NFL considers stiffer penalties for helmet-to-helmet hits
After a devastating week which was riddled with concussions and injuries caused by helmet-to-helmet hits, the NFL is considering looking into handing out stiffer punishments to players who lead into tackles
with their helmets.
The NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Ray Anderson, stated on Monday 18 October that harsher fines and even suspensions – even for first time offenders – could be put in place immediately.
"It could happen immediately," he said of the initiative. "The level of discipline on those types of hits is going to be much more aggressive ... and that could include a suspension even for a first-time
offender."
Anderson, who is involved on every level of on-field discipline, stated that the NFL plans to be "more proactive" when dealing with cases where there might be potential injuries to the head and neck. Anderson
also admitted that the current policy of issuing fines has not been getting the job done and that stiffer sanctions might be necessary to deter defenders from leading with the head in the future.
Anderson also pointed out that the results of helmet-to-helmet hits should not be a factor in determining what type of punishment is handed down to a player, and that any defender that leads with the helmet,
whether a player is hurt on the play or not, should receive the same punishment.
Anderson also stated that there is a need "to change the culture when it comes to head and neck injuries like these," adding further that several of the hits over the weekend that left players like Philadelphia
Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson out indefinitely with concussion, could be potentially "life threatening".
The Falcons' Dunta Robinson, the Patriots' Brandon Meriweather, the Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, and the Steelers' James Harrison were all guilty over the weekend for delivering helmet-to-helmet hits. Besides
Jackson, Todd Heap, Zack Follett, Josh Cribbs, and Mohamed Massaquoi were all victims of head shots over the weekend.
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