James Harrison

[swanysto]

It is sad that really talented linebackers like Mathews, Von Miller, Urlacher, Briggs, Ware, Willis, etc, etc, etc can have great years without getting fined for illegal hits, yet Harrison can't go a couple games. Hopefully he breaks his neck on one of those hits.

 

[mvbighead]

The NFL claims it was a defenseless quarterback which is BS he was out of the pocket. He did hit him helmet to helmet I'll give them that but he was not defenseless.

He had just finished throwing the ball. Most defenders will go up to tip the pass, but Harrison aimed for a headshot.

The only thing that makes this a certainty for me is that McCoy was standing perfectly upright. In that case, he was not preparing for contact, and crouching down as RBs do. And somehow, Harrison's shot lands smack in the middle of his face mask?

The guy was not in a position to protect himself after just throwing the ball. I don't see the issue calling him defenseless, as he pretty much gave Harrison every opportunity to get him in the mid-section, but Harrison still went for the head. Long story short, had Harrison leveled him with a wrap tackle through the midsection, it would've been fine with no penalty, fine, or suspension. Instead, he did what he intended to do, and got the punishment that he should have.

 

[mvbighead]

It is sad that really talented linebackers like Mathews, Von Miller, Urlacher, Briggs, Ware, Willis, etc, etc, etc can have great years without getting fined for illegal hits, yet Harrison can't go a couple games. Hopefully he breaks his neck on one of those hits.

This is precisely my thought on the subject.

All these guys go through seasons without these types of fines/suspensions. Somehow, Harrison thinks he's being singled out?

Heck, even Ray Lewis seldom gets these fines. And he makes some spectacular hits.

 

[a123456]

Agreed. He had become a ball carrier at that point.

Helmet-to-helmet rules generally only apply to "defenseless receivers."
(although it seems like the NFL is trying to change that too)

From the NFL Rule Book:

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/15_Rule12_Player_Conduct.pdf

So from the rules, a QB gets the same protection (not 1-step and not low hits) when throwing on the run, which is what McCoy did. And that protection includes helmet to helmet.

Add that to Harrison's rep, including his previous comments that he sets out each game to hurt other players intentionally to knock them out of games when he got fined before and of course the NFL is going to stomp down on him.

As for historical, watch all the giant hits by guys like Jack Lambert and they make great hits by using good technique with wrapping up and driving through instead of just lighting guys up with your crown to make Sportscenter.

I think Harrison is a good player that all teams would love to have on their team but he just has some bad habits that are tough to correct after so many years of doing things one way.

 

[slag]

He was looking like he was running the ball, then chickened out at the last moment when he saw Harrison coming. Nothing to see here.

Yep, nothing to see here. No foul, no problems.

 

[edro]

If James Harrison was white, or the QB was black, this wouldn't be an issue.

RACISM~!

 

[AstroManLuca]

Doesn't matter what position you play, helmet-to-helmet hits are unacceptable and I'm glad the NFL is finally growing some balls and suspending someone for it. Too bad it wasn't for longer. And honestly I wouldn't mind seeing Harrison get banned from the league permanently. He's already admitted that he's a dirty player, that he specifically tries to cause serious injury to other players, and that he refuses to change. Yet at the same time he's a huge crybaby.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

He had just finished throwing the ball. Most defenders will go up to tip the pass, but Harrison aimed for a headshot.

The only thing that makes this a certainty for me is that McCoy was standing perfectly upright. In that case, he was not preparing for contact, and crouching down as RBs do. And somehow, Harrison's shot lands smack in the middle of his face mask?

The guy was not in a position to protect himself after just throwing the ball. I don't see the issue calling him defenseless, as he pretty much gave Harrison every opportunity to get him in the mid-section, but Harrison still went for the head. Long story short, had Harrison leveled him with a wrap tackle through the midsection, it would've been fine with no penalty, fine, or suspension. Instead, he did what he intended to do, and got the punishment that he should have.

Agreed. Colt was standing straight up, not in a position to protect himself. How does Harrison manage to hit him square in the face with the crown of his helmet? The 1 game suspension is a damn joke.

 

[sao123]

Would be my thought as well.

The sad thing is Harrison continues to do it as though it's uncontrollable. The reality is, he is one of the only players that does it CONSISTENTLY. There are good, solid, hard hits. And there are assholes like Harrison that try to cause serious damage to the head.

