Is it time to just throw James Harrison out of the league?

[Warner2BruceTD]

Never said it wasn't illegal. I'm saying to remove a player from the league for something that a lot of players still do (intentionally or not) is outrageous.

So how many more times does Harrison have to nearly end someone's career before you are willing to consider that option?

The difference between Harrison and the other players, is Harrison keeps doing it.

I'm not sure i'd ban him either, but if I was running the league, it would be among my list of options at this point. The guy is going to hurt someone badly, and i'm not sure if i'm the commissioner if I would want that blood on my hands (or the PR mess of a frequent offender and dirty player being dealt with using kid gloves, in the form of fines that he clearly doesn't care enough about to stop).

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The other thing about Harrison that annoys me, is he is never contrite about his actions. he complains about the punishment, threatens to retire, etc. This is not the behavior of a person who is accidentally injuring these other players, it's the behavior of someone who is playing with malice and refuses to stop. I mean, at least be smart enough to play the PR game. I just can't buy the idea that these are accidental. He's a headhunter.

 

[DSpydr84]

So how many more times does Harrison have to nearly end someone's career before you are willing to consider that option?

The difference between Harrison and the other players, is Harrison keeps doing it.

I'm not sure i'd ban him either, but if I was running the league, it would be among my list of options at this point. The guy is going to hurt someone badly, and i'm not sure if i'm the commissioner if I would want that blood on my hands (or the PR mess of a frequent offender and dirty player being dealt with using kid gloves, in the form of fines that he clearly doesn't care enough about to stop).

I usually don't defend the guy, like you said above he's an immature punk, but I just didn't see that McCoy hit as being malicious. He hit his helmet, yes, but I don't think it was an intentional helmet to helmet shot.

But if you drop him from the league, for such a hit, what kind of backlash does that bring? That's an unprecedented move, and although it does seem justified at this point with his reputation, there would be some out there (players included) who wouldn't agree with it. Does that matter in the grand scheme of things, I don't really know.

 

[dave]

even colt was cool with james when he came back in.

Of course he was - he didn't even know his name was Colt at that point.

 

[kyhadley]

Alright I stopped reading some of the last few posts because I was getting annoyed.

I don't care in the slightest about how this relates to the rulebook or penalties called on the field. To me, this is an after the matter incident that relates to quality of life for players who suffer from these hits. It is far beyond the importance of penalties or how it affects the game at hand.

Hits like these are life-threatening and should have such severe consequences that it is ingrained in even the worst offenders, regardless of who they are, that it will not be accepted. This is why Harrison should be banned for the rest of the season or beyond. Send a signal that you care about the livelihood of your players. An unprecedented move is exactly what is required.

 

[Houston]

I can't help but feel that your logic is being wasted.

 

[FirstTimer]

Alright I stopped reading some of the last few posts because I was getting annoyed.

I don't care in the slightest about how this relates to the rulebook or penalties called on the field. To me, this is an after the matter incident that relates to quality of life for players who suffer from these hits. It is far beyond the importance of penalties or how it affects the game at hand.

Hits like these are life-threatening and should have such severe consequences that it is ingrained in even the worst offenders, regardless of who they are, that it will not be accepted. This is why Harrison should be banned for the rest of the season or beyond. Send a signal that you care about the livelihood of your players. An unprecedented move is exactly what is required.

Nah. It's much more important that Steeljake's inbred ass be a homer.

 

[DSpydr84]

Who are these "a lot of other players" that do what Harrison does on any sort of consistent basis?

I don't think Harrison has been that bad.

Really.

Outside of Massaquoi's hit which was ridiculous and clearly with intent to injure, I don't see any other fine of his that's really that bad.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvfmN50ECQs"]James Harrison hit on Drew Brees - YouTube[/ame]

^^^ Late hit? Sure, flag it. "Crazy, intent to injure, outrageous behavior?" Not exactly.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXK2cnSFHcs"]Harrison fined AGAIN 25K for hitting Fitzpatrick - YouTube[/ame]

^^^ This was a joke. Not late, or helmet to helmet. Got fined for both.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrt4PJKhGXE&feature=related"]James Harrison body slams Jason Campbell 11-21-10 - YouTube[/ame]

^^^ Same thing. Not a penalty at all.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Qw0Rvc1wk"]Steelers Flip Vince Young and Body Slam Him - YouTube[/ame]

^^^ I just found this funny.


I think most NFL players have done just as much as this and gotten away with it. The Cribbs and McCoy hits look accidental to me. The Massaquoi hit is the only one I really see as malicious and really uncontrollable.

Groan away! I'm just here to argue, man. It's fun to me.

 

[FirstTimer]

I don't think Harrison has been that bad.

Really.

