Why Steelers LB James Harrison's 1-Game Suspension Was Completely Warranted

After his fifth illegal hit on a quarterback in three seasons, the NFL has made Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison the first player to be suspended for a helmet-to-helmet hit under the NFL's enhanced rules on player safety. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news this morning and had this tweet:

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NFL suspended Steelers linebacker James Harrison one game for his helmet-to-helmet hit Thursday night on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

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Harrison plans to appeal the suspension. If the ruling stands, Harrison will miss Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. 

In the end, however, the suspension should stand because it was absolutely warranted in this situation. 

The play in question came in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh's 14-3 win over the Cleveland Browns last Thursday, as Colt McCoy scrambled out of the pocket in Harrison's direction. Harrison then led with the crown of his helmet and connected squarely with McCoy's helmet after he released the football.

McCoy suffered a concussion on the play and Harrison was given a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty.

But this was just a cap to what's been a long list of fineable offenses for one of the league's most widely-assumed "dirty" players.

Just last season, Harrison knocked out both Mohammad Massaqoui and Josh Cribbs on hits that drew penalties and fines. Following that game, the NFL instituted a more strict player safety policy. Other hits on Drew Brees, Jason Campbell and Ryan Fitzpatrick were also penalized and fined. In all, Harrison totaled $125,000 worth of fines last season alone.

Harrison's hit on McCoy only proves that penalties and fines aren't enough to keep Harrison from playing the way he does. And he believes the hit was clean, which is even more concerning on the whole issue. Harrison has maintained throughout the past two years that the way he plays isn't "dirty," so it's probably been past due for the NFL to come down on him in the form of a suspension.

While there will be plenty of old school, traditional football fans that are blown away by this suspension, let's be real: There are ways to tackle a player, and there are ways to hurt a player. Harrison consistently walks the border of that line.

Yes, the NFL is a tough game played by some of the most physically fit human beings in the world. Collisions that hurt other players will happen. But Harrison crosses the line far too often to just continue to let these things slide.

Given his body of punishment over the past three years—and the NFL does take into account a player's recent history—Harrison needed to be banned. Maybe now he will realize that his style of play is not only hurting his wallet and other players, but also his team.