There is no question that football is a violent sport. It’s a competition where large, fast men run into each other to try to knock each other down. However, when people are getting severely hurt, it’s no longer fun and no longer good entertainment.
Oh sure, there are “fans” out there who like this aspect of the game. They also watch car races for the crashes, they watch mixed martial arts (controlled beatings), and a long, long time ago, these people liked the Christians being fed to the lions.
Just because some people like this sort of thing, doesn’t make it acceptable. The NFL is hypocritical because they market this sort of violence, but they are correct in taking a stand against it.
The excuses fans have made for Steelers’ LB James Harrison’s hits on Josh Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi last Sunday are frightening. Some say that is how Harrison has had to make his mark in the league, because he was undrafted and was cut three times before sticking with Pittsburgh.
Others make the excuse that it’s just football, and players take the risk of being injured. The risk these guys take is blowing out a knee or fracturing a rib, not possible brain damage.
The hit that Harrison put on Cribbs is getting underplayed because he was a running back, but it was a cheap shot nonetheless. Harrison drove his head into Cribbs’ head. There was no attempt to try to bring down Cleveland’s best player, and the hit didn’t result from Cribbs dipping his head as he ran.
Harrison tried to knock him unconscious. That’s not the way sports should be. Maybe football people like this sort of thing, but it’s lack of respect for your opponent as a human being.
Look, seeing T. J. Ward’s hit on Bengal WR Jordan Shipley was tremendous. However, Ward led with the shoulder, not the head.
Also, Falcons’ DB Dunta Robinson’s shot on Eagles’ WR DeSean Jackson was vicious, but it doesn’t apply to this argument either because Robinson led with the shoulder. Even though Robinson was fined, it was a clean hit.
It’s unfortunate that players were injured on this plays, but these hits are part of the game.
Football helmets are weapons. They are heavy pieces of equipment. The best comparison to them is they are like a small bowling ball. What would people think of having bowling balls fired at the heads of football players?
Earlier this week on ESPN Radio, Hall of Famer Mike Ditka said the helmets used when he played were no where near those of today, and players would hurt themselves if they were used in that manner.
That fear no longer exists.
Others have made the excuse that these “head shots” aren’t new, and if by new, they mean they’ve been existing over the last 10 years, they are correct. But these shots were fewer back in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
That’s not to say there weren’t any vicious hits in those days, they just weren’t helmet to helmet.
The NFL is hypocritical by promoting videos showing big hits, but this issue shouldn’t be lumped in with having an 18 game schedule or not taking care of retired players. The NFL shouldn’t go to a longer schedule and they should take care of its alumni.
Helmet to helmet hits are the same as hitting another player over the head with a baseball bat. That’s the sort of thing that needs to be eliminated from football at all costs.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 