Outside of Massaquoi's hit which was ridiculous and clearly with intent to injure, I don't see any other fine of his that's really that bad.

James Harrison hit on Drew Brees - YouTube

^^^ Late hit? Sure, flag it. "Crazy, intent to injure, outrageous behavior?" Not exactly.

Harrison fined AGAIN 25K for hitting Fitzpatrick - YouTube

^^^ This was a joke. Not late, or helmet to helmet. Got fined for both.

Steelers Flip Vince Young and Body Slam Him - YouTube

^^^ I just found this funny.


I think most NFL players have done just as much as this and gotten away with it. The Cribbs and McCoy hits look accidental to me. The Massaquoi hit is the only one I really see as malicious and really uncontrollable.

Groan away! I'm just here to argue, man. It's fun to me.

Such as who?

 

[kyhadley]

I think most NFL players have done just as much as this and gotten away with it. The Cribbs and McCoy hits look accidental to me. The Massaquoi hit is the only one I really see as malicious and really uncontrollable.

Groan away! I'm just here to argue, man. It's fun to me.

You are so missing my point.

The NFL has been terrible about concussions and TBI. Most players doing just as much and getting away with it is just as bad and should also be reprimanded. This is not a matter of sport, but a matter of quality of life. The NFL has improved on this issue in the past few years (hello public relations), but in my well-informed opinion still does not do nearly enough to prevent these life-threatening hits. Hits like this can easily be avoided through technique and coaching. "It happens" or "itss a violent sport" are not nearly good enough excuses. The quality of life of NFL players is at stake here. How is that not important enough to make this stop?

 

[DSpydr84]

Such as who?

My point being he hasn't done that much. Look at the videos above.

 

[FirstTimer]

My point being he hasn't done that much. Look at the videos above.

No. Qualify what you said.

You said most players do this.

Show it.

 

[kyhadley]

My point being he hasn't done that much. Look at the videos above.

Doing just "that much" is more than enough when it comes to brain injuries. This is a rare time when zero tolerance should be applied.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You are so missing my point.

The NFL has been terrible about concussions and TBI. Most players doing just as much and getting away with it is just as bad and should also be reprimanded. This is not a matter of sport, but a matter of quality of life. The NFL has improved on this issue in the past few years (hello public relations), but in my well-informed opinion still does not do nearly enough to prevent these life-threatening hits. Hits like this can easily be avoided through technique and coaching. "It happens" or "itss a violent sport" are not nearly good enough excuses. The quality of life of NFL players is at stake here. How is that not important enough to make this stop?

And i've got bad news for the people who believe football is a violent sport.

The NFL does not want it to be a violent sport, which is why they've been taking these measures to removes the violent aspects of the game.

It's a physical sport, there is a difference.

 

[DSpydr84]

No. Qualify what you said.

You said most players do this.

Show it.

lol... you want me to show you helmet to helmet hits?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F43fQTCQf0"]nfl helmet to helmet hits - YouTube[/ame]

 

[kyhadley]

I can't help but feel that your logic is being wasted.

I think you are right.

 

[Obst]

lol... you want me to show you helmet to helmet hits?

nfl helmet to helmet hits - YouTube

So an NCAA game and pee wee practice, plus a James Harrison hit. Good evidence that everyone in the NFL has had multiple helmet to helmet hits.

 

[DSpydr84]

You are so missing my point.

The NFL has been terrible about concussions and TBI. Most players doing just as much and getting away with it is just as bad and should also be reprimanded. This is not a matter of sport, but a matter of quality of life. The NFL has improved on this issue in the past few years (hello public relations), but in my well-informed opinion still does not do nearly enough to prevent these life-threatening hits. Hits like this can easily be avoided through technique and coaching. "It happens" or "itss a violent sport" are not nearly good enough excuses. The quality of life of NFL players is at stake here. How is that not important enough to make this stop?

I agree with you 100%, my issue I guess is how they would follow through with it. As much as I don't want to say it, it is a part of the game.

Should you remove all first time offenders, no questions asked? Should you remove a player that gives someone a concussion but within the rules? Should you remove anyone who hits with the helmet, offensive, defensive, in a pile, open field, etc.? It's just too grey to make it a black and white rule.

 

[DSpydr84]

So an NCAA game and pee wee practice, plus a James Harrison hit. Good evidence that everyone in the NFL has had multiple helmet to helmet hits.

Do you even watch football? There's a helmet to helmet penalty every week. I apologize for not personally making a video montage.

 

[SethMode]

At some point he has to go.

If I went to work and refused to comply with my employers rules I would be gone and 99.9% of the world would be just fine with it. Don't see why exceptions should be made in this instance.

Don't want to sound like I'm pro Harrison here, but that is a pretty poor comparison.