NFL Thread

[sprig0701]

good point. I do think some NFL players probably resent that the richer players are more coddled than they were, but that would be a disengenuous argument if they sided on less safeguards.

What bothers me is Harrison is one of those pussies that wears the eye guard to protect his own face whilst using his helmet as a weapon.

Its like Deacon Jones putting on those elbow and arm pads to protect his own arm for when he hits someone in the head with it.

Harrison wears an eye guard?

What's funny is anyone of us calling any of those guys the crap you are.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Wore it on that play anyway.

 

[user 1190]

Everyone of these kids going in knows the risks involved in this game. A lot of those old players were forced to play when they shouldn't have been, that's why the League has a concussion policy now. To say a helmet-to-helmet IS a penalty and WILL be flagged every time, then I can only assume you don't watch the game. Yes, it SHOULD be flagged every time, but easily 1/4 are missed, and some right in front of the officials.

Now as far as the Harrison suspension, he was suspended for his 5th illegal hit on a QB since the 2009 season. Why aren't steps being taken to protect other players to the extent QBs are? Defenseless receiver is about it, but it's ok for the other 21 positions on the field to suffer life altering injuries? Kinda getting mixed signals here.

Mixed signals? EVERY players is protected from helmet to helmet hits. Do QB get extra protection yeah, they are standing there with a target on every part of their body. Receivers get extra protection since they are fully exposed at times. When do other players stand there just waiting to get hit because thats what they are expected to do so they can make a throw? What other players are fully extended looking at the ball?

Defensive players are protected from crack back blocks(the biggest danger they have), but your probably against that too since it seems to be called against your team a lot. Lineman are protected from cut blocks(the biggest danger they have). Hell even got rid of wedge to protect those players.

 

[sprig0701]

Thats a rarity. Probably wears it as a precautionary measure because of the broken orbital he got when a lineman threw his shoulder into his face on a block. Ya know, but apparently he's the cheap one. Even though players haven't missed multiple games because of his hits (except maybe McCoy now), but he gets a broken orbital and misses a few games but that wasn't cheap or dirty. It's football, it's expected.

 

[user 1190]

There is a simple fix, remove helmets from the game, they will learn to not use it a weapon on they will end up in the hospital. You dont see rugby players trying to hit a player with their head, why oh yeah they dont have a weapon on their head.

 

[user 1190]

Thats a rarity. Probably wears it as a precautionary measure because of the broken orbital he got when a lineman threw his shoulder into his face on a block. Ya know, but apparently he's the cheap one. Even though players haven't missed multiple games because of his hits (except maybe McCoy now), but he gets a broken orbital and misses a few games but that wasn't cheap or dirty. It's football, it's expected.

How the hell does a shoulder get through that small area in the face mast to hit his eye?

 

[ProgMatinee]

but it's ok for the other 21 positions on the field to suffer life altering injuries? Kinda getting mixed signals here.

First of all, there ARE other positions that get special rules to protect them. Defensive lineman are protected by the chop block penalties. Offensive lineman are protected by the illegal hands to the face penalties. Punt returners are protected by the halo penalty. Special team tacklers are protected by the double-blocker penalty.

So thats BS to say no one else is protected by the NFL.

Secondly, the QB is especially left in a prone positions because their job is not only to look at their immediate surroundings, but 10, 20, 50 yards downfield. Almost every other position is more concerned about a smaller radius. So the QB is inherently a more dangerous position.

 

[sprig0701]

Mixed signals? EVERY players is protected from helmet to helmet hits. Do QB get extra protection yeah, they are standing there with a target on every part of their body. Receivers get extra protection since they are fully exposed at times. When do other players stand there just waiting to get hit because thats what they are expected to do so they can make a throw? What other players are fully extended looking at the ball?

Defensive players are protected from crack back blocks(the biggest danger they have), but your probably against that too since it seems to be called against your team a lot. Lineman are protected from cut blocks(the biggest danger they have). Hell even got rid of wedge to protect those players.

