Playoffs could see more illegal hits fines and penalties
2010 could be called the season of fines. After research publications warning of the risk of brain damage to NFL players were published, the NFL has taken a more serious approach to player safety. Early on in the season, NFL starting
placing heavy fines on players for hits on the head and threatened suspensions unless they turned around their game and protected other players more vigilantly.
In wake of NFL’s crackdown, officiating during the regular season has also been affected. Now, there is a culture of ‘throw flag first, ask questions later’ in the NFL. Some questionable calls were made in the regular season, which
irked fans, players and coaches alike. Earlier in the season, we all remember how the league fined Brad Childress $35,000 for his outburst against the officiating when he was still the Vikings’ head coach.
The officials were panicked. On quite a few occasions, hits that drew fines did not draw penalties from the officials. Sometimes it made the NFL look bad for slamming a player with a fine for a hit that was not even called a penalty
and on other occasions, it made the officials look bad for blowing a call that the NFL thought deserved a fine. The safest bet is to throw the flag just in case and that is what the officials have been doing.
An added factor is the intensity of the game. The preseason games are warm ups but we still see a few penalties in every game. When the stakes are higher in the regular season players put more into it. The desire to win a game
at all costs makes players play a rougher game. Well, the stakes could not be higher when the playoffs begin this weekend. Players are going to throw themselves at the ball and other players and the NFL is not looking forward to it.
NFL’s Player Safety Advisory Panel, Ronnie Lott said that players must adapt to the challenge of playing within the rules and intensified scrutiny of the league to be considered great. The increased scrutiny by the league and subsequent
show of vigilance by the officials calling the game translated into a significant rise in unnecessary roughness penalties from a year ago. Compared to last seasons’ 162 unnecessary roughness penalties, this season saw that number rise to 184. Penalty stats
have not always been kept but according to the data available, never have a greater number of unnecessary roughness penalties been called in the regular season.
Not every team is worried about keeping penalties in check. “We didn't spend one second on it. It should be natural, knowing how to tackle. It's never been a problem for us,” New York Jets linebacker David Harris said. He said
that players just have to be smart about making the hits to ensure they do not draw penalties and hurt the team.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Darryl Tapp said that players could not be concerned with fines or penalties in the playoffs. “You've got to play on edge and make the play. No one's intentionally trying to hit anybody in the
head or do anything malicious or anything like that.”
Darryl said that injuries were part of the game and players must maintain a posture of ‘controlled reckless’ in the playoffs. A playoff game going one way or the other because of a penalty, or worse a botched call would be a disappointment
to the players and the fans.
That does not mean teams are going to change the way they play the game. Packers’ defensive coordinator at least does not believe there is any reason to change anything. “You go out and play the game the way you've been playing
it.” He said that the NFL had made its point with the fines it imposed in the regular season and the message got through to the player.
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