BU54

NFL telling officials to eject players for helmet-to-helmet hits
Saturday, November 10, 2007


NEW YORK (AP) The NFL has told its officiating crews to start ejecting players for flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits.

The new policy was outlined Saturday in a memo from supervisor of officials Mike Pereira, which was obtained by The Associated Press. It followed two fines last weekend for what the officiating department had determined were hits against players in defenseless positions.

One fine was against Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry, who will forfeit a game check of $16,764 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens. The other was against Philadelphia defensive tackle LeJuan Ramsey, who was fined his game check of $21,176 for spearing Dallas' Julius Jones.

Two weeks ago, San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence was fined $15,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Houston quarterback Matt Schaub a concussion.

"Officials will be reminded this week to pay strict attention to these rules and disqualify the fouling player if the action is judged to be flagrant," Pereira wrote in the memo sent to the 32 NFL teams. "Actions that involve flagrant helmet to helmet contact are the likely acts that will include disqualification. Our commissioner and this office remain very focused on the safety of our players."

In the memo fining Landry and Ramsey, NFL director of football operations Gene Washington said emphasis would be on hits against players in defenseless positions.

Landry previously was fined $7,500 for two unnecessary roughness violations on Oct. 21 against Arizona. Ramsey was fined $5,000 on Oct. 14 for roughing the passer against the Jets.

After Florence was fined, the Texans complained that the punishment wasn't severe enough.

"We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt's jaw and the fine levied is only a small fraction of the player's weekly pay," general manager Rick Smith said.

"Is that equitable? The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered."

LINK
NFL telling officials to eject players for helmet-to-helmet hits

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Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre became a Jet...

Footbalmaster

They should, its better for the game, and its better for the health of all the players.

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The Patriots dynasty is the best ever in Football history.

BU54

Pretty soon we will be watching flag football.

__________________
Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre became a Jet...

BeastJacobs

Come on..this is ridiculous. I mean I'm all for the players health. But when we're playin' in high school and take a nasty helmet to helmet hit what's the difference? We're not getting paid, and they don't even call the penalty. Is the NFL really turning into this?

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Serrated Shadow

good. One less Darryl Stingley story is worth the whining IMO.

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Professor

people shouldn't be driving with their helmets, as long as that isn't done, then no one will be ejected

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BU54

It's called spearing so to speak. Helmet to helmet hits happen every play.
Flagrant has always been a judgement call.

NFL = National Flagfootball League

__________________
Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre became a Jet...

Professor

I just don't think anyone should be spearing, the hitter or victim could be seriously hurt from it, a shoulder while doing the spear move works just fine. No need to use the helmet as a weapon

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BeastJacobs

Well, yeah I know but sometimes you just lead with the head and the person adjusts and you hit em with the helmet. It's nothin' that big. I guess its the difference of the power of the hitters.

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Haystack

The key word is "flagrant".
If the ref deems it was intentional to intentionally hurt a player then that player will be ejected. Which i thought that was part of the rules anyway. I thought Lavar Arrington was ejected once for doing that to McNabb.