When was the last time they were called for a crack back block? Players are protected from defenders leading with their helmets to make a hit. If a player lowers his head while going into the defender and it's an accidental HTH hit, it's a no call. To say they are protected is ridiculous.

Harrison, Suh, they've been deemed repeat offenders by a group of people, and people jump on that bandwagon because it must be true. Yes, guys like them should file a suit to have those past hits abolished, because now that they've been suspended they'll be scrutinized and further disciplined for everything they do just about. The appeal process is a joke in these circumstances. It should go outside of the League and be heard by someone not affiliated with the League. And yes, for the stomp Suh should have been disciplined, but him being labeled dirty before that was ridiculous as well. Now however, he has some proving to do.

 

[ProgMatinee]

People are judged on their past behavior in everything in life...is this a new concept for you? Does everything get wiped away at the stroke of midnight Jan 1st or something?

 

[user 1190]

When was the last time they were called for a crack back block? Players are protected from defenders leading with their helmets to make a hit. If a player lowers his head while going into the defender and it's an accidental HTH hit, it's a no call. To say they are protected is ridiculous.

Harrison, Suh, they've been deemed repeat offenders by a group of people, and people jump on that bandwagon because it must be true. Yes, guys like them should file a suit to have those past hits abolished, because now that they've been suspended they'll be scrutinized and further disciplined for everything they do just about. The appeal process is a joke in these circumstances. It should go outside of the League and be heard by someone not affiliated with the League. And yes, for the stomp Suh should have been disciplined, but him being labeled dirty before that was ridiculous as well. Now however, he has some proving to do.

I dont know when was the last time Ward played?

 

[karamazov80]

Harrison, Suh, they've been deemed repeat offenders by a group of people, and people jump on that bandwagon because it must be true. Yes, guys like them should file a suit to have those past hits abolished, because now that they've been suspended they'll be scrutinized and further disciplined for everything they do just about. The appeal process is a joke in these circumstances. It should go outside of the League and be heard by someone not affiliated with the League. And yes, for the stomp Suh should have been disciplined, but him being labeled dirty before that was ridiculous as well. Now however, he has some proving to do.

I guess they could try that, but I'm reasonably certain that NFL players have to sign contracts agreeing to play by the rules created and enforced by the NFL if they want to get paid. That's why appeals are sent to the NFL itself rather than to an outside legal entity--that's standard operating procedure when employees agree to accept the rules of the entity they work for. As such, I'm not sure players would have much of a leg to stand on in filing such a lawsuit, and attempting to do so itself may run contrary to a legally binding contract that they sign with the NFL, saying that they will allow for an in-house entity of some sort to resolve all such disputes.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Pretty sure players and owners have a mutual agreement to go to an arbitraitor for all disagreements and grievances rather than file lawsuits. The NFLPA will probably attempt an appeal as they always do to satisfy the specific player, but if the arbitor decides the suspension is fair the NFLPA will accept it because they know accepting the penalty for 1 player is better than infighting among the NFLPA. These suspensions in the end benefit the other players. Pretty sure most of the other players in the league don't want wild cards like Harrison going out there week to week attempting to maim other players.

 

[316what]

I don't agree with Harrison's suspension, but knew the League offices would jump on the chance to do it. Here's my problem with it- 1) at what point does the past become the past. They blew this up like it was the numerous time this season it had happened, and were comparing last years hits right along side this one. He's played over a full season worth of games with nothing. He was heavily fined for last years, and taking those into consideration is like multiple discipline for the same occurrences. 2) where is the written disciplinary procedures for what the League is allowed to do to these guys? There's nothing. Just something to the extent that suspension is possible for multiple infractions. That's not very cut and dry, and leaves too much grey area. And who hears appeals? The same group handing down the discipline. What happens when the appeals is denied? That's it? You can't tell me the group that feels you should be suspended is the one that can say appeal denied and it ends there.

