Cleveland Browns: James Harrison Should Be Suspended for Hit on Colt McCoy

There is no doubt Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison's helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy Thursday night is a fine-worthy offense.

Remember, Harrison openly admits to aiming to hurt opposing players.

Unfortunately for Harrison, his method of hurting his competition violates a new crusade by the NFL aimed at protecting players from concussions and other injuries.

Under mandate from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL officials have begun to heavily enforce rules aimed at protecting defenseless players from hits such as Harrison's on Colt McCoy.  This is especially true of the quarterback position.

Harrison has an extensive history of fines for what some call his "head hunting" style of tackling. Notably, he was fined $75,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2011. His fines for illegal hits totaled $150,000 in 2010.

It is clear the message is not getting through to Harrison.

He continues to refuse to acknowledge he is doing anything wrong. The fact that fines have not had an effect on him show both he and the Steelers organization are not going to do anything about it on their own.

It's time Roger Goodell helps them out.

Following an appeal by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Goodell cited Suh's history of violations as a factor in sustaining the suspension.

Given the severity of Harrison's history and his continued insubordination, would anything other than a suspension bring about any change in him?

Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison sympathized with Goodell's decision to suspend Suh. He also advocated for the suspension of Harrison.

"I was a young player once and I was very prideful and arrogant, just like Ndamukong Suh.  But I didn't learn until the commissioner handed me a suspension. Then I really understood the impact of what it did to my teammates in that locker room." 

Without a doubt, James Harrison should be suspended for two games and fined for his continued refusal to adhere to NFL rules and regulations.

Only then may the repercussions of his actions begin to take their toll and their intended results of those consequences be achieved.