NFL to announce suspensions for hits

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.

"We can't and won't tolerate what we saw Sunday," Anderson said Monday. "We've got to get the message to players that these devastating hits and head shots will be met with a very necessary higher standard of accountability. We have to dispel the notion that you get one free pass in these egregious or flagrant shots."

Anderson was alluding to the normal disciplinary measures in which the league has issued fines for first-time offenders and, very often, second-time offenders.

"What we saw Sunday was disturbing," Anderson said. "We're talking about avoiding life-altering impacts."

Sunday's games produced a number of violent hits.

The Eagles' DeSean Jackson and the Falcons' Dunta Robinson were knocked out of their game after a frightening collision in which Robinson launched himself head first into Jackson. Both sustained concussions, and Jackson is not expected to play in Week 7.

Ravens tight end Todd Heap took a vicious hit from Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather that Heap called "one of those hits that shouldn't happen." The team was in contact with the league about the tackle.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison sidelined two Browns players with head injuries after jarring hits. An NFL spokesman said one of the tackles, on Josh Cribbs, was legal. The Browns were more upset about Harrison's hit on Mohamed Massaquoi, which the league is reviewing.

And Jets safety Jim Leonhard was flagged 15 yards for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Brandon Lloyd in a 24-20 win over the Broncos.

Anderson would not speculate earlier Monday on how many players would be punished for hits from the past Sunday's games. Players also can be ejected from games for illegal hits, but that's rare.

 

Slippery slope for sure. The Harrison hit on Massaquoi was head hunting and I've got no problem with a suspension there. I forget the Heap hit but if it hurts the Pats then of course suspend Merriweather.

The bigest one was the DeSean Jackson / Dunta Robinson train wreck. Slow motion and that was an egregious hit. Real time, and although it was catastophic, it was also micro-seconds away from legitimately breaking up a pass that Jackson should have caught. I don't want these guys getting more fucked up than they are. But I also don't want there to be a rule that says you have to allow a receiver to catch the ball and make a "football move" before you can hit him.

 

Fuck that and you.

 

I can live with the banning of launching at the opponents head as they make tackles but to stop "devastating hits" is beginning of the total pussification of the game

 

Proves my point. Do it for no other reason than to piss this douche off.

 

Damn pussies wanting players to not end up paralyzed or mentally damaged. Fucking assholes.

 

Did you see the hit on Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand last Saturday... :wowza:

 

These guys could always go train for the PGA Tour in their teens. Not a bad way to make a living--plus, you don't run the risk of being concussed.

It's been a bad theme this year--and the media has certainly clung to it (probably because the overall play this year from the entire league sucks, and there are no undefeated teams left--in fact, there aren't many great teams period).

Shit happens. You can't ask players to slow it down, and what happens when Reggie Bush or LT decide to go airborne near the goal line? Precisely how, as a defender, can you properly attack the runner without thinking about being ejected and suspended at the same time.

It's an instinct-killer, and I would expect to see some drop-off in defensive intensity from all 32 teams.

Well, except for the Titans. They're fucking brutally dirty.

 

Thus the new unis...

 

Exactly. Runners get praised for lowering their head and taking out db's.