Meriweather

[emoney_33]

Ah, OK - gotcha. I have no real insight to those sports, so I can't really say. With football, its so popular & mainstream that the issue is very front & center these days.

BTW they wear gloves to protect their hands.

However unlike football, in boxing and UFC the fighters go in knowing the point of the game is to hit and are prepared (or should be) to defend themselves at all times. A violent hit on a defenseless receiver would be akin to a sucker punch.

 

[BradyManny]

Interesting opinion regarding helmets. One question to answer is what is the frequency and severity of head injuries from pre-helmet days to now.

Right, I'd be curious though I doubt we have the data.

And don't get me wrong - helmets in football are a good thing, despite my rugby analogy. They could never, ever go back. But players need to unlearn this notion that they are weapons to utilize in delivering blows. They also need to realize that just because players have helmets on, the head should still be off limits to blows.

There just really is no reason to ever see the kind of hit Meriweather delivered to Heap the other day. It has no part in the future of this game.


BTW - interesting that Aikman brought up the helmetless issue a year or so back:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/22/aikman-suggests-getting-rid-of-helmets/

 

[patfanken]

Disclaimer: Sorry if this idea has been mention previously. I don't have time to read all 18 pages of this tread.

Based on the rules, the only hit that merited a flag was Merriweather's -, and it would be worthy of a suspension if the commish follows through on this.

However as Mo pointed out while Harrison's hits were legal, I think Harrison's hits or hits like them need to be mitigated, and that could only happen if the change the rules....and I have one to offer.

Its a simple one too. Just make it illegal to hit with the top of your helmet. It would not only make the game safer, it would improve the horrible tackling we get in the league now, where the main method seems to be to put your head down and throw your body at someone's legs and hope for the best.

Think about it. When I was coaching football we taught players to tackle by putting their FACEMASKS into the chest of the ball carrier, wrap, lift extend and run through the man. That not only put them in the best position to carry out their task, but to put their body in the safest position to absorb the contact. And by running through the man you eliminate the "launch aspect with is both dangerous for the receiver and well as the tackler

99% of the spinal injuries come when the player initiates contact with the top of the head. Just look at the kid who was tragically hurt at Rutgers this week end. He hit the runner with the top of his head. Bad for the runner, bad for the tackler.

That rule would also make Harrison's hits illegal/ One the other hand Robinson's hit was perfectly legal IMHO, because not only was contact initiated in his chest, but he hit him with his face mask first. It was a great hit.

As far as Merriweather goes, I want him to be punished for his hit on Heap. It was both dangerous and unneccessary. HOWEVER his other hit on Heap on his touchdown catch, I think was clean because he hit him with his forarms. I DO NOT want to see ANY hits to the head be illegal. Just those made by the top of the helmet

If they do that, not only would the game be safer, you wouldn't have to ****ify it.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

You celebrate a guy for a legal hit that almost KILLED a man and denigrate a guy for an illegal hit that didn't even take a player out of the rest of the game.

BTW Bruschi is all for protecting players but he never called for Meriweather to be suspended, he simply thinks that the league MIGHT make an example out of him to limit the head collisions league-wide.

I never said he called for it. But he has no issue with it and he clearly believes it was intentional based on his observations including of the earlier attempt and a flagrant hit and he agrees that it's time for the league to up the ante in order to facilitate players who don't get it on their own or via fine to get it. He recalled his own moment of truth when he was flagged and fined for intentionally launching himself into a QB and breaking his collar bone when he knew he had a choice to simply tackle him. He also said he believes Vince was wrong in citing that play as a catylist for improved performance. He said if anything that kind of play resulting in a penalty and watching another player lying on the ground is deflating if anything. He thinks better plays made by others later in that drive keyed the turnaround on D.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../10/683581-link-tedy-bruschi-dale-holley.html

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I never said he called for it. But he has no issue with it and he clearly believes it was intentional based on his observations including of the earlier attempt and a flagrant hit and he agrees that it's time for the league to up the ante in order to facilitate players who don't get it on their own or via fine to get it. He recalled his own moment of truth when he was flagged and fined for intentionally launching himself into a QB and breaking his collar bone when he knew he had a choice to simply tackle him. He also said he believes Vince was wrong in citing that play as a catylist for improved performance. He said if anything that kind of play resulting in a penalty and watching another player lying on the ground is deflating if anything. He thinks better plays made by others later in that drive keyed the turnaround on D.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../10/683581-link-tedy-bruschi-dale-holley.html

So I guess Tedy in the ESPN booth knows more than Vince on the field?

This mostly true since Tedy hasn't played with 2/3 of these guys.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

So I guess Tedy in the ESPN booth knows more than Vince on the field?

This mostly true since Tedy hasn't played with 2/3 of these guys.

I guarantee you Tedy has forgotten more than Vince will ever know about the game. Part of that was the position he played and part was because as Bill said he was the perfect player who always did the right thing...on and off the field and in the locker room.

 

[emoney_33]

I guarantee you Tedy has forgotten more than Vince will ever know about the game. Part of that was the position he played and part was because as Bill said he was the perfect player who always did the right thing...on and off the field and in the locker room.

