NFL hands out rules about illegal hits, fines and appeals process
The National Football League is serious about player safety and clamping down on illegal hits. This has always been vital to Commissioner Roger Goodell and to the NFL Players Association. The league released
an 11-page guide about what constitutes a legal hit, what is deemed an illegal blow and how the disciplinary process works.
The guide was distributed to players and coaches on Tuesday. Asked why the NFL opted to distribute this guide, spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email: "Because fans and media have been discussing these
rules quite a bit in the past few weeks."
The guide was released to protect players and reduce the risk of serious injury due to helmet-to-helmet hits delivered by defenders to defenceless receivers. The whole debate was sparked in recent weeks
over the number of violent collisions.
Big hits have always been part of the game, but when Atlanta’s Dante Robinson delivered a bone-jarring hit to Eagles’ DeSean Jackson on October 17, many questioned the sanctity of a good clean tackle.
Both Robinson and Jackson suffered a concussion with the latter being carted off the field.
Any play involving a violation, whether penalized or not, can be reviewed by the league following the game. One section in the guide states: "If a post-game review establishes an egregious violation, particularly
involving safety-related issues such as hits on the quarterback, the offender may be subject to suspension.”
Players have the right to appeal league disciplines, a fact which doesn’t sit well with some for fear of abuse or using this system as a means to escape punishment and hefty fines.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison is probably the most notorious player for delivering dangerous hits and then trying to defend his on-the field-actions. He has already appealed two different fines issued
by the NFL for illegal hits totalling $90,000.
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