Following week six of the NFL season, and a plethora of big hits later, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell put his foot down. The NFL decided that beginning week seven, hits on defenseless players, especially hits to the helmet, would be met with new fines and possible suspensions, depending on the situation as deemed by the NFL. Although many people see the new rules as beneficial, there is no way this will end up being a successful move for the future of the NFL.
The reason for these new regulations is simple: With these new precautions, the NFL is trying to make the game safer for the players. Recent emphasis on concussion prevention has taken the league by storm, and has obviously made a big impression on the NFL’s competition committee. Fines range from minor fees to major infractions of up to $25,000. Also, if an illegal hit seems blatant and dangerous, a referee may eject the player from the game altogether.
This new method of disciplining players for illegal hits, which already warrant a 15 yard penalty, has many players up in arms. Amidst the chaos of a football field, the plays are happening so fast that a player has barely any time to react. So when that linebacker sees a receiver coming across the field on a route, he should not have to think about how he is going to hit the player. Fining them for hits that have been commonplace for the past 50 years is only slowing down and decreasing the integrity of the game.
The NFL is trying to make the game safer, but they should not make it more boring or slow than it has already become over the past few years.
...And they wonder why they have become known as the No-Fun-League.
No comments:
Post a Comment