Fines in NFL for hits
The National Football League has imposed severe fines on three players for serious hits over the past few days. The league has also warned that from this week onwards, similar conduct would be considered to be a cause for suspension. The fines were imposed
on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebacker, James Harrison, New England Patriots’ safety, Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta Falcons’ cornerback, Dunta Robinson. Meriweather and Robinson both received $50,000 fines while Harrison has been hit with $75,000 for his
hit.
The league has fined players for their illegal hits before too but the sums in question express the league’s new attitude towards hits. Several players have suffered concussions from such hits and a research into its effects has prompted the NFL to take
stricter action.
NFL’s VP, Ray Anderson has said that the league is taking the risks to players seriously. He expressed concern on the way players were being coached to ‘blow guys up’ with hits. He gave a hint that the league could start suspending players for plays that
have already been made but league’s spokesman, Greg Aiello has clarified that suspensions won’t start until after all teams have been given warning about the consequences of illegal hits from here onwards.
Meriweather landed a vicious hit on the Ravens’ tight end, Todd Heap. Robinson rammed head first into Eagles’ DeSean Jackson. The severity of the hit knocked out both players. Harrison took out Cleveland’s’ wide receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi. He had also recently
given Joshua Cribbs a concussion but the league had taken no action of that hit. In a statement on Monday, the league had said that the hit on Cribbs was legitimate.
Dunta Robinson is appealing against the fine as he was disappointed with its imposition. Robinson said that he agreed with the general principle of protecting all football players on every level from injuries by as much as possible. “However, this was a
bang-bang hit situation where I did not lead with my helmet, and therefore I will appeal.”
Robinson admitted that his hit was a bit on the violent side but maintained that he acted well within the rules specified by the NHL. “I am not a dirty player and have never been characterized as one.”
Harrison is also believed to be appealling the fine. His agent said that the fine being imposed was ‘staggering’ and that just like the hit on Cribbs, the one on Massaquoi did not result in a penalty either. “I've talked to James, and he's very upset,” Parise
said. “He's quite confused about how to play football.”
The league used the fact that Harrison had already been fined earlier this season for unnecessary roughness and the severity of the fine, compared to Robinson and Jackson, is a result of that. The league has told all three players that any future misconduct
would incur greater penalties, not excluding suspensions.
There are of course those who don’t see anything wrong with the league’s decision and among them is Massaquoi's agent, Brian Ayrault. He believes that the $75,000 fine would not be a deterrent for a player who has made $20 million over the past three years,
playing with the same ferocity that knocked out his client. “The punishment did not fit the crime.”
The Steelers' coach, Mike Tomlin believes that NFL should enforce stricter penalties on helmet hit to make the game as safe as possible for all players and protect them as well as they could. However, he maintained that the Harrison hit on Massaquoi was
not illegal.
The players themselves aren’t quite as concerned as everyone else. Rough is the only way they know how to play. Vikings' defensive end is one such player. “I mean, it is football. We all signed up to play this game. Things happen. You can't alter the way
you play the game. Sometimes that's how you get touchdowns.”
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