Helmet to Helmet Hits

[James Tapscott]

So, I'm interested to hear from members their thoughts on fining NFL players for helmet to helmet contact during tackles. Is a standardized fining schedule the answer? Does fining a player make the game safer? Does it matter that players, especially linemen, are nearly twice as big as they were 25-30 years ago? With the increased strength and speed comes violent collisions. Interested in thoughts

[Beamhead]

Oh I have many thoughts on this topic but best not start as this is a family friendly forum. I think Jack Lambert was onto something..."They should just put a skirt on the quarterback"

I think they are picking on certain players and they could solve the whole issue by either going back to facemask-less leather helmets or make these new high tech helmets with an outer softer shock absorbing material........yeah nerf helmets!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: At the rate the NFL is going I will boycott them for the LFL.

[pur3up3r]

What if the collisions are accidents? A player might compromise the play and/or their safety by doing an unnecessary movement just to avoid a helmet to helmet contact.

Football should be played with full-contact with all the benefits and drawbacks that comes with going head-to-head, theres so many rules and restrictions in place already.

[gogiants]

My opinion is that "headhunting" with the intent to intimidate or injure other players should be harshly penalized. While everyone understands football is a contact sport and accidents will happen, I would hope that fines and/or suspensions make headhunters think twice.

As an aside, I say promote the endzone celebrations! What's not to love?

[kadinh]

What if the collisions are accidents? A player might compromise the play and/or their safety by doing an unnecessary movement just to avoid a helmet to helmet contact.

Football should be played with full-contact with all the benefits and drawbacks that comes with going head-to-head, theres so many rules and restrictions in place already.

I was going to write a big long answer, but this pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

Sometimes it's hard to control where your head goes (playing a full contact sport) and your natural reaction is to lower your head before impact. But if the players are trying to injure the other one by dealing a fatal blow to the head, there should be no place in the sport for that.

[ansilumen]

Accidents do happen, but certain players have been known to head-hunt.

[Solcore]

It really depends. It can easily be an accident, but it can also be very dangerous to seek out and try to injure others, like kadinh said.

[fedexboxes]

Yes, accidents occur with helmet to helmet hits and some of these have resulted in a player being paralyzed. Football is a contact and injuries occur, most of them in a later date, but the goal is to minimize without significantly altering the nature of the game. I don't watch football because of helmet to helmet hits. However, i do appreciate a solid hit with a shoulder lead - quite a difference.

[PabloW]

I agree with the opinion that obviously intentional hits should be fined harshly; however, the accdental hits should be treated much less harshly.

[Andystone316]

There is no reason a player can't make a punishing tackle without using their Helmet. Some of the most amazing hits that I've seen have come from the shoulder. If its intentional, it should be fined. That's it.

[Andystone316]

Yes, accidents occur with helmet to helmet hits and some of these have resulted in a player being paralyzed. Football is a contact and injuries occur, most of them in a later date, but the goal is to minimize without significantly altering the nature of the game. I don't watch football because of helmet to helmet hits. However, i do appreciate a solid hit with a shoulder lead - quite a difference.

What he said...

[FERRITE]

My question is when did tackling turn into hitting? There are so many lost yards when someone attempts to make that one hit than just wrap their arms around the guy to bring him down. Football focuses on "hit" rather than tackles. Pretty soon, "Hits" will be an official stat along with tackles.

[Tolstoy]

I work in medicine and I care for people with head injuries. The game at all levels is going to be changed by the new attention to head injuries. The average career of an NFL player is only 3.2 years yet evry dead football player whose brain has been examined shows of chronic brain injury. The only solution I have heard that migh work is to go back to leather helmets with no faceguards. Players will stop leading with their head if they dont have a "crash helmet" on it.

[KBliss]

Unless it is a blatant intentional act, they should let them play the game!