James Harrison

**cyfanatic** · 12-13-2011, 10:00 AM

I can't wait for the day that a defensive player pulls up and doesn't hit a QB who goes onto make a huge, game-winning play! And then admits to the public that he didn't want to get suspended so he didn't go all out. The media will be all over that player even though that is what the NFL wants apparently!

**farminclone** · 12-13-2011, 10:02 AM

I don't like the "wimpification" of football, but Harrison seems to deliberately go after people with his helmet, not safe to him or the other guy. I feel like cases that are incidental (see LJ post above) should not be penalized. Defender going in to make a hit, runningback lowers his head, jukes, etc, and now his head is in a different place, making it a head to head hit.

Problem is, this creates a judgement call, which we all know is not a good situtation.

**troutslayer** · 12-13-2011, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by geburgess

Don't care, I remember signing up to play football. It was to hit people. That's what Harrison signed up for. When they change the rules to where you can kinda hit people in certain areas, and even less areas if they are a special position, I'm on Harrison's side and he should take the shots and do as he was taught and what he was paid huge amount of money to do.

If the NFL doesn't want hits, either give them all flags or make it two-hand touch. It's getting to be a bunch of ********.

Playing in the NFL is a job right? The NFL is his employer, correct? And most places of employment have policies that are changed from time to time. Simply put, you either comply with the policies, or leave and go work somewhere else. Simple as that. Harrison is choosing not to comply.

**Mr Janny** · 12-13-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by cyfanatic

I can't wait for the day that a defensive player pulls up and doesn't hit a QB who goes onto make a huge, game-winning play! And then admits to the public that he didn't want to get suspended so he didn't go all out. The media will be all over that player even though that is what the NFL wants apparently!

That already happened. See the Mathias Kiwanuka/Vince Young play from 4-5 years ago. The world didn't end.

**Trainer** · 12-13-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

See I am the exact opposite. Football is about hitting and if you can't take the hitting go play soccer. Helmet to helmet in my opinion is a dumb rule just like horse collaring. Most of the time as a defender you don't intend to go helmet to helmet but do to the offensive player shifting to avoid the tackle you get put in positions where helmet to helmet happens even though it wasn't the intent (Perfect example was against Iowa a couple years ago when LJ went to tackle Moiaki (Sp?), LJ was going low and Moiaki dipped his shoulder thus causing helmet to helmet)

I don't believe this at all. Players are going for big hits, and what does the most damage? The helmet. I think it is pretty easy to tell who was trying to hurt someone by the way they use their head(lowering it as opposed to keeping their head up). Sad things is that you can make just as big of hits with your shoulders.

**jbindm** · 12-13-2011, 10:10 AM

I wish James Harrison would follow through on his retirement threat. I understand the rules about legal hits are murky and it's a violent game, but this guy habitually leads with his helmet despite being repeatedly told that it's not legal. The NFL would be better off without him. The concussions are bad enough, but I keep waiting for the play where he does serious long term damage to himself or someone else.

**3TrueFans** · 12-13-2011, 10:13 AM

but I keep waiting for the play where he does serious long term damage to himself or someone else.

I think we're seeing those hits every week, they just won't see the extent of the damage until later.

**Trainer** · 12-13-2011, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

I think we're seeing those hits every week, they just won't see the extent of the damage until later.

This is true.

**troutslayer** · 12-13-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by cyfanatic

I can't wait for the day that a defensive player pulls up and doesn't hit a QB who goes onto make a huge, game-winning play! And then admits to the public that he didn't want to get suspended so he didn't go all out. The media will be all over that player even though that is what the NFL wants apparently!

You can hit a QB without lowering your head and going in helmet first. Harrison could have easily wrapped up McCoy and took him down. Players do it all the time. Clay Matthews is a good example.

**jbindm** · 12-13-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

I think we're seeing those hits every week, they just won't see the extent of the damage until later.

Agreed. I should have just come right out and said paralysis or death. And I get that things like that could happen even on legal hits, but it seems like he's trying for a literal kill shot with the **** he pulls.

**BigLame** · 12-13-2011, 10:26 AM

I think a lot depends upon interpretation.
Leading with the helmet to me indicates lowering of the head to strike with the crown. Back in the day was called spearing. Harrison's hits have not been this.
As the one on McCoy, his head is clearly up. McCoy lost the protections given a QB while in the pocket as a 'defense-less' player when he scrambled, upon which he is treated like any ball carrier. He was not exposed like a WR making a catch. There would be no issues had Harrison hit a RB coming out of the backfield.

Harrison has his head up on nearly all of his hits. Things is, he is like a 5'11" linebacker, so he always plays pretty low & comes up into ball carriers, etc. Tackling nowadays is being taught to wrap up & initiate contact with your chest. However, when Harrison does this it results in his head sliding up from the opponents chest & his facemask or helmet nails the ball carrier in the chin/facemask/helmet.

Technically, I think the facemask is part of the helmet when determining 'helmet to helmet' contact. Just think in this last case w/McCoy that it applies.

Yes, I am a Steelers fan, but some times Harrison deserved the fines, etc. However, I agree in this case that he should not be expecting a fine. Will likely receive one as he has not done himself any favors with Goodell & the NFL.

**Acylum** · 12-13-2011, 11:08 AM

I think Polamalu leads with his helmet more than Harrison.

**SWCy13** · 12-13-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by geburgess

Don't care, I remember signing up to play football. It was to hit people. That's what Harrison signed up for. When they change the rules to where you can kinda hit people in certain areas, and even less areas if they are a special position, I'm on Harrison's side and he should take the shots and do as he was taught and what he was paid huge amount of money to do.

If the NFL doesn't want hits, either give them all flags or make it two-hand touch. It's getting to be a bunch of ********.

I disagree with this. Harrison repeatedly launches himself headfirst into other players helmets. It what he does. I would count the Steelers as my 2nd favorite team in the NFL, and I watch a lot of their games, and Harrison does this religiously.

When he "signed up" to play football, did they teach him to launch headfirst into players and potentially give them or himself a life changing injury? No, they taught him to wrap and and tackle like a football player. That's what I learned in high school, to wrap up with your head to the side, not in the other players grill. You can't honestly say that's what he was taught. Where?

I realize sometimes this happens in the heat of the moment and you wanna deliver that knockout blow, but there comes a point in time where something has to be done to somebody who repeatedly does this. A one game suspension is probably the best thing in this situation. Hopefully it straightens Harrison's mindset out, although I doubt it.

**WalkingCY** · 12-13-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by ccyclonepower25

Yeah, I agree sometime the helmet hits are incidental. But sometimes they can be avoided. The rule is in place, I don't think he should blatantly disregard the rule because he doesn't agree with it. If I don't agree with a rule at my workplace, I suck it up and live with it, or I break it and get reprimanded or Fired. If I repeatedly break the rule I get fired.

agree here.

**BigLame** · 12-13-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Acylum

I think Polamalu leads with his helmet more than Harrison.

And why he has issues with concussions.
Harrison (1 game suspension handed out BTW - probably appeal) keeps his head up, but with his lack of height causes his facemask &/or ridge of helmet @ his forehead to be the initial point of contact. Not saying it still is legal, but would agree Polamalu flies in & his head is leading with his face to the ground.
Still, do not agree with this McCoy hit. He left the pocket scrambling. It's football, & collisions happen.
Greg Lloyd was given the same treatment. Show the big hits on ESPN & sell the videos of these, but fine/penalize the players who are aware of the dangers.