How can you guarantee gross hyperbole? (PS: The hit was factually not deflating in this instance, and that's not what Bruschi said)

 

[Synovia]

I guarantee you Tedy has forgotten more than Vince will ever know about the game. Part of that was the position he played and part was because as Bill said he was the perfect player who always did the right thing...on and off the field and in the locker room.

And I guarantee, that like 90% of your posts, this one is full of ****.

 

[mgcolby]

Disclaimer: Sorry if this idea has been mention previously. I don't have time to read all 18 pages of this tread.

Based on the rules, the only hit that merited a flag was Merriweather's -, and it would be worthy of a suspension if the commish follows through on this.

However as Mo pointed out while Harrison's hits were legal, I think Harrison's hits or hits like them need to be mitigated, and that could only happen if the change the rules....and I have one to offer.

Its a simple one too. Just make it illegal to hit with the top of your helmet. It would not only make the game safer, it would improve the horrible tackling we get in the league now, where the main method seems to be to put your head down and throw your body at someone's legs and hope for the best.

Think about it. When I was coaching football we taught players to tackle by putting their FACEMASKS into the chest of the ball carrier, wrap, lift extend and run through the man. That not only put them in the best position to carry out their task, but to put their body in the safest position to absorb the contact. And by running through the man you eliminate the "launch aspect with is both dangerous for the receiver and well as the tackler

99% of the spinal injuries come when the player initiates contact with the top of the head. Just look at the kid who was tragically hurt at Rutgers this week end. He hit the runner with the top of his head. Bad for the runner, bad for the tackler.

That rule would also make Harrison's hits illegal/ One the other hand Robinson's hit was perfectly legal IMHO, because not only was contact initiated in his chest, but he hit him with his face mask first. It was a great hit.

As far as Merriweather goes, I want him to be punished for his hit on Heap. It was both dangerous and unneccessary. HOWEVER his other hit on Heap on his touchdown catch, I think was clean because he hit him with his forarms. I DO NOT want to see ANY hits to the head be illegal. Just those made by the top of the helmet

If they do that, not only would the game be safer, you wouldn't have to ****ify it.

That is already illegal although you never see it flagged, its known as spearing. And it is in place to not only protect the runner but as you pointed out mostly to protect the tackler. When you lower your head, your spine is stiff and not in a postion to absorb the impact properly, it essentially gets compacted and that is how people get seriously hurt.

1. A tackler using his helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent.
2. Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily.

NFL Rules Digest: Summary of Penalties

 

[JackBauer]

And I guarantee, that like 90% of your posts, this one is full of ****.

Come on. It's not like we all didn't see that one coming from a mile away.

 

[WhiteWesWelker88]

I fear that the thin line will takeaway from the intensity of football.




If it looks blatant like MerryMan's hit...... it is an automatic suspension. I fear a witch hunt will take place Borderline hits may get suspended.... * this is troubling news)

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

And I guarantee, that like 90% of your posts, this one is full of ****.

Syn

Mo is a fine participant here.

However, this whole debacle stinks like last year's roughing the passer call. Suggs dives for Brady's knees and a penalty becomes a national hysteria.

If the NFL wanted this cleaned up, it needed to start years ago. The 2008 hit on Welker by Clark was an excellent starting point.

I have no problem with the penalty or BB chewing BM out.

However, a 6' safety "launching" himself into a moving, jumping 6'5" TE is not a crime against humanity.

Furthermore, by the fact he came back into the game hardly makes the hit "viscious".

Had BM played for anyone other than the Patroits, this story would not have lasted through the 4 PM games; much less through Tuesday.

 

[Synovia]

Syn

Mo is a fine participant here.
.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that. He's gone out of his way the last couple days to question the character of about half the team because they disagree with him on various things.

 

[Haley]

MikeReiss‎: NFL source says Brandon Meriweather will be fined $50000 for two helmet-to-helmet hits. No suspension.
Twitter - seconds ago

no suspension.

 

[Calciumee]

no suspension.

Ouch! $50k!!! I hope James Harrison gets 100k! He has said he doesn't care if he causes injury!

 

[NFLmac]

I fear that the thin line will takeaway from the intensity of football.




If it looks blatant like MerryMan's hit...... it is an automatic suspension. I fear a witch hunt will take place Borderline hits may get suspended.... * this is troubling news)

Just heard per 98.5, 50 Grand fine for Merriweather....NO suspension.

 

[JackBauer]

Phew. Thank God for no suspension.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Ouch! $50k!!! I hope James Harrison gets 100k! He has said he doesn't care if he causes injury!

Meanwhile, no penalty of any kind for Eric Smith.

Can Goodell just crown his team the champs and be done with it?

 

[blackglass3]

When was the second hit? Please spare me the goaline TD stop...that was perfect football.

Oh, and Peter King is going to throw a hissy fit about this. Remember when he thought Belichick should be suspended, Belichick wasn't, and Peter mentioned it every week in his column for the next year?

 

[Haley]

Meanwhile, no penalty of any kind for Eric Smith.

I thought he was also fined 50k for that hit.

But I saw another interesting comment on all this:

They send out a lot of mixed messages. Will late hits get the same or worse suspensions as DUIs or assaults?

If they do start suspending for this, it does seem they should revisit their suspension policy for these other things.