A rash of questionable tackles in NFL games this weekend led to an announcement by the league Tuesday that it is cracking down on dangerous helmet-to-helmet hits.
The rule is clear — a defensive player can’t launch himself at a defenseless receiver and hit him in the head or neck area. But while it might be on the books, that rule isn’t always enforced adequately by officials or the league office. That’s about to change, according to Ray Anderson, the NFL’s vice president of football operations. Starting this week, the league will suspend players for dangerous hits, especially headshots
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“It’s not the fine that’s going to do it. These guys are not doing this on purpose, but they’ve got to lower their strike zone, change it,” NBC football analyst and former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We had this with the quarterbacks a few years ago and we got the defenders to change. You have to protect these receivers. Some of these guys may be out two or three weeks and the only way to make it fair is have these defenders sit out if they damage someone”
Another aspect of this issue: By going out of its way to protect players — even potentially altering the way the game is played — an 18-game NFL schedule becomes more feasible. That item is reportedly on the docket for the upcoming round of collective-bargaining negotiations between players and owners. But for now, just getting the players to protect each other in the short term is the No. 1 goal. It may take some time and punishment before the message gets through.
“When I used to hit a guy, my normal mark was right on the chest. You’re taught to separate the guy from the ball,” said NBC analyst Rodney Harrison, who had his run-ins with the league office on illegal hits. “Now all of a sudden, as your coming, you start raising up a couple inches and it’s helmet-to-helmet. Now they’re going to have to re-program these players to start hitting lower by the waist.”
