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Cowboys don't like new NFL hit rules; Bradie James: 'We're going to be playing flag football in five years'
Posted at 12:50 PM on Wed., Oct. 20, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
The NFL said this week it will begin suspending players for illegal hits, many players are asking if this still is pro football.
The NFL handed out $175,000 in fines to Pittsburgh's James Harrison , New England's Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta's Dunta Robinson and promises suspension will be on the way for illegal hits to the head.
"We're going to be playing flag football in five years," linebacker Bradie James said.
Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis echoes those thoughts by saying "the game will be diluted very quickly."
While defensive players believe player safety needs to be at the top of the list of concerns, they also believe they are at a with the NFL rulebook. Instead of reacting to a play in a split second, they are now expected to determine how to hit an offensive player that already may be leading with a helmet.
"I don't like it," safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. "I need to go to tackling school. It's kind of hard, especially with like a running back once he gets through, he lowers his head. We're taught to try to get lower and underneath him. That's head to head for me. If I kneel down my head is going to be first regardless. I understand launching. I don't think you should launch at a helmet like that."
Sensabaugh said he has been hurt trying to make a tackle in which he did not want to incur a penalty.
"A lot of times when you're able to hit them in their helmet their neck will snap back and that will take their momentum backwards," Sensabaugh said. "When you hit them lower, the top of their body falls forward, so you're seeing a lot of stalemate hits. I think if one guy guys, either I get run over or he falls straight back, the car crash isn't that bad. But if we [stalemate] we can both be injured on that one."
Posted at 12:50 PM on Wed., Oct. 20, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
The NFL said this week it will begin suspending players for illegal hits, many players are asking if this still is pro football.
The NFL handed out $175,000 in fines to Pittsburgh's James Harrison , New England's Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta's Dunta Robinson and promises suspension will be on the way for illegal hits to the head.
"We're going to be playing flag football in five years," linebacker Bradie James said.
Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis echoes those thoughts by saying "the game will be diluted very quickly."
While defensive players believe player safety needs to be at the top of the list of concerns, they also believe they are at a with the NFL rulebook. Instead of reacting to a play in a split second, they are now expected to determine how to hit an offensive player that already may be leading with a helmet.
"I don't like it," safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. "I need to go to tackling school. It's kind of hard, especially with like a running back once he gets through, he lowers his head. We're taught to try to get lower and underneath him. That's head to head for me. If I kneel down my head is going to be first regardless. I understand launching. I don't think you should launch at a helmet like that."
Sensabaugh said he has been hurt trying to make a tackle in which he did not want to incur a penalty.
"A lot of times when you're able to hit them in their helmet their neck will snap back and that will take their momentum backwards," Sensabaugh said. "When you hit them lower, the top of their body falls forward, so you're seeing a lot of stalemate hits. I think if one guy guys, either I get run over or he falls straight back, the car crash isn't that bad. But if we [stalemate] we can both be injured on that one."
