madlithuanian

Interesting idea... I thought Jason Whitlock's thoughts on this were also interesting... http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-hea...whitlock-102010 The problem with taking away head shots Jason Whitlock The solution to the NFL’s helmet-to-helmet controversy is simple: suspend any player who leaves his feet in an attempt to block or tackle an opposing player head-on beyond the line of scrimmage. A player should be allowed to “launch” himself in just a few scenarios: 1. A ball carrier leaping over the line of scrimmage; 2. A defender leaping over the line of scrimmage in an attempt to make a play in the backfield; 3. A receiver/defender trying to make a play on the ball; 4. A defender attempting to make a tackle from behind. Yep, in my mind, it’s rather easy to cut down on the rash of “devastating” hits that highlighted/marred last weekend’s play. You can eliminate the “defenseless” player interpretation by simply grounding James Harrison, Brandon Meriweather and all the rest. Make the defensive side of the line of scrimmage a no-fly zone. The rule would be enforced from the replay booth and would not result in a yardage penalty. A player would be tossed from the game, the hit would be reviewed by the league on Tuesday and the player would be subject to an automatic one-game suspension for his first offense. This is not that complicated. Most of the hits the league is trying to eliminate are a result of a defensive player turning himself into a human missile in an effort to “blow up” the opposition. Missiles have heads/helmets. Stop the missiles from leaving the ground and you’ll reduce a healthy percentage of nasty helmet-to-helmet contact. Again, the solution is simple. The real problem is the ramifications of the solution. In the modern-era, TV-friendly, tilt-all-rules-in-favor-of-the-quarterback NFL, intimidation is a defense’s last and only weapon. Ray Lewis needs a handwritten, notarized letter from Roger Goodell to touch Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. NFL pass-interference and illegal-contact rules make slowing Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson virtually impossible. The threat of Ed Reed placing the crown of his helmet on Chad Ochocinco’s chinstrap is/was the only thing that separated the league from a Madden video game. The separation is gone. Hell, it’s so safe across the middle now that rumors are floating Randy Moss has agreed to run a crossing route before the end of the season. Seriously, Vikings coaches are expected to spend most of Wednesday’s practice explaining to Moss what the hash marks are running down the middle of the field. The new emphasis on eliminating helmet-to-helmet contact is dramatic, unprecedented midseason change. The game has been significantly altered. It’s like when Wee-Bey went down at the end of Season 1 of "The Wire." If you really understood the game, you knew Avon and Stringer were on borrowed time from the moment McNulty cuffed Wee-Bey for his role in Kima’s shooting. Avon never loses the east side to Marlo if Bey is free to deal with Chris and Snoop. All the rules protecting the quarterback were Mayor Royce bringing down The Towers. The assault on helmet-to-helmet contact is the elimination of Ray Lewis’ muscle. It’s flag football now. Or worse, it’s the Pro Bowl. That’s not tough-guy whining. I’m all for making the game safer. I’m not against this sea change. This whole awakening about the dangers of football must be what it was like when America figured out cigarettes killed. What’s more pervasive in America, the NFL in 2010 or Marlboro in 1950? Maybe NFL helmets will eventually come with a warning label from the surgeon general. Warning: Football kills. It’s true. Will that knowledge harm the popularity of the game? It’s not as thrilling watching grown men blow each other up when we know the consequences. Muhammad Ali’s Parkinson’s Disease damaged boxing more than the obvious corruption. The NFL can’t survive another Darryl Stingley and Jack Tatum. ESPN would replay the hit over and over and broadcast countless shows debating NFL savagery. At some point, a savvy politician would step in and turn it into a political issue. Roger Goodell is being proactive rather than reactive. Good for him and the NFL. Bad for Ray Lewis and defensive players. During the offseason, the competition committee needs to give defensive players an alternative weapon. Believe it or not, there are a few NFL fans who enjoy watching great defense. NFL pass-interference rules should be examined and massaged. Change the contact area to 10 yards. Only flagrant pass interference should be a spot-of-the-foul penalty. Arm bars and a little hand-fighting should be legal. Give the defense a chance to defend the passing game. Football can’t be turned into a total finesse game.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ....7.2/index.html Chicago Bears (4-2) Suggestion to my friend, Steve Sabol, of NFL Films: When you put this Bears season to music, how about dropping the theme song from the Benny Hill Show behind all those highlights of quarterback Jay Cutler running for his life? I know that's what I hear every time I watch Chicago try to pass block.

