part-timer

It is realy sickening listening to their crying about the softening of the NFL. All the rules they now play by have changed in history for the benifit of the players and the game. Would Woodley or Harrison consider playing with out a helmet, or are they softer than the players that did so before them. Without helmets the launching and spearing would not be so destructive. Helmets were instituted as a safety feature NOT a weapon. Players of history would consider it soft to play in a dome, wasn't the sport originaly considered an out door sport to be played in the elements? Maby players now are just soft. What would Harrison or Woodley say if their career was ended by an illegal chop block tearing out their knees? This rule was not always so, and was designed to protect them as well as other defensless defenders. Or maby they are just soft haveing a rule designed to protect a defenseless player on defence. If it OK to launch and lead with the helmet as a weapon, why not launch and lead with the spikes for a weapon. This is crazyness, players learn to abuse the system to their benifit, and when rules are made to close the loopholes the offenders cry about it. Those that cry the loudest are the worst offenders and rely most upon this CHEATING for their game to be effective. Then they will be the first to cry about the terrible effects they suffer in retirement due to concussions from launching and leading with the helmet. Just shut up and play the game you are payed very well to play,and by the rules you must follow determined by the employers you have chosen to work for, after all their ARE other oppertunities for employment.

stinebot

If it's not against the rules it isn't cheating. If the rules are changed so be it. But don't call a guy a cheater if he is playing withing the bounds of the current rules at the time the incident takes place, even if you think the rules should be different.

part-timer

What game have you been watching? It IS ILLEGAL to launch and lead with the helmet! And IT IS CHEATING! The only difference is the teams can now be fined for the CHEATING of the player on it. Player fines have been handed down to little avail, now they will see how the team handles the fines. The league will find what point they have to go to stop this form of CHEATING and disrespect for other players in the game. Maby Harrison or Woodley need a nother player to cheat and chop block them out of the game with the same disrespect they have for others they injure.

ausbacker

I don't think they are cheaters more they play with a dirty style. Either way, they aren't both too bright with their comments.

jays52

Well, they are softening the game. First, leading with the helmet is for the safety of the guy making the tackle, not the other way around. That's how ya break ya neck, homie. "Launching" has been around forever and for a long time was the best part of playing defense. Don't believe me and have laundry clouding your judgement? Type Rodney Harrison into YouTube and press enter.

I'd add defenseless receiver hits to that list as well. There's a reason why people value intimidators on defense. There's a reason "aligaror arms" is a negative term for receivers. A major component of pass defense was to take the heads off of receivers who go for bad balls. Ever hear the term "separate the man from the ball"? You are supposed to try to knock the guy out. If you're separating a receiver from the ball and you're not trying to give the guy a concussion, cave in his sternum, or both you don't have a defensive player's mentality. It sounds brutal but that's the mindset these guys need to have.

Unfortunately, they're trying to completely remove defense. It's football. It's the most collision oriented sport in the world with tremendous pride taken in the most impactful of these. You really want to solve the problem? Remove the helmets and give them hockey shoulder pads. Impacts will go way down in severity and resemble rugby style stuff which is comparatively nothing.

__________________
for 5 bucks "your name here"!!

Why?PJ

I have no doubt that is what will happen. Much softer helmets with some new safer but softer materials. Same for pads.

Add that to blood testing to get rid of performance enhancing drugs, and they will bring the safety of the game up a few notches.

Btw, hurting an opponent is not, never should have been, and never should be part of the game. You can hit a guy cleanly hard enough with your shoulder pads to knock the ball loose with a much smaller chance of injury. You hit the ball with a pad and the odds are almost zero the receiver will be able to keep control of it.

I actually wouldn't mind a return to the old rules where the defense can interfere with the receivers the entire length of the field rather than just the 5 yards. That would also slow the game down and reduce injuries. Of course it would reduce offense and what the NFL thinks it is most marketable and successful selling point as well.

__________________
Silence is Golden
I have been broken
Safe in my own skin
So nobody wins

randomk1

But Peyton Manning and Polian wouldn't like that..

__________________
Three out of Four. Back-to-back.

Julius

They are correct. How is it fair that a 260 pound tight end can catch a pass and lower his head to run over a 210 pound safety. What is the safety supposed to do? Arm tackle the guy? Try and grab his shins? Sounds like a good way to get hurt and embarrassed.

I understand what the league is trying to do but you can only play this game at one speed and helmet to helmet hits will happen. When the fines start pouring in for offensive players hitting too hard, then I will take the league seriously.

Just look at our 2001 season. Bryan Cox's big hit against the Colt's set the tone for the year. That's football. It's a lovely combination of strategy and brutality.

randomk1

I agree. Sometimes a monster hit can be a game changer. Whether by putting the fear of god into opposing receivers or just amping your own guys up. It should be a part of the game.

When you have guys like Harrison,Lynch,Dawkins back there it's definately going to affect how the opposing guys play.

__________________
Three out of Four. Back-to-back.

PATSNUTme

If you can't put your fellow union brothers in the hospital, what's the sense of having the game of football.