I dunno, I've seen enough football to know that this guy is a grade A jackass. No one is saying he can't tackle hard. He simply needs to stop going for helmet to helmet shots.

You can tell me that Suh is dirty, and I believe he is proving to be more and more as time goes on. But, IMO, what Harrison has been doing the past few years is much, much worse.

You have seen enough football to know jack dick... because you have never played organized football.

the reason james Harrison consistently hits the way he does, it because it is proper textbook tackling form. THE CORRECT WAY! The way it is taught in every high school and college program. Very few people in the league actually know how to tackle correctly.


Textbook tackling states you put your head into his chest, right between the numbers, wrap your arms around the waist or thighs, and drive through, putting his back onto the ground.

Perfect textbook tackle... you dont understand it and more than Goddell does. Why? Because neither one of you ever played a single down!

 

[rcpratt]

I am shocked that only Steeler fans have defended Harrison. lmao.

 

[AstroManLuca]

No, he aimed high, hit Colt's helmet with his own. That's a helmet to helmet hit and he really ought to be suspended for more than just one game.

You Steeler fans defending a thug who aims to cause serious, long-term injuries to other players disgust me.

 

[mvbighead]

You have seen enough football to know jack dick... because you have never played organized football.

the reason james Harrison consistently hits the way he does, it because it is proper textbook tackling form. THE CORRECT WAY! The way it is taught in every high school and college program. Very few people in the league actually know how to tackle correctly.


Textbook tackling states you put your head into his chest, right between the numbers, wrap your arms around the waist or thighs, and drive through, putting his back onto the ground.

Perfect textbook tackle... you dont understand it and more than Goddell does. Why? Because neither one of you ever played a single down!

I have seen and played enough football to know proper form tackling. What Harrison does are head shots, pure and simple. As has been stated time and time again, his arms are often at his sides.

Harrison's helmet was not in the chest. Had it been aimed at the chest and Colt gone up as he did, Harrison would've nailed him in the stomach or pelvic region. He aimed for the head. How is it hard to figure this shit out?

I have played many a down in organized football. All practices preached the fundamentals of shoulder in the numbers, wrap up the thighs, pick up, and drive your legs.

If you look at any of the pictures in this thread, you'll clearly see that Harrison didn't wrap up. He didn't aim his shoulder for the numbers. There wasn't a single thing text book about his tackle.

 

[sao123]

I have seen and played enough football to know proper form tackling. What Harrison does are head shots, pure and simple. As has been stated time and time again, his arms are often at his sides.

Harrison's helmet was not in the chest. Had it been aimed at the chest and Colt gone up as he did, Harrison would've nailed him in the stomach or pelvic region. He aimed for the head. How is it hard to figure this shit out?

I have played many a down in organized football. All practices preached the fundamentals of shoulder in the numbers, wrap up the thighs, pick up, and drive your legs.

If you look at any of the pictures in this thread, you'll clearly see that Harrison didn't wrap up. He didn't aim his shoulder for the numbers. There wasn't a single thing text book about his tackle.

this is where you are so wrong... textbook tackling is NOT shoulder to the numbers. its FACEMASK to the numbers. Yes that results in helmet to helmet at times, and often leads the appearance of leading with the crown. It is what it is however.

 

[SP33Demon]

Harrison is like the pitbull that needs to be put down, permanently. I see no problem banning this malicious pussy (only pussies consistently hit helmet to helmet) from the NFL. Furthermore, I can't wait until the study comes out on how badly he gave himself CTE after he's dead in 20 years.

 

[dbk]

fuck harrison.. ban him!

 

[AstroManLuca]

I am shocked that only Steeler fans have defended Harrison. lmao.

They're used to it. They've had to defend a rapist, a terrorist sympathizer, a drunk driver, and Harrison's own wife-beating ways.

 

[crownjules]

this is where you are so wrong... textbook tackling is NOT shoulder to the numbers. its FACEMASK to the numbers. Yes that results in helmet to helmet at times, and often leads the appearance of leading with the crown. It is what it is however.

And it's not what Harrison does. Numbers are across your chest which means to put your facemask there, unless the tackler is shorter, you're going to have to crouch down. Harrison is standing nearly upright and only drops his chin a moment before hitting Colt. His facemask goes into his neck, not his numbers.

