Source: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5702113
This past week in the NFL there were an unusually high number of head injuries and concussions throughout the games. 2 prime examples were the hits delivered by James Harrison of the Pittsburg Steelers to both Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaqoi of the Cleveland Browns. Harrison stated October 18, “I don't want to see anyone injured, but I am not opposed to hurting anyone." (See: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/18/james-harrison-i-try-to-hurt-people/ for further information)
Based on Harrison's two hits and the other injuries of last week, the NFL has decided to instate a policy where players will be suspended for "dangerous and flagrant hits". These rules will especially apply to helmet-to-helmet contact. Fines will also be given.
I think the NFL is taking it too far with suspending players for hits. The first issue is: how do you define a "devastating hit?" American football is defined by hard hits by aggressive players. If the NFL tells the players who have been taught for years how to tackle aggressively AND legally that they will immediately have to lessen their power when they hit, it is not going to happen. It is extremely difficult to change the technique of an elite and specialized athlete; especially when it is the technique demanded by society and the team administration. The ambiguity of "devastating hit" will create a number of issues. There are thousands of hits that occur every week in the NFL and no new rules are instated and the old rules are not enforced. So why now? One weekend held a significant number of injuries and now the NFL jumps to player suspension. If on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, the NFL decides to immediately start suspending athletes for delivering a "devastating hit" to an opponent, I think there will be quite a lot of suspensions in the future. A clear definition of “devastating hit” needs to be given before anything takes place.
The textbook talks about overconformity in "power and performance sports." American culture looks to football because it embodies the definition of masculinity and power. Football spectators watch week after week anticipating viewing a hit that makes them cringe or “feel” it themselves. The norm of American football is the enjoyment of watching the violence and aggression. These players are playing to give the fans what they want and now the NFL is saying that players are being too powerful and hitting too hard. Now these “devastating hits” are considered deviant because they fall outside of the normal acceptance range.
Another issue is the use of harsher fines as a threat to NFL players that they need to change the way they play. These athletes have average salaries in the high six figures and that does not include signing bonuses, team salary cap, and possible endorsements. With the ample amount of funding available, the harsher fines will not be very effective in my opinion.
Now I don’t totally disagree with the NFL’s decision to implement suspensions and fines. I agree with the punishment for helmet-to-helmet head shots because those are apparently dangerous and should be handled immediately to reduce player head and neck trauma.
The video talks mostly about receivers being affected the most by these collisions. There is a hierarchy to this. The receivers are put into these situations because the quarterback places the ball in the danger zone. The quarterback and his receivers need to be on the same page so the play can be executed as it is supposed to. The video also talks about “incompetent” quarterbacks and receivers. Whose job is it to educate the players about their positions? THE COACH! The coaching staff needs to educate their players about the rules AND the requirements of their respective positions.
Jacquelyn Boone
KIN332I Section 2796 T/Th 12:30-1:45
Reference:
1. Coakley, J. (2009). Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies. New York: McGraw-Hill
2 comments:
Jacquelyn,
I agree with your stance on the NFL going too far with punishment for hits. The NFL finds itself in an interesting predicament on this issue! On one hand, players are encouraged to become bigger stronger and faster than ever before. But when men that weigh 260 pounds are crashing into each other at 4.3-4.4 second 40-yard dash speed, people are going to get hurt. Young athletes with aspirations of NFL stardom spend their entire lives trying to become prototypical football players that will turn heads at the NFL combine. However, they are now being punished for the results of their hard-work and god-given ability. Without a doubt, the speed and ferocity with which hits occur is not something that should be grounds for punishment by the league. For players to play at less than 100% for fear of punishment would only lead to further injury. Say for instance a defensive player has a ball carrier lined up perfectly and is ready to make one of these "devastating hits" but just as he enters contact he remembers a huge hit will bring a fine. Going it at less than 100%, he is run over by the ball carrier and suffers potential head, neck, and shoulder injury. Would anyone consider fining the ball carrier? Certainly not.
However, player safety must be taken into account. Technique and location of hits is something that the NFL can and should continue to enforce to enhance player safety. Sports evolve. Rules, accepted techniques, and coaching methods are constantly adapted to the current style of play. Helmet to helmet hits will never go away entirely, but some can. When two players square up head on and one comes out the winner and the other the loser, that is a beautiful thing. That's what makes football great. However, when a defenseless receiver or quarterback takes the crown of a defending players helmet to the side of his own, people are at an avoidable risk. Helmet to helmet contact must be regulated, but not forbidden. We must require responsibility and adjustment from NFL players while not taking the things that make football exciting. NFL coaches and administration must teach players to hit and tackle with a new technique, but not a new level of intensity.
Matt Kinsel
Kin 332I Tu/Th 12:30-1:45
I've been following this story on Sportscenter for the past couple weeks. That quote that Harrison has about not wanting to injure anyone, but wants to hurt someone.... If I'm an NFL coach that's exactly what I want my linebacker to say and do. So far this year, Harrison has been fined by the NFL for $125K for four illegal hits. The new rule of no helmet to helmet contact is a penalty, and when it happens it gets called. However, it doesn't always have a fine attached to it. The hit Harrison puts on Joshua Cribbs should have been called a penalty due to helmet to helmet contact, but Cribbs was not a so called "defenseless player." The hit on Mohammed Massaquoi also was helmet to helmet, although he did lead with his arms, and during that play the reciever was a defenseless player. A fine may have been a little much for that hit. If the receiver hadn't been knocked out, no fine would have been made. The hits on both Drew Brees and Vince Young were fined, and rightly so. Both were after the whistle and involved contact to the head. He head butted the back of Brees' helmet after the ball was already away, and he performed a pile driver into the turf on Young after the play was whistled dead. Both unsportsmanlike and both deserved the fines he received. However, the most recent fine issued to Harrison was complete bogus. He put his facemask into the quarterback's chest WHILE the throw was being made. No helmet to helmet contact was made. If that's not a clean tackle I don't know what is. I think Harrison's reputation as a devasting hitter precedes him. I think the officials already have a hand on the penalty flag when he steps onto the field. Big hits happen. It's the NFL.
Zac Brookman
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