NFL tackling rules, should the rules be changed?
The National Football League announced Tuesday it will immediately begin suspending players for “egregious and elevated hits” that violate rules, particularly those involving helmets.
In the past, players were either fined or ejected for illegal hits. But after the series of recent flagrant tackles last Sunday, several of which resulted in concussions, the NFL ramped up the punishment.
Among the hits getting attention last weekend:
—The Eagles' DeSean Jackson and the Falcons' Dunta Robinson were knocked out of their game after a frightening collision in which Robinson launched himself head first to make a tackle. Both sustained concussions.
—Ravens tight end Todd Heap took a vicious hit from Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather that Heap called "one of those hits that shouldn't happen."
—The Steelers' James Harrison sidelined two Browns players with head injuries after jarring hits. (FOX news)
Now, it seems to me like everyone is concerned about NFL players there is no doubt about that, but mostly they are concerned about the next generation of football players, the kids. Over time it has been proven that Athletes, more precisely, professional football players, have a shorter life expectancy mostly because they are prone to problems with memory, focus and concentration, and early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Due to hard hits to the head, neck, and spine football players endure many concussions in their careers, as well as joint and muscle problems. This is a risk that all football players take when they decide to play the game. Football is a contact sport, a collision sport. In fact, it would appear that the popularity of this sport is mainly because of the brutality of it. A “real mans sport” so to speak. Having said this, It has been made apparent to some (why it has only hit them now I’m not too sure, pun intended) that the game is too brutal. Now it is all over ESPN that the NFL wants to go ahead and change the tackling rules to thus avoid more unnecessary injuries. There are so many things wrong with this I don’t even know where to start, but I’m going to try. First of all, we are more than half way through the season (several concussions in), this would have been a good thing to discuss after the first NFL player was paralyzed for the rest of his life not several there after. Second of all the rules are fine just the way they are, the problem is with in the way that they are being enforced (hardly at all). If the supposed illegal contacts/hits were taken more seriously by implementing punishment such as fines and suspension of players without pay, I believe the players would tread a little more lightly. Not to mention the fact that most if not all players would be relieved that they were a little safer on the field knowing what was at stake for all players. Third of all changing the rules at this point in history may change the entire game and the way that people know it today. Many may feel as though they are taking away from the sport by changing it. Not to mention the money the NFL may lose due to the fines the players and corporation will receive as well as the amount of time these players may see off the field. Is this changing of the rules a good thing intended to better protect our athletes, or just a way for the NFL to try and make themselves feel better about being one of the most brutal and sometimes maybe even fatal sport around?
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