Just recently the NFL decided to levy harder punishments against players who perform devastating hits. Devastating hits are helmet to helmet hits that often result in a player getting a concussion. The league recently fined James Harrison $75,000 Dunta Robinson $50,000 and Brandon Meriweather $50,000. The league said starting Sunday the 24th they would also start suspending players for devastating hits. As far as I am concerned I think the league it treading on then ice. They fined these players excessive amounts without any warning. Brandon Meriweather's game check is for around $32,000 a game so fining him more than a game check without warning is crazy. I do agree he should have been fined especially for his second hit against Ravens receiver Todd Heap who was defenseless. Meriweather's hit was late and unnecessary but worst of all he went helmet to helmet. I think the league should definitely be harsh against a hit like this however it was Meriweather's first offense so you have to be stern but be able to give someone a second chance to correct what they were doing. The other hits in question were Harrison's and Robinson's which I felt both were clean. Robinson lead with his shoulder and his helmet slid up slightly which can and will happen. There was no intent to hurt the player Eagles star receiver DeSean Jackson. His fine of $50,000 is excessive since he has never been fined for any such contact before. He will be appealing the leagues decision. James Harrison is a repeat offender though I feel the hits he had against the Browns were legal. His $75,000 dollar fine is the highest fine I recall seeing for any hit. He decided to sit out of practice today Wednesday the 20th to consider possible retirement do to the leagues sudden policy change. From what I have gathered most players feel this is a bad and abrupt change to the game. Surprisingly the people on the receiving end of these hits the offensive players were the first people to jump to the defense of the defenders. I understand player safety I am all for that but this is something you review after the season and not make a sudden change in the middle of the season giving players no time to adapt to the new and ultimate game changing policy. At the end of the day to me it is football which is a violent game and these hard hits do happen. Don't take away from what has made this game so special. At the same time there is no room in the NFL for hits like Meriweather's hit on a defenseless player and those are the type of hits that must be met with punishment and not the ones by Dunta Robinson and James Harrison. The NFL needs to tread more carefully on this subject and get the players input since they are the ones putting there body's on the line and not Roger Goodell which by his body of work as commissioner has seemed nothing short of a power hungry executive trying to rob the players and the fans of everything they have loved about football.
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