NFL HITS

In an interview from a long time ago and with no particular context that I can remember, Brian Urlacher was talking about receiving a call from Dick Butkus after a good game. Essentially, Butkus told Urlacher that next time he should stomp the running-back in the genitals. Urlacher replied that you cannot do that in modern football. Butkus then hung up.

Change is a difficult thing, especially in a classic institution like football. Football is known for being tough and for separating the men from the boys. Consequently, when a new rule imposes that players actually become suspended from gameplay for hard hits, the game essentially changes. The evidence lies in the first week of the new policy being the highest scoring week in NFL history.

One of the main issues that come to focus is defensive players complaining they cannot play the game anymore. One of the dirtiest players in the league who plays for the Steelers threatened to retire over this whole fiasco. Then, hundreds of sports anchors, philosophers and guys riding a bar stool had something to say over the issue. But before anyone takes any sides, let us look at both sides of the issue.

PRO NEW PENALTIES: Advancing medical sciences show that, not only are concussions bad, but repeated concussions are absolutely horrible for long term health of players; they can lead to loss of motor skills, a destroyed equilibrium and, in the worst case, lowered life expectancy. By lowered life expectancy we are talking about shaving a small sum of 30 or so years in some case off of a playerís life.

Another pro to this side of the coin is that players can play the whole season. That means the Cowboys would still be half alive as Tony Romo's clavicle would be intact, Michael Vick would not have missed critical games for the Eagles and Jay Cutler would have to look for another excuse as to why he has been the biggest waste of two first round draft picks. This means that divisions would be decided elsewise, fantasy football team owners could rest easier Sunday nights and, in general, games might be better.

CON NEW PENALTIES: If I played football in high school, I would have played safety for one reason: Picture a third down with 12 or more yards to go. The quarterback steps back and throws his receiver running a slant route. The corner reaches out for the ball and misses. The receiver reaches outward and begins to cradle the ball with his eyes fixated on the pigskin. There is then a sickening thud as the free safety sends all 220 pounds with full speed into the side of the receiver. The ball pops out and the receiver walks back to the sideline, wondering if it is still Friday night.

Hits are one of the best parts of watching football. Every person cheers in a Chicago bar when Brett Favre is railed in a sack or some hotshot receiver gets his head taken off. So when someone gets drilled, we love it (granted they are not on your team or fantasy team).

Another problem is the defense. As mentioned previously, the first week of the new penalty was the highest scoring week in NFL history. This probably also happened when players were thinking about how the refs are looking for the first player to make an example out of. While one could see big defensive men, like Ray Lewis or Jarred Allen, relishing in being the first, the loss of a game and a weeks pay kept these defensive bullies at stake.

So, if you cannot play defense to the fullest degree, then what is the point of having $15 million defensive ends? What good is a great pass coverage, if the corners and safeties can only tickle the receiver or file a written request for a dropped pass? What will become of the league? The likely odds are that the NFL will turn into the same spectacle of arena football. For those that have not sat through a full game, its essentially ran like someone that is calling plays on Madden with the difficulty set to rookie.