The National Football League wants players on all of its 32 teams to understand the new penalties for illegal hits, so it has sent out a video to all of them to try to help them avoid problems.
The video highlights three tackles from games last Sunday that brought on huge fines for players and it cautions players that even new offenders will be temporary suspended from NFL games for sending aggressive hits to he head and neck of other players.
“Illegal hits to the head of an opponent will not be tolerated,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said in the video. “A player is accountable for what he hits. Illegal techniques must be removed from our game.”
Anderson called a hit by Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather’s hit to the helmet of Ravens tight end Todd Heap “inexcusable.” The hit to Heap prompted the NFL to hit Meriweather with a $50,000 fine.
“We all accept that football is a physical and tough game, but players must play under control,” Anderson said in the video. “If a player launching into an opponent misses his aiming point, he will nevertheless be responsible for what he hits.”
Also in the video, the NFL singles out James Harrison’s hit to Mohamed Massaguoi, receiver for the Browns. The hit brought a $75,000 fine to the Steelers linebacker. A third hit by Dunta Robinson of the Falcons to DeSean Jackson of the Eagles brought a $50,000 fine to Robinson.
On Thursday, James Harrison of the Steelers was excused from practice because he contemplated retiring after criticism from NFL officials and their contemplation of changing the rules of the game midstream through the season.
Anderson said Robinson’s hit was, “bang-bang but still illegal.”
“These hits can have severe consequences for the player delivering the hit as well as for the player taking the blow,” Anderson said in the video.
Players are taught to hit, but there is a correct way to hit without leading with the helmet in a “spearing” motion, according to the NFL video. Leading with the helmet can cause serious injuries and is being determined by the league as one of the leading causes of detrimental injuries to defenseless players.
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