I honestly feel Harrison, Suh and other heavily fined players should file a lawsuit against the League's disciplinary committee in these circumstances for unfair treatment. The stuff they do (minus Suh's blatant foot stomp) goes on around the League every Sunday, just certain people feel certain players warrant more attention and more severe punishment than others.

1. As was said before, past actions come into play in everything in life...sometimes even if they're expunged from your record.

2. If Harrison or any other player has a problem with written or unwritten disciplinary rules, they should have voiced the concern during the lockout...at the very least take it up with their union.

3. Art Shell heads the board that hears/reviews appeals....you know, the guy that was a former player.

4. The individual players cannot sue the league since they are part of a union. Only the union can sue the league.

 

[sprig0701]

Alright, that's done. Glad at least some adults can have a discussion on here without resorting to childish behavior. Good points are brought up by the adults, and I appreciate their input. Pretty bad I expect to be able to get on an NFL discussion thread and vent a frustrating point with other fans, and the internet ninjas leap from the shadows with their cat-like reflexes, hurling wanna-be jibber-jabber at a sucka!! But anyway, back to the going ons around the League with another stellar line-up to kick-off week 15 in the NFL '11 season.

Not too awfully excited about this one. Jacksonville in yet another prime time game. Woo-hoo. Wouldn't be surprised to see Atlanta lay another egg (pun intended) and kill their play-off hopes that much more. Hopefully Mike Smith is alright on the sidelines after his health scare. I kinda like that guy as a coach, myself. But love or hate, it wouldn't be cool to see the guy go down like that on national TV. Atlanta is hard to beat at home for even a good team going in there, let alone a struggling team who recently had their head coach canned. I can see the dirty birds winning tonight.

 

[ProgMatinee]

NE vs DEN has got to be the highlight of the week.

BTW tonight I believe NFL network will be replaying the Den v CHI game with Tebow mic'd up. That should be interesting.

 

[sprig0701]

It'll be interesting to see if the Denver D can hold up against a high caliber offense, because I don't think Tebow wants to get into a shooting match with Brady (even as bad as NE's D is).

 

[Grenouille]

The NFL re-upped their TV deals with CBS, NBC, and FOX today for 9 years. With Disney included the league makes roughly $7 billion a year from TV. It could be even more if the Thursday night package is put up for bid.

So there's pretty much no excuse for teams to not spend to the cap since they're making it all back every year before a single ticket is sold.

 

[wofford29]

Not too awfully excited about this one. Jacksonville in yet another prime time game. Woo-hoo. Wouldn't be surprised to see Atlanta lay another egg (pun intended) and kill their play-off hopes that much more. Hopefully Mike Smith is alright on the sidelines after his health scare. I kinda like that guy as a coach, myself. But love or hate, it wouldn't be cool to see the guy go down like that on national TV. Atlanta is hard to beat at home for even a good team going in there, let alone a struggling team who recently had their head coach canned. I can see the dirty birds winning tonight.

Jacksonville has beaten Atlanta 3 out of the 4 games they've played but the last one was in 2007 and a lot has changed since then so I'm not worried about this one. I only expect one more loss this year and this ain't it.

Love me some Thursday night football. Can't wait for tomorrow.

 

[ProgMatinee]

It'll be interesting to see if the Denver D can hold up against a high caliber offense, because I don't think Tebow wants to get into a shooting match with Brady (even as bad as NE's D is).

No doubt. The thing about the Denver wins is they've happened in several different ways. Tebow finally breaking out for a 3 TD game is not out of the realm of possibilities. He is great at the long ball and those haven't been happening of late, so its possible he hits a few big plays. Also as good as the Denver run game has been they also have not had many big plays the last few weeks. Good all of a sudden break out. Then again they are probably due for a dud game like against Detroit.

 

[iron.jedi83]

useless stat that means nothing for this year but

Tom Brady vs the Broncos is 1-6