Players give NFL crackdown mixed reviews
After the league pledged to crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits, and issued a series of fines over the week after a particularly violent weekend in the NFL, players are coming forward to share their thoughts
on the matter- and not all of them have good things to say.
The NFL announced a change in policy towards helmet-to-helmet hits and without any official change in the rule book, started handing out much more severe fines. Almost $200,000 in fines were handed out
after last weekend's set of games.
Among those coming forward to share insights on the league's new policy was Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who said he wouldn't be overly concerned about the changes.
"My opinion is play the game like that game is supposed to be played, and whatever happens happens," said Lewis.
But Lewis's stoic reaction was far from the only opinion expressed. The league ruling completely shocked Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter.
"There's no more hitting hard. That's what our game is about. It's a gladiator sport. I mean, the whole excitement of people getting hit hard, big plays happening, stuff like that.
"Just watch – the game is going to change," he warned.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder further added that helmet-to-helmet hits were inevitable, given the nature of the sport.
"If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me," Crowder said. "They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it."
The way hitting happens in the NFL today seems to be part of the culture that has developed over several years and players are actually instructed to hit players they way they were hitting in week six.
"Guys have to be coached differently because we've been coached a certain way our whole lives," said Cleveland Browns linebacker
Scott Fujita. "I think people out there would be shocked at the things players hear in their meetings with their coaches and the things they are supposed to do, the way they are taught to hit people."
Some players are arguing that the league's crackdown is aimed at fundamentally changing the way the game is played and even led Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harisson to contemplate whether or not
he should retire, and stating that he wasn't sure he could actually play within the confines of the league's new policies. Harrison was the biggest victim of the new policy and was fined a $75,000 for an illegal hit. Harrison's current contract is worth over
$50m.
Chicago Bears cornerback James Tillman also heavily criticized the league's position on the matter: "what they're trying to say – 'We're protecting the integrity' – no, you're not. It's ruining the integrity.
It's not even football anymore. We should just go out there and play two-hand touch Sunday if we can't make contact."
But the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Ray Anderson, suggests that the league's crackdown is not an attempt to change the game or put an end to physical play – but to make the game
fundamentally safer.
"We are not going to fundamentally change the game. We're focused on one thing, illegal hits to the head and neck area," Anderson said. "We hope to culturally change it so players understand those head
hits under existing rules should be taken out of the game. For players who can't make the adjustment on their own, they will get a lot of help from this office to make sure they don't play that way."
Anderson attempted to further defend his, and the league's, position by indicating that it is not physical or rough play that is under scrutiny – but unnecessarily violent hitting.
"Physical, tough football is what people are attracted to," Anderson added. "Violent, unnecessary hits that put people at risk, not just for the careers but lives ... we're not subscribing to the notion
fans want that."
Fujita,who is a member of the executive committee of the players' union, also noted that the league's swift response after week six might have been too hasty and that all sides should take some time to
sit down and discuss what's at issue.
"We want to protect the players, absolutely," Fujita said. "But we need to have a longer conversation about it, and if you're going to impose sweeping changes like that and talk about suspending players,
that's something that you have to address in the offseason."
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