“The people making the rules at the NFL are idiots”

[papazoid]

“I’m absolutely sure now after this last rule change that the people making the rules at the NFL are idiots,” James Harrison wrote on Twitter Tuesday night.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/25/james-harrison-the-people-making-the-rules-at-the-nfl-are-idiots/

 

 

i have to disagree with James......i think putting a clamp on so called

"defenseless" hits, leading with your helmet and hits to opposing players heads are a good thing. players leaving the field via stretcher is a bad thing......these defensive guys can bring a player to the ground WITHOUT those career ending hits. i love those bone jarring hits as much as the next guy....but some player safety needs to trump fan amusement.

[DrDawkinstein]

Then Harrison is free to quit/retire.

 

It took him almost 10 years to develop into a good player, and his trademark is dirty/dangerous hitting. He's just scared that if they take away the one thing he does (cheap-shotting people with his helmet), he'll just be a crappy player like he was when he was bouncing around the Euro League.

[Beerball]

I wish the people making the rules would get agreement on a CBA before all other topics.

[Jauronimo]

Many players use their helmet as a weapon to deliver a bigger blow and and I'm not just talking about helmet to helmet hits, which have been the focus of much of scrutiny. Players lower their heads and hit with the crown of the helmet rather than leading with the shoulder, or putting your facemask in the guys chest and wrapping them up. They do it to hurt the opponent.

 

Channing Crowder: "They give me a helmet, I'm gonna use it."

 

Translation: I use my helmet as a tool or weapon to hurt people.

 

Mike Sims: "For one, it's contradicting the game of football. Football is a smash-mouth sport. Guys are taught since we started the game, 'Hit 'em in the mouth' or 'Put a helmet on 'em.'"

 

Translation: We are taught to lead with the helmet and hit under the ball carriers facemask, and aim for the exposed chin. This will almost always result in a knockout shot. We are taught to use our helmets to deliver bigger hits.

 

Changing rules to prevent players from using their helmet as a weapon is not undermining the integrity of the game, no matter what Harrison and Co. would have you believe. Leading with the crown puts not only the ball carrier but also the tackler in a very dangerous position. When a tackler lowers their head into a ball carriers chest, at impact their neck can move 2 ways: back where they're likely safe, or down which can easily lead to a broken neck and spinal cord damage. Unfortunately, it will probably take another paralysis to really change attitudes about leading with the top of your head.

[Calgary_JG]

I love the hypocrisy from the players on this one...they refuse an 18 game schedule saying the owners don't care about their safety but when rules are instituted to keep players safe they say "I'm a football player, don't tell me how to play football"...morons.

[KD in CA]

Wow, again? James Harrison really needs to STFU.

[DC Tom]

“I’m absolutely sure now after this last rule change that the people making the rules at the NFL are idiots,” James Harrison wrote on Twitter Tuesday night.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/25/james-harrison-the-people-making-the-rules-at-the-nfl-are-idiots/

 

 

i have to disagree with James......i think putting a clamp on so called

"defenseless" hits, leading with your helmet and hits to opposing players heads are a good thing. players leaving the field via stretcher is a bad thing......these defensive guys can bring a player to the ground WITHOUT those career ending hits. i love those bone jarring hits as much as the next guy....but some player safety needs to trump fan amusement.

 

If player safety needs to trump fan amusement, when is the NFL going to start fining ESPN for focusing on such as highlights?

 

Harrison's right, the rules committee is a bunch of idiots. Just not for the reasons he thinks.

[shrader]

I like the timing, right when there's no one who can actually fine him for saying it (something completely missed in that short article).

[eball]

I love the hypocrisy from the players on this one...they refuse an 18 game schedule saying the owners don't care about their safety but when rules are instituted to keep players safe they say "I'm a football player, don't tell me how to play football"...morons.

+1. Well said.

[UConn James]

The league has bent over backwards in the past 10 years giving a very distinct advantage to offenses and offensive skill players.

 

Which is one of the reasons why I haven't been overly enthusiastic about Nix making such an investment on the defense. There's only so much they can do without getting penalized up the yin-yang for touching a QB, breathing on a WR, and now, where exactly they put their hands on tackles and who exactly they can hit on INT/KO/Punt returns. They're facing a stacked deck.

 

Should've done more to upgrade our O to keep pace.

 

At this pace, the NFL is going to essentially be flag football inside of 15 years.

Edited May 25, 2011 by UConn James

[KD in CA]

The league has bent over backwards in the past 10 years giving a very distinct advantage to offenses and offensive skill players.

Lesson learned by the NFL from post-strike MLB.

 

 

Which is one of the reasons why I haven't been overly enthusiastic about Nix making such an investment on the defense. There's only so much they can do without getting penalized up the yin-yang for touching a QB, breathing on a WR, and now, where exactly they put their hands on tackles and who exactly they can hit on INT/KO/Punt returns. They're facing a stacked deck.

 

Should've done more to upgrade our O to keep pace.

 

At this pace, the NFL is going to essentially be flag football inside of 15 years.

You still need to field a defense. If you can't tackle a RB before he gains six yards every carry, you better have the 1984 49ers on the offensive side of the ball.

[K Gun Special]

The league has bent over backwards in the past 10 years giving a very distinct advantage to offenses and offensive skill players.

 

Which is one of the reasons why I haven't been overly enthusiastic about Nix making such an investment on the defense. There's only so much they can do without getting penalized up the yin-yang for touching a QB, breathing on a WR, and now, where exactly they put their hands on tackles and who exactly they can hit on INT/KO/Punt returns. They're facing a stacked deck.

 

Should've done more to upgrade our O to keep pace.

 

At this pace, the NFL is going to essentially be flag football inside of 15 years.

 

 

But dude you dont understand. Fitz took our 30th ranked scoring offense and leapfrogged up to 28th in scoring. I mean we scored one more point a game last year than we did the year before!!!! one whole point!!!

 

If we continued to upgrade our offense in such a drastic fashion who will stop the run on our 32nd ranked defense????????????????

[UConn James]

Lesson learned by the NFL from post-strike MLB.

 

You still need to field a defense. If you can't tackle a RB before he gains six yards every carry, you better have the 1984 49ers on the offensive side of the ball.

 

1) The Arena League has tons of scoring. Really doesn't make it more entertaining. In fact, iirc, they went out of business a couple of years ago.

 

That and a lot of yardage in the NFL is determined by flags, not actual plays. It's just cheapened the game, IMO.

 

2) Yep, but it's going to be a defense that will be giving up big plays every drive by either penalties or having to pussyfoot / play on their heels more.

[Jauronimo]

The league has bent over backwards in the past 10 years giving a very distinct advantage to offenses and offensive skill players.

 

Which is one of the reasons why I haven't been overly enthusiastic about Nix making such an investment on the defense. There's only so much they can do without getting penalized up the yin-yang for touching a QB, breathing on a WR, and now, where exactly they put their hands on tackles and who exactly they can hit on INT/KO/Punt returns. They're facing a stacked deck.

 

Should've done more to upgrade our O to keep pace.

 

At this pace, the NFL is going to essentially be flag football inside of 15 years.

 

So by not endorsing a culture where players unwittingly try to end opponents careers and scramble each others brains, the league is reducing the NFL to flag football?

 

You can still maintain jarring hits without helmet to helmet contact and cheap shots. If Harrison lowers the shoulder on Cribbs or Massaquoi, its still going to be a devastating hit, it still makes the highlight reel, it still excites the players and fans, but it most likely doesn't end either players season. The fact is players are using their helmets to hurt each other. Head injuries and shortened careers due to concussions hurt the quality of the game and threaten the longevity of the sport. Those types of hits were ignored in the past only because we had no idea about the long term consequences. Professor Harrison eloquently stated the old way of thinking below:

 

" he was just sleeping. He wasn't really hurt. I made him go to sleep. He's knocked out, but he's going to be OK. I'm going for the knockouts."

 

Perfect, except he's not OK, he is hurt and the effects of the dirty hit can last a lifetime. Now that the long term effects of "putting people to sleep" have been fully documented, it would be grossly negligent and criminally irresponsible to ignore the issue even if ignorant fans and players disagree.

 

Leading with the crown of the helmet, whether to the ball carriers' head or body, was never in the spirit of the game and should be completely removed from football at all levels. Until the players start leading with their shoulders and keeping their eyes on the target rather than lowering their head I fully support penalties, fines and suspensions. How this is even a debate is beyond all comprehension.

[DrDawkinstein]

So by not endorsing a culture where players unwittingly try to end opponents careers and scramble each others brains, the league is reducing the NFL to flag football?

 

You can still maintain jarring hits without helmet to helmet contact and cheap shots. If Harrison lowers the shoulder on Cribbs or Massaquoi, its still going to be a devastating hit, it still makes the highlight reel, it still excites the players and fans, but it most likely doesn't end either players season. The fact is players are using their helmets to hurt each other. Head injuries and shortened careers due to concussions hurt the quality of the game and threaten the longevity of the sport. Those types of hits were ignored in the past only because we had no idea about the long term consequences. Professor Harrison eloquently stated the old way of thinking below:

 

" he was just sleeping. He wasn't really hurt. I made him go to sleep. He's knocked out, but he's going to be OK. I'm going for the knockouts."

 

Perfect, except he's not OK, he is hurt and the effects of the dirty hit can last a lifetime. Now that the long term effects of "putting people to sleep" have been fully documented, it would be grossly negligent and criminally irresponsible to ignore the issue even if ignorant fans and players disagree.

 

Leading with the crown of the helmet, whether to the ball carriers' head or body, was never in the spirit of the game and should be completely removed from football at all levels. Until the players start leading with their shoulders and keeping their eyes on the target rather than lowering their head I fully support penalties, fines and suspensions. How this is even a debate is beyond all comprehension.

 

 

Agree with your entire post, but ESPECIALLY the bold. Took the words right from my... keyboard.

 

You can still have big hits with proper technique.

Edited May 25, 2011 by DrDareustein

[Turbosrrgood]

This is a tough one, I love the "bone crunching" hits...But I hate to see guys like Austin Collie have their careers possibly ended by concussions...Intentional head shots and helmet to helmet hits should definitely be banned, and those are really the hits that do the damage. They have to work on better helmets, at least for the "risk positions", as well (WR, RB, QB).

 

However rules alone can only do such much in a contact sport like football, if they go too far it could really change the game in a negative way. I will be disappointed if hard hitting in general gets removed from the game.

 

I think the QB protection rules go to far, and really take away from the game...Helmet to helmet shots are dangerous, and I agree with the rule. But it's almost illegal to even tackle the QB now. If your glove so much as grazes the helmet of a QB it's a 15 yard penalty. I think it needs to be enforced to protect the player, but the "phantom" penalties need to go.

Edited May 25, 2011 by Turbosrrgood

[Malazan]

Where is all the talk about the NFL not doing enough for player safety?

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Harrison continues to be an idiot. Every player should be happy that the league (doing the union's job) is trying to eradicate catastrophic hits.

 

I grew up watching an NFL with great defense and great defensive players… none of whom felt compelled to spear defenseless players with their helmets.

 

I also don't watch the NHL for the fights or NASCAR for the crashes. I did not enjoy when Donte Whitner almost decapitated Chad Johnson.

 

NFL football will continue to be a hard-hitting, bone-crushing, violently entertaining sport without the gratuitous violence.

[Jauronimo]

Harrison continues to be an idiot. Every player should be happy that the league (doing the union's job) is trying to eradicate catastrophic hits.

 

I grew up watching an NFL with great defense and great defensive players… none of whom felt compelled to spear defenseless players with their helmets.

 

I also don't watch the NHL for the fights or NASCAR for the crashes. I did not enjoy when Donte Whitner almost decapitated Chad Johnson.

 

NFL football will continue to be a hard-hitting, bone-crushing, violently entertaining sport without the gratuitous violence.

 

Are you trying to say that watching players get dealt concussions and suffer brain trauma does not heighten your footbal viewing experience? Knowing that the big hit you just saw is going to contribute to a life after football characterized by fear, depression and paranoia, doesn't get your blood flowing? This is a tough sport played by tough men, and brain damage and dying young are an integral part of the game. Where is your sense of blood lust SJBF? I thought you were a real fan?

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Where is your sense of blood lust SJBF? I thought you were a real fan?

Yes… apparently I'm not a real fan… and my position against gratuitous violence might bring into sharper focus, my degree of manhood and quite possibly my sexual orientation.