Growing Controversy (The James Harrison hit on McCoy)

[Enigmatic Evil]

SERIOUSLY...

How the fuck can the league just twiddle their thumbs and idly whistle while this guy is playing head hunter all over the NFL.

Case and point, look at how 'swiftly' the NFL addressed the Suh situation. Very little hesitation, boom fine, boom two game suspension. How it SHOULD progress. YET you get a PITTSBURGH STEELER like James Harrison who against the BROWNS ALONE has had 3 instances of blatant helmet-to-helmet hits. THREE INSTANCES and yet you have to pull the NFL's arm to get them to fine Harrison AND he whines like a little bitch for it.

Players need to be more accountable for their actions on the field, not just in the NFL this is an argument I've applied to Hockey multiple times and as the concussion becomes a bigger and bigger issue in the NFL, this argument will become louder and louder. Sure it's an 'intense' game but much like driving a car, you have to be accountable for the other drivers as well as yourself.

Players like James Harrison who quite blatantly headhunt and have proven it multiple times and barely get a slap on the wrist are the biggest example of what is wrong with the NFL right now.

I just saw the video of the hit and I needed to get this rant out of my system, I don't know if it's really being talked about in threads and if another mod wants to move this post to a more appropriate thread, feel free. (I will once I've read around a bit more).

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

Players like James Harrison who quite blatantly headhunt and have proven it multiple times and barely get a slap on the wrist are the biggest example of what is wrong with the NFL right now.

It's not *technically* being discussed in another thread, although Neo's "these guys have some nerve" thread may head that way.

I think part of the reason for the quick action against Suh was because he is MUCH more blatant (he literally grabs heads with his hands and twists) AND because he had a "private" conversation with the commish about these things. He apparently has chosen to ignore the advice he supposedly got.

Harrison, on the other hand, is a seasoned vet who has figured out how to make his hits look "incidental". Much like some QB's can draw penalties with their dramatics, Harrison can make it look like it was unintentional until the very last second. Then there is no denying it.

Obviously fining players isn't the solution, although Harrison whined quite a bit about it. Suspensions may or may not be a solution (that is yet to be determined I guess). The problem is that the NFL is not enforcing their rules consistently. And as long as that inconsistency exists, there will be loopholes. And Harrison and Suh will continue to play dirty football. Until they kill someone.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Well Hiway, in my experience (again we revert to hockey) you always get goons who want to cast off ugly play on the guise of being a 'tough player' who don't learn when they're being fined tens of thousands of their paychecks. You see them change their tune when they miss a handful of games. Eventually old tendencies reset or in the odd instance you can teach a dog a new trick. It becomes a battle of how badly they really want to play.

You're right on the money about consistancy and that's something the NFL and a lot of other major sports have always struggled with. Suh... I hope he can get his adrenaline in check (maybe anger issues?) But Harrison, I don't know what it is but when push comes to shove he doesn't hesitate to straight out annihilate people and there's no way that's not intentional.

[Greythan]

This will certainly provide some drama.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...ays_mccoy.html

[Greythan]

This also just roasts my you-know-what about Harrison even more.

The hit was a complete cheap shot by modern day standards. He should be suspended for at least 1 game.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Greythan

This also just roasts my you-know-what about Harrison even more.

The hit was a complete cheap shot by modern day standards. He should be suspended for at least 1 game.

I have a theory that might make me ONLY sound like a frustrated Cleveland fan - but here's a cut and paste of something I wrote in another thread today:

And folks, Pittsburgh fans will pay James Harrison's fines so we can all be thankful Goodell and Rooney are great friends. Harrison won't get the SAME suspension Suh is getting. That's why it was a wonderful thing Goodell's good friend Rooney got to give him the news that he got him named as NFL Commish. That kind of pull always produces the good karma of getting Big Ben's suspension reduced. The friendship favor (between owner and commish) will never be forgotten in repeat offenses like we witnessed last night from James Harrison. That scum bag led with the crown of his helmet because he CAN and fans will pay the fine for him so there's no consequence whatsoever. Nothing learned there. Someone will have to break a neck and die before one dares to question another PA football program for the lookaway. And fwiw, the play Joe Thomas got flagged for a false start when Harrison was already 2 steps across the line of scrimmage when the ball got snapped was classic favoritism. I watched the replay and Harrison jumped the snap count while Joe instinctively reacted to his movement. If anyone has it taped - watch the play and replay it. Not only that, count how many times you see them lining up offsides. If there's a franchise favored more than them - I'd love to know who it is and was sport we're talking.

Back in the day when Jack Lambert felt compelled to hit 175 pound Brian Sipe after he was 5 yards out of bounds, the refs sent the message they didn't need to kick Jack Lambert out of the game for dirty football. Turkey Jones decided he appreciated the precedent established and gave Pittsburgh a taste of their own medicine by power spiking Terry Bradshaw into a double dribble off the hard surface. And he wasn't finshed there. He then proceeded to pick up the loose ball and gallop down the Pittsburgh sideline even thouhg the whistle blew as if the greater good was to REMIND that franchise it NEVER had to be this way. Even better, the backup QB David Mays filled in better than Pittsburgh's backup QB did. Cleveland won the game in an upset.

[hammertime]

That could be a deal breaker for alot of people if it comes up that the Browns screwed the pooch on a players well being.

You'll lose a lockerroom quicker than quick if your messin with their career.

Look for Wallace to finish out the season and muddle up the evaluation process.


Although the lack of touchdowns and big plays has "evaluation complete" written all over it.

[Greythan]

I think its quite possible McCoy misses at least 1 game with the head/hand injuries. We'll see.

That will create an interesting dynamic for the team and fanbase as we'd face our weakest opponent of the last five games with our backup QB. DRAMA!

[Masters]

They have 9 days before the next game. Colts going to have to have a pretty severe concusion to miss the next start.

[hiwaygal]

I think McCoy's dad is a helicopter parent and needs to take a freakin' chill pill. Last I checked Colt is an adult by legal standards and shouldn't need his daddy to fight for him.

And this comment:

It would've taken my high school trainer longer than that to determine if he was okay after a hit like that.

literally had me No shit you dumbass! Your high school trainer isn't getting paid 6 figures and doesn't have the kind of diagnostic equipment and knowledge of a PROFESSIONAL trainer in the NFL.


Having said that, I thought it was much too soon for Colt to be back in the game too. Wallace had completed a nice pass and should have been left in to finish the series. We likely still would have lost, but Colt needed to sit out the rest of the game.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Grey I just merged our threads since they're essentially about the same topic.

[Neo]

What I think should happen is the next time we play them, line up Gocong at WR for one play and have him blast Harrison as hard as he can in the side of his helmet. I am talking about knocking his helmet, and breaking his facemask kinda hit. (edit) For one play, I would come out with three of my hardest hitting linebackers and put them in a three receiver set, then call a running play. I would tell them to destroy the defender right across from you. I would also have someone nail Polamalu in his dome too.