A Quick Note On Concussions & Hard Hits

I didn’t want to get into an argument today. But after reading the news that James Harrison is mulling retirement after the NFL threatened to hand out fines and possibly suspensions for especially grueling helmet-to-helmet hits—and after hearing former Hog Mark Schlereth rant about the NFL being run by “men in ivory towers” on NFL Live—I just couldn’t contain myself. So here are some thoughts on the head injury controversy.

First, all of the current and former players need to chill out. Really, Harrison? You’re going to retire just because you can’t get away with a hit like the one you laid out on Mohammed Massaquoi on Sunday anymore? Here’s some perspective for you: as a linebacker, your job is to tackle. What you did to Massaquoi was a helmet-to-helmet hit, not a tackle, and you should know the difference.

Second, current and former players should at least be grateful that the NFL is trying to take positive steps toward a solution. It’s a valid point that the NFL’s new policy of suspending players for hard hits lacks definition, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong move. Considering the significant amount of scientific evidence supporting the lasting damage caused to retired NFL players by football-related head injuries, as well as the growing number of NFL players who’ve begun lobbying the league to take action, why on earth is everyone getting angry when the league takes action? Last year, the NFL adopted much stricter rules about the treatment and reporting of concussions. This year, they’re attempting to deal with the incidents that create the concussions. And guys like Mark Schlereth are calling them aloof and insulting their relationship to the game. Apparently, the NFL is damned if they don’t do anything, and also damned if they do actually try to take action to eliminate head injuries.

Third, if the NFL really does want this new policy to make a positive difference, it needs to be more specific about the kinds of hits for which it will issue fines and suspensions. I know I just spent two paragraphs taking the NFL’s side on the issue, but I do think the players have a point here. Just putting players on notice is a nice show, but it isn’t practical. Might I suggest mailing every active player a picture of Patriots safety Brandon Merriweather’s obvious cheap shot on Ravens tight end Todd Heap’s head after the ball had bounced off Heap’s hands and writing in the margin: “Hey, guys. Don’t do this or you get an extra bye week.”? At least give some point of reference to let these guys know that they can still hit hard, just not unnecessarily hard.

The NFL is not the bad guy here, and the players need to realize that. A much as they would love to portray the league’s top brass as removed and dim-witted in this pre-lockout environment, they should realize that the execs, though hungry for cash, aren’t stupid. They know that part of the NFL-mystique is the hard hitting style of play, and it makes no sense for them to completely remove it from the overall package. In the same way, the NFL needs to engage the players on the issue and provide a clearer explanation of the new rule. Hopefully the players will realize that a rule change like this could be better for them in the long run. Even though they won’t be able to make highlight-reel hits all the time, they might not have to live with post-concussion syndrome for the rest of their lives.

Sounds like an even trade to me.