National Football League Hypocritical Once Again

by Christopher Gates on Oct 20, 2010 3:48 AM CDT in NFL

Gotta love the NFL. Yesterday, they fined a bunch of players for helmet-to-helmet hits on defenseless players, and vowed to suspend people that did it in the future. For an entity that used to sell VHS tapes of various hits and stuff like that, it appeared that the league might have been taking a stand against such hits.

Until, of course, the good folks over at Pro Football Talk discovered that you, too, can own a photograph of the hit that James Harrison laid on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (that gave Massaquoi a concussion) for as little as $15.95.

Fully sanctioned by the National Football League,natch.

The league apparently thinks that its fans are too stupid to realize that they're trying to have it both ways here. Sorry, Mr. Goodell. . .once again, we know what hypocrisy looks like. It's a familiar sight.

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Wow

Better order fast if you want that. I’d be shocked if that stays up there very long.

by Cobra312004 on Oct 20, 2010 5:06 AM CDT reply actions

Looks like it's already taken down

by shem on Oct 20, 2010 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Politics... politics...

When politics take over decision making, it’s all downhill. If Goodell starts talking about the “Liberal Media Elite” blowing this out of proportion, I quit.

---
Uff-da!

by Shazbot996 on Oct 20, 2010 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

You could see this coming....

They should post a companion photo featuring Antoine Winfield “how to tackle”!

by NCviking on Oct 20, 2010 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Sad thing is

was just reading of the injuries sustained to old players who fought for better salaries and are now shown to have lasting injuries. The NFLPA does everything they can to deny their claims but fights to make current players richer. Hypocricy again.
They can’t give these players who built the NFL into what it is today a portion of the player dues. These dues should have an pro-rated portion to go to some of these older guys who actually have to have real jobs now that their carreers are over.
Another suggestion was making the field wider. Citing the CFL has fewer such injuries.Detractors say this will dilute records of the past. But they increase to a 16 game season and now want 18. This doesn’t really show a balamce in the record books. Tark, Unitis and many RB’s records Don’t include an extra 28 game in the case of some NL vets. A 60 yd wide field would
not be a big deal but would open things up for guys to be able to time a tackle and in many cases actually have to rely on proper tackling technique. Records have been inflated long B4 the idea of a wider field was suggested. Might make the game a little more exciting as well as safer. Players are faster and stronger thru training advancements. Field width would be a good plan

by CitrusFLViking on Oct 20, 2010 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

Players who built the game.

Mike Ditka, Matt Birk and others support the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund to help the players who made the game what it is now.
http://www.gridirongreats.org/

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin

by Skol Girl on Oct 20, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

No Fun League

at its finest.

I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...

by urluckyday on Oct 20, 2010 1:23 PM CDT reply actions

goedell = lame....harrison's hit wasn't helmet-to-helmet, no flag was thrown....wow.

if the nfl wants to send a message, then issue a formal statement of warning that the rules will now be enforced with greater strictness, and that fines may be levied after the fact. fair is fair.
the nfl really shanked it here, imo.

in the future there will be no war...there will only be rollerball.

by jethrophet on Oct 20, 2010 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

The rules

There is a very common misconception that the defenseless receiver rules only apply to helmet-to-helmet hits. That is not the case at all. If a player launches (leaves his feet for a hit) at the head or neck area of a defenseless receiver and hits him with his forearm, shoulder or helmet, that is an illegal and fineable play.

Harrison launched himself at the helmet of a defenseless receiver and struck him with the forearm and shoulder. You can learn more about these rules here.

by Cobra312004 on Oct 20, 2010 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

okay, thanks for the link, but...

75k is random and excessive. the rule doesn’t fit the reality of play. no flag thrown…lame.

in the future there will be no war...there will only be rollerball.

by jethrophet on Oct 20, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Harrison is a repeat offender

75k is not random or excessive. There are numerous examples in the last 10 years of players being fined large amounts for hits like his. The fact that he was already fined earlier this year for a hit on Vince Young (that also went unpenalized).

But a flag on the play has never been a reason to fine or not fine someone in the NFL’s eyes. Jim Leonhard of the Jets was flagged for a hit on Brandon Loyd last weekend, but did not receive a fine from the league for what it deemed a legal hit. Hell, Rodney Harrison was suspended and fined for a hit on Jerry Rice that he was not flagged for.

Referees can’t be expected to make every call, or make it correctly (that’s why we have instant replay). You can’t rely on their limited view on the field to make decisions on fine, especially when player health and safety is at risk.

by Cobra312004 on Oct 20, 2010 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

nice points you bring up....but i still think no fine on that play....and too subjective.

in the future there will be no war...there will only be rollerball.

by jethrophet on Oct 21, 2010 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

You can’t objectively fine someone because there are too many factors involved. Every fine is subjective to context and the people involved..

I imagine his “I try to hurt people” comments didn’t garner him any favor with the people up top either.

by Cobra312004 on Oct 21, 2010 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

i just look at the play....i don't see a fine.

in the future there will be no war...there will only be rollerball.

by jethrophet on Oct 22, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

And to think I call Goodell Mafia ???

by gothicpurple on Oct 20, 2010 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

I see...

the NFL being in existence maybe 20 more years. Players are already becoming too big, too strong, and too fast. Eventually players will die because of hits no matter how much protection they have. I don’t blame Harrison for wanting to retire. He knows he’s too strong for this game and he doesn’t want people to die because of him.

by Volfie on Oct 20, 2010 6:05 PM CDT reply actions

rubbish

Harrison thought about retiring (for 10 secs) because he was embarrassed and got his poo’ li’l ego bruised. Too bad. They were dirty plays, both of them. And he’s been a dirty player his whole career.

I’ll say it again: it should be a universal professional sports law; someone injures a player from a reckless or egregious hit/challenge/act, they should bee suspended for as long as the player they hurt is out. Up to and including end of career.

by Shawn Gillogly on Oct 21, 2010 2:13 AM CDT up reply actions

There was an article in SI (I think by King) over the summer where he talks about meeting with a group of veteran, high profile players, who for the most part did not want to be named because of their fear of backlash from NFL, but their consensus was that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed, televised live, on an NFL field.

by puddnhead on Oct 21, 2010 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not saying...

there isn’t the potential for a fatality. They’ve come close more than once. And of course, the NCAA came about because back in Teddy’s day, players were dying on the football field.

I do think that potential is increased by the lack of enforcement of rules regarding spearing and the refusal of many teams to coach form tackling however.

But Harrison wasn’t thinking “I’m too big and strong for this.” He had his pride punctured. And that’s just too bad. He’s been a dirty player his entire career.

by Shawn Gillogly on Oct 21, 2010 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Pfft Retire...

Harrison retire yah right, do the math 2008 he signed a contract of 51.175 ml with 20ml worth of bonuses. And being to strong for this game? And does not want people to die because of him? Please…He even stated that he is disappointed cause he will now have to nerf the way he was taught to play from 10 years old. He sais nothing about not wanting to kill someone. Matter of factly he said, he plays to HURT not injur another player. those statements in itself show his disregard.

@}-----You've been Touched-----{@

by Velvetouch on Oct 21, 2010 10:24 AM CDT reply actions