Ejections for Helmet to Helmet Hits?

[Brandon13]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3103608

Quote:

NEW YORK -- The NFL has told its officiating crews to start ejecting players for flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits. The new policy was outlined Saturday in a memo from supervisor of officials Mike Pereira, which was obtained by The Associated Press. It followed two fines last weekend for what the officiating department had determined were hits against players in defenseless positions. One fine was against Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry, who will forfeit a game check of $16,764 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens. The other was against Philadelphia defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, who was fined his game check of $21,176 for spearing Dallas' Julius Jones. Two weeks ago, San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence was fined $15,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Houston quarterback Matt Schaub a concussion. "Officials will be reminded this week to pay strict attention to these rules and disqualify the fouling player if the action is judged to be flagrant," Pereira wrote in the memo sent to the 32 NFL teams. "Actions that involve flagrant helmet to helmet contact are the likely acts that will include disqualification. Our commissioner and this office remain very focused on the safety of our players." In the memo fining Landry and Ramsey, NFL director of football operations Gene Washington said emphasis would be on hits against players in defenseless positions. Landry previously was fined $7,500 for two unnecessary roughness violations on Oct. 21 against Arizona. Ramsey was fined $5,000 on Oct. 14 for roughing the passer against the Jets. After Florence was fined, the Texans complained that the punishment wasn't severe enough. "We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt's jaw and the fine levied is only a small fraction of the player's weekly pay," general manager Rick Smith said. "Is that equitable? The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered."

[jmood88]

I don't know why you would need to be told to not hit with your helmet, unless you don't care about getting killed on the field.

[bkfount]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmood88

I don't know why you would need to be told to not hit with your helmet, unless you don't care about getting killed on the field.

not really. I was told to hit all kinds of people with my helmet in HS. Lots of players still do it in the nfl, otherwise you wouldn't see scratched up helmets by halftime.

They are cracking down more on the late hits that give guys concussions and such. There were a few notable hits even this last week, and the nfl doesn't want to see guys like brooks bollinger, sage rosenfels, or vinny testaverde playing starting QB in their league.

[jmood88]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkfount

not really. I was told to hit all kinds of people with my helmet in HS. Lots of players still do it in the nfl, otherwise you wouldn't see scratched up helmets by halftime. They are cracking down more on the late hits that give guys concussions and such. There were a few notable hits even this last week, and the nfl doesn't want to see guys like brooks bollinger, sage rosenfels, or vinny testaverde playing starting QB in their league.

Not really what? Leading with your helmet can at the least leave you with severe headaches and at most leading to paralysis or death. And the coach who told you to lead with your helmet is an idiot.

[Cebby]

Why not just play 2 hand touch?

[The C]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Soldier

Why not just play 2 hand touch?

Shaun Alexander loves this idea.

[bkfount]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmood88

Not really what? Leading with your helmet can at the least leave you with severe headaches and at most leading to paralysis or death. And the coach who told you to lead with your helmet is an idiot.

so? The fact is, he wasn't the only one that teaches that. To think that players don't hit with their helmet is foolish, and it was probably worse in the era of the fabled tougher football player.

Plenty of nfl players hit or use their helmets in a way that is dangerous. The nfl is going for flagrant helmet hits that are done cheap on QB's or guys already down. The late hit on julius jones was could and should have been an ejection, now it is 100%.

[jmood88]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkfount

so? The fact is, he wasn't the only one that teaches that. To think that players don't hit with their helmet is foolish, and it was probably worse in the era of the fabled tougher football player. The nfl is going for flagrant hits that are done cheap on QB's or guys already down. The late hit on julius jones was could and should have been an ejection, now it is 100%.

I don't see where I said that players don't hit with their helmets, what I said was that I don't see why someone would need to be told to not hit with their helmets.