Remain calm. All is well.

Too bad they won't get him!

Fair enough. I think you are blending topics into a discussion on bullying. That's another topic for a different board... I am still curious to hear how you propose this problem be dealt with...

C'mon balta. Give some credit. No one on this board condones death. And I guarantee, not one soul here isn't saddened by the tragic story of this poor young man. And it sounds like some good things are being bantered, like making coaching staffs more expert in determining these injuries. What, would you like to see done? Hits will happen if tackling is involved. Some may be dirty, but most will probably be accidental. I don't believe this young man was cheap shotted...

"Cobert"... http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=4495 ...and sadly, no.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...NFL&id=6210

Agreed... I honestly think that football is a good ol' boys club. No one has done anything that greivous in a while... There seems to be a self-policing mechanism for the serious cheap shots. It's been touted that all this is just a pre-emtive strike to make sure Congress doesn't get involved. Mully this morning also made mention that the casual fan seems more bothered by this than the die hards. And since the NFL knows the die hards will stick around, they want to appease the casual fan. I think there's something to both those thoughts besides just looking out for health...

If it were golden-boy Favre, Matthews would be facing the death penalty!

And the alternative? Stay the corse? A thousand points of light? Stable garbage is still garbage... Your main beef I think is pretty much everyone's! Worse! It's like spending a million dollars on the facade of a house and putting up a shoddy foundation made of balsa wood!

Yes...that should have been a fine and suspention.... and ejection But it was a little less clear than what Martin did to McMahon. I could see how a ref, during those few seconds, and depending on angle, may not have seen it. I'm not sure how it was seen and actually called, but today, that guy should be suspended.

Not sure what you're arguing...blatant cheap shots are addressed currently. Like what Martin did to McMahon back in the day. It's different when the play happens "in play" and is fast. It is tougher to prove premeditation, etc... Everyone tries to nail Favre, and nothing's seemed to work for 20 years.

I do generally agree. But, I have seen the huge hits with appropriate wrapping-up as well... It's just rarer and usually comes from LB's rather than D backs... Becasue, d-back notoriously aren't good tacklers barring the few Bob Sanders, Mike Brown, Polamalu types...

I seriously doubt it. Although we've been surprised before.

Sorry, it's just too early for me to start thinking draft... The only draft I'm thining of at this time of year is beer.

My general take is that flagrant fouls must be called and I have no problem ejecting a player. In fact, many should be ejected that haven't been in the past. In the examples this week...I think the Heap/eriweather one is a flagrant that must see Meriweather ejected. However, I don't see the Robinson/Jackson one as such. That's just football. These guys are paid ridiculous sums of money to play this game. They will probably experience some kind of health issue as the get old, and a few very unlucky ones, when they are younger. The league and all concerned do a very good job of protecting as best as possible given the nature of the game. To me, this is no different than stuntmen, daredevils, high risk jobs (high rise work, oil rigs, crab fishermen,...all those jobs pose higher than normal risk than office work.) Usually higher risk jobs are result in higher pay. It is a trade off the men that work those jobs are willing to take. The NFL is no different. I hate when guys get hurt. But, I love big hits. Don't we all? I just like it when the guy can get up and get back in the huddle...

I couldn't agree with you more.

It doesn't take a HoF'er/possibly the greatest player in NFL history to see it... The 3 stooges (Smith, Angelo and Phillips) have now added 3 more... Tice, Martz and Marinelli. All 6 buffoons must go...

Skirts and tampex to be handed out this weekend too...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedi.../content.1.html

So much for offensive genius. That's just offensive offense...

Is that really possible?

Seriously!

I'm not really sure there's much else to say. Apart form the dazzling show that Hester put on to tie the record. Seriously, he deserves major props for his efforts this year on returns. Everyone else on this team needs to check their heart and watch game film of Payton. Including our dipsh#t coaching staff and mangement. Every last one involved in this team... This team is gutless. Heartless. And stupid. Has the clock struck twelve? I think so...