman

No. 11

15 of 36

Predator: Cedrick Griffin

Prey: Billy Miller

No. 10

16 of 36

Predator: Ryan Clark

Prey: Percy Harvin

No. 9

17 of 36

Predator: Marlon McCree

Prey: Reggie Wayne

No. 8

18 of 36

Predator: Brandon Merriweather

Prey: Patrick Crayton

No. 7

19 of 36

Predator: Brian Dawkins

Prey: Alge Crumpler

No. 6

20 of 36

Predator: Roy Williams

Prey: Todd Heap

No. 5

21 of 36

Predator: David Barrett

Prey: T.J. Houshmanzadeh

No. 4

22 of 36

Predator: Earl Thomas

Prey: Percy Harvin

No. 3

23 of 36

Predator: Sheldon Brown

Prey: Reggie Bush

No. 2

24 of 36

Predator: Ray Lewis

Prey: Dustin Keller

No. 1

25 of 36

Predator: Sean Taylor

Prey: Brian Moorman

Proof

26 of 36

The following videos are a list made by NFL Network, "The 10 Most Feared Tacklers in NFL History."

The clips include hit upon hit where defenders punish the offensive player.

James Harrison questioned retirement because of the NFL's change in rule policies.

These are the greatest hitters of all-time. They knew how to hit without going head-to-head.

Sure, there are going to be a ton of head-to-head hits included because they were allowed back then, but there will be just as many hits that would be legal in today's game.

10. John Lynch

27 of 36

Years Pro: 16

Pro Bowls: 9

9. Steve Atwater

28 of 36

Years Pro: 11

Pro Bowls: 8

8. Jack Lambert

29 of 36

Years Pro: 11

Pro Bowls: 9

7. Ray Lewis

30 of 36

Years Pro: 15

Pro Bowls: 11

6. Jack Tatum

31 of 36

Years Pro: 10

Pro Bowls: 3

5. Hardy Brown

32 of 36

Years Pro: 10

Pro Bowls: 1

4. Ronnie Lott

33 of 36

Years Pro: 15

Pro Bowls: 10

3. Lawrence Taylor

34 of 36

Years Pro: 13

Pro Bowls: 10

2. Dick Lane

35 of 36

Years Pro: 14

Pro Bowls: 7

1. Dick Butkus

36 of 36

Years Pro: 9

Pro Bowls: 8

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and writing intern at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter.