No surprise. Linebacker Patrick Willis and safety Dashon Goldson, a pair of ferocious hitters, said today that they aren’t thrilled about the NFL’s vow to begin suspending players for illegal hits.
But what about wide receiver Ted Ginn? The 49ers’ 180-pound string bean is just the type of player the NFL is trying to protect. On Tuesday, three defensive players — Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson and New England safety Brandon Merriweather — were fined a combined $175,000 for hits that laid out pass-catchers such as Ginn.
Among the collisions was Robinson’s hit on Philadelphia’s DeSean
Jackson, a 175-pound wide receiver. Ginn has seen the endlessly replayed
collision which left Jackson with a concussion. But the fourth-year
wideout sounded more concerned today about the NFL’s attempt to
legislate a certain level of aggressiveness and violence out of the game
than his own safety.
“Now you’re playing with a guy’s money,” Ginn said. “He can’t play
football like he used to. He’s timid. He might have a big play, but he’s
scared to go down and make that play because of the fine he’s going to
get.”
Wide receiver Josh Morgan said he’s suffered a collision similar to the
one that left Jackson motionless on the field for several minutes
Sunday. But Morgan, who was drilled as a rookie in a game against the
Saints, says those hits “come with the game.” And he suggested they
always will, regardless of new NFL policies.
“I don’t feel safer at all. You can say you’re going to fine somebody,
but they’re still going hit you regardless, right?” Morgan said. “The
defense is not going to show you any mercy. They’re going to try to run
through you, intimidate you and inflict pain on you. That’s their job.”
On Tuesday, the NFL announced plans to begin suspending players for
flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits, an unprecedented step in its efforts to
reduce the spate of concussions in the league. The sudden mandate seems
sound. Ex-NFL players who have suffered repeated concussions have dealt with medical issues ranging from depression to early onset
Alzheimer’s. Former Eagles safety Andre Waters, who committed suicide in
2006 at age 44, was found to have brain cells that resembled an
85-year-old man with Alzheimer’s. Waters had multiple concussions during his career.
For players, however, the biggest issue with the NFL’s mandate is that
it doesn’t take into account the high speed at which these collisions
occur. Robinson’s hit on Jackson left both players with concussions and
was difficult to watch, particularly after Jackson flopped lifelessly to
the ground. But many have argued that it wasn’t illegal — that
Robinson hit Jackson in the sternum. Robinson was fined $50,000 on
Tuesday.
Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, who was fined $75,000 for a hit he
insists was legal on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, said today
he’s contemplating retirement due to the NFL’s new policy.
Willis isn’t ready to hang up his helmet. But he shares Harrison’s frustration.
“I don’t know man. It’s crazy,” Willis said. “I mean $75,000 for going
out and hitting the guy? I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do, I
thought as a defensive guy you’re supposed to hit and as an offensive
guy you’re supposed to avoid and if your quarterback lead you right
where the defender is, then you should take that up with the
quarterback. Another guy shouldn’t get in trouble or fined or get a flag
for just playing football. If it’s ugly, just straight hands down
leading with your head, that’s one thing, or head butting or anything
like that, but when you’re going for the tackle and, I don’t know, ya’ll
saw it, so you make your own decision but I’m just going to play
football.”
Said Goldson, “That gray area will always be a gray area. What us
defenders have to do is be careful, as far as what we’re doing
approaching the ball. Some of those were iffy in my book, but they
gotta’ do what they gotta’ do. It’s not going to change the way I play
or any defensive back. You gotta hit the guy (coming) across the
field.”
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