Post #2 Cameron Boehning
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, has declared big hits violent and degrades the game of football that we play today. Recently Ed"too tall" Jones former first round draft pick overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1974 draft said " I haven't figured out the rules yet"talking about the new no big hit policy. Ed also went on to say "Today people are getting fined a lot of money for a rule I just don'tunderstand." A question was then asked to Ed "Too Tall" Jones asking, "Did a referee ever come up to you and ask you to stop hitting someone that was borderline illegal?" Ed replied while laughing saying"No, Everything goes." Did you hear that? Everything goes!
Another former NFL great was defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams Deacon Jones who was quoted on the new rules saying, "I wouldn't make a dime" Talking about the fines that go with big hits. Deacon also went onto say "I don't like it ,and I don’t think no lineman on the defensive side of the ball likes it. I was taught to take the quarterback out, send him to the hospital and to start with his head and work down. I won't take out the knee but I will stop you from thinking, rattle you."
Deacon Jones went on to talk about this upcoming Super Bowl and how if you sack Tom Brady, quarterback for the New England Patriots five times he will still score 40+ points. Deacon said" what the Giants need to do is hit him EVERY down, four man rush, playing hard every down. This game could be 44 to 40 and I don’t like that. I would rather have a 0-3 victory"- Deacon Jones. I think the same as Deacon Jones. I played on the defensive side of the ball and if we didn't make big hit then the opposing offense would never get rattled and they would have the confidence to score on will, and that is not how the game should be played.
The NFL adopted the helmet-to-helmet rule in 1996. The rule is as follows: A 15-yard personal foul penalty will be called when a player “us(es)any part of a players helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/hairline parts) or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily; although such violent or unnecessary use of the helmet is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protect those players who are in virtually defenseless postures.”
Roger Goodell took that rule to a whole new level in myeyes. In the NFL today you are fined for playing your heart out, playing as if winning is the only option. I agree that a defenseless Wide Receiver, Quarterbackor anyone that has the ball in their hands and is not able to brace for the hit should be flagged, but not fined. James Harrison, linebacker for the PittsburghSteelers has been fined six times in his nine year career. Those who are fans of the defensive side of the ball love James Harrison and how he hits and plays defense.
James Harrison this past season laid on big time hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. The Hit was given a 15' yard penalty James Harrison was fined a full paycheck and was suspended for the following game against the San Francisco 49ers. Was this right? I will admit it was a big hit,but I also think the league acted UN justly. As the week progressed we found out that Colt was never checked for a concussion or any kind of injury. The officials are walking around on egg shells on the field waiting to make a callon a big hit. I just don't think that is right.
(James Harrison fineable hit on Colt McCoy)
The saying goes "Offense wins games but Defense wins championships." Deacon Jones and Ed "Too Tall" Jones made that very clear through their words and to me that saying still reigns true. We look atthe past Super Bowl champions, just to name a few teams who have won multiple Super Bowls would be the Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, 49ers. All these teams had something in common other than Super Bowl bragging rights. They had great defenses and they knew that was and still is needed to win. Fining someone for making a big play at a big time is not right and never will be.
Let’s look at other sports for a second. When people watch hockey what do they like to see during the game? "Fighting" When we watch basketball what do we like to see? "Big Time blocks, and huge embarrassing dunks on the opponents" NASCAR? "Wrecks" Am I thinking what you'rethinking now? That when we watch sports we want to see action, big plays and close games. Players shouldn't be fined for performing the way they have been playing their whole lives. If the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs don’t like it then go do something else because Professional football is for men and is played by men. So to all those whiners out there who cry because you've been hit to hard. It's time to reconsider your career choice or grow up and play the game how it is supposed to be,with passion, intensity, and heart.
