Here we go: NFL to announce suspensions for hits

[TheSaint]

"The NFL will announce by Wednesday that, effective this weekend, even first-time offenders face suspension for "devastating hits" and "head shots," according to Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5701512

This is somewhat of a slippery slope dont ya think? Who judges whats a "devastating" hit? Hits to the head, sure...but devastating?

Oh yeah...and it starts this week.

[Brooklyn Bully]

"The NFL will announce by Wednesday that, effective this weekend, even first-time offenders face suspension for "devastating hits" and "head shots," according to Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5701512

This is somewhat of a slippery slope dont ya think? Who judges whats a "devastating" hit? Hits to the head, sure...but devastating?

Oh yeah...and it starts this week.

Good. Player saftey > anything else. I want my Panthers safe as they can be.

Lead with your shoulder. If you can't figure out how to do that, that's your loss. And anyone who whines that this is the No Fun League, please also be the same guy who whines that an 18 game regular season will lead to more injuries so that I can laugh at you.

[Dpantherman]

"The NFL will announce by Wednesday that, effective this weekend, even first-time offenders face suspension for "devastating hits" and "head shots," according to Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5701512

This is somewhat of a slippery slope dont ya think? Who judges whats a "devastating" hit? Hits to the head, sure...but devastating?

Oh yeah...and it starts this week.

you should be worried...

[MurkN]

Well I guess no more Hit Stick in Madden.

[Purity-Control]

"Devastating Hit" thats to much of a grey area and leaves the rule to subjective.

Over-reaction by the NFL

BS

[Jangler]

very subjective BS ^^^ you are correct! Soon we will have flag football.

[Kevin Greene]

very subjective BS ^^^ you are correct! Soon we will have flag football.

Nah, arms get broken during that poo.

[Hawk]

wonder if this will be a reviewable call?

the game happens so damn fast that it's sometimes a fine line between clean and not clean!

[Dpantherman]

Devastating hits is going to eff us all up. Suspensions for clean hits aren't ok. Further define whats dirty and/or devastating, or you'll eff up the game. And honestly, I don't think you can

[Hawk]

had to re-read it...sounds like they don't plan to automatically eject players, so any suspensions would come after review. I don't mind that at all to be honest...as long as it's fair across the board

[The Saltman]

no wonder people from england who watch rugby call football a pussy sport. bunch of pussies...*runs away like a little pussy*

[TheSaint]

"Devastating Hit" thats to much of a grey area and leaves the rule to subjective.

Over-reaction by the NFL

BS

yeah, that was my point in the OP. The head thing, sure. Fine away, but devastating?

people use "devastating" like video game geeks use "Beast"

[Anybodyhome]

The only over-reaction here is coming from the posters who incorrectly believe this is a change. This is not a rule change, it is simply a stiffer enforcement of an already existing rule.

The NFL reviews plays from the weekend on Monday and Tuesday and issues fines and such usually on Tuesday or Wednesday. Now, they'll simply be adding suspensions for those plays they review and deem to be dangerous. The hits that are fines this week will be suspensions next- what's the big deal?

When you have a guy like Rodney Harrison talk about how he used to set aside $50k a year for fines and how much more penalizing it is to lose a game check for a suspension, the reality is this is a player safety issue as much as it is also a business decision. Keep having guys getting knocked out or worse on the field and see what happens to ratings and revenues when Mom stops letting the kids watch games.

[natty]

The only over-reaction here is coming from the posters who incorrectly believe this is a change. This is not a rule change, it is simply a stiffer enforcement of an already existing rule.

The NFL reviews plays from the weekend on Monday and Tuesday and issues fines and such usually on Tuesday or Wednesday. Now, they'll simply be adding suspensions for those plays they review and deem to be dangerous. The hits that are fines this week will be suspensions next- what's the big deal?

When you have a guy like Rodney Harrison talk about how he used to set aside $50k a year for fines and how much more penalizing it is to lose a game check for a suspension, the reality is this is a player safety issue as much as it is also a business decision. Keep having guys getting knocked out or worse on the field and see what happens to ratings and revenues when Mom stops letting the kids watch games.

Indeed. The penalties mean nothing. You either need to suspend players without pay or come up with some kind of tiered penalty system based on a player's salary.