OffHisMeds is of the opinion that, in fining Detroit Lion Ndamukong Suh $30,000 for kicking Matt Schaub in the groin, the NFL did little to fix the problem of dirty hits in football games.
"Donkey Kong" Suh is of course the prototypical dirty player, racking up more cheap shots over the course of a game than do most teams. And like his namesake in the video game, given the opportunity, he would drop barrels on the heads of his opponents, if only he could figure out a way to get them onto the field.
The NFL equivocated on the issue of subjecting Suh to yet another suspension, claiming they could not adequately determine his intent in lashing backwards with his leg straight into Schaubs nuts. Hey NFL, try this: Look at the replay, particularly the sequence just prior to the strike as he is in midair. Notice that his eyes are locked onto Schaub's package like a Wild Weasel lighting up an Iraqi anti-aircraft battery. Note that he starts the kick still with eyes on the target. Note the bullseye.
Any questions?
Blinders on, the NFL brass has clearly not thought through the consequences of their inaction. It's hard not to conclude that if Suh can constantly get away with a puny fine for his attempts to injure his opponents, the rest of the league is going to follow his example. There's clear evidence this is already happening.
For the past couple months, and several times every week, quarterbacks and receivers get knocked out of games by helmet to helmet hits that draw a simple penalty and little else. Offensive linemen have perfected the "low blow" to a defender's knees, such as the one that New York Jets guard Matt Slauson put on Brian Cushing. His punishment for ending Cushing's season? A piddling $10K fine. Teams have done the math, and they have reached the same conclusion that New Orleans' headhunters did with their "bounty" scheme: the price for knocking impact players out of the game is worth paying. Unlike New Orleans, though, nobody else has been so stupid as to post rewards for injuring opponents. No doubt, the NFL considers this progress.
"Donkey Kong" Suh is of course the prototypical dirty player, racking up more cheap shots over the course of a game than do most teams. And like his namesake in the video game, given the opportunity, he would drop barrels on the heads of his opponents, if only he could figure out a way to get them onto the field.
The NFL equivocated on the issue of subjecting Suh to yet another suspension, claiming they could not adequately determine his intent in lashing backwards with his leg straight into Schaubs nuts. Hey NFL, try this: Look at the replay, particularly the sequence just prior to the strike as he is in midair. Notice that his eyes are locked onto Schaub's package like a Wild Weasel lighting up an Iraqi anti-aircraft battery. Note that he starts the kick still with eyes on the target. Note the bullseye.
Any questions?
Blinders on, the NFL brass has clearly not thought through the consequences of their inaction. It's hard not to conclude that if Suh can constantly get away with a puny fine for his attempts to injure his opponents, the rest of the league is going to follow his example. There's clear evidence this is already happening.
For the past couple months, and several times every week, quarterbacks and receivers get knocked out of games by helmet to helmet hits that draw a simple penalty and little else. Offensive linemen have perfected the "low blow" to a defender's knees, such as the one that New York Jets guard Matt Slauson put on Brian Cushing. His punishment for ending Cushing's season? A piddling $10K fine. Teams have done the math, and they have reached the same conclusion that New Orleans' headhunters did with their "bounty" scheme: the price for knocking impact players out of the game is worth paying. Unlike New Orleans, though, nobody else has been so stupid as to post rewards for injuring opponents. No doubt, the NFL considers this progress.
Simply put, there are no teeth in the penalties, and eventually, the result is going to be an on-field injury resulting in paralysis, major brain damage or a potentially career-ending injury like Cushing's. And perhaps even someone's death. With all the scrutiny the NFL is under due to the hundreds of former players either crippled or rendered senseless over decades of such abuse, you'd think they would be doing more to prevent it. The simple truth, though, is that they are not. Maybe the NFL is confused as to how to fix the problem. Maybe they're worried that acknowledging the problem exists exposes them to more liability. Maybe some of the rules makers are themselves former players who've taken too many hits to the skull, thus clouding their ability to reason. That last reason is not easily discounted, considering that - at this point - the NFL has roughly the same chance of avoiding a multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit as Wylie Coyote does of a happy outcome any time he takes a delivery from Acme Products.
How can they not see the disaster they are courting? How can they not comprehend that if they continue with their present course, not only will it cost them billions, but ruin the game in the process? The average career span for an NFL player is three years. Including not just the players but their extended families, that's a whole lot of existing and future litigants, once the trial attorneys pop their cherry.
And the mortal pity of this fine mess is that there are simple rules that - if implemented - would solve the problem and increase fan interest:
How can they not see the disaster they are courting? How can they not comprehend that if they continue with their present course, not only will it cost them billions, but ruin the game in the process? The average career span for an NFL player is three years. Including not just the players but their extended families, that's a whole lot of existing and future litigants, once the trial attorneys pop their cherry.
And the mortal pity of this fine mess is that there are simple rules that - if implemented - would solve the problem and increase fan interest:
1) A 25 yard penalty for "egregious" personal fouls.
2) A penalty box. All personal fouls result in the player being ejected anywhere from five minutes to one quarter. This can be reviewable and assessed any time during the game so as to not slow down play.
3) Probation for repeat offenders, with escalating fines and suspensions. This probation could be carried over to the next season.
4) Suspensions that fit the crime: a minimum 6 game suspension when you knock an opposing player out for the season with a dirty hit, up to an entire season. It seems only right that dirty hits ought to have at least the penalties that are imposed for substance abuse.
5) No pay during any and all suspensions, whether they are for a quarter, a game, or multiple games. Plus, the team would sacrifice TRIPLE that amount either to charity, or to a fund supporting disabled NFL players.
OffHisMeds doesn't expect the NFL to embrace any of the above, because - let's face it - they're pretty much all complicit, including the players with their "guy's code". It's instructive that a day after Matt Schaub ripped Suh for kicking him in the groin, he changed his tune and said "I didn't even feel it, and I'm moving on". Matt may not value his health, but his fans do. Just consider how much our enjoyment of football was affected when Albert Haynsworth stomped his ankle in 2011, knocking him out for most of last season and killing any chance for long-suffering Houston football fans to watch their team make a Superbowl run.
Bottom line, workplace behavior in the NFL should be no different than any place else, with proper allowances made for the inherently violent nature of the game. If you want to get the problem under control, start hitting players and owners in the pocketbook.
And make an example of Donkey Kong Suh.
And make an example of Donkey Kong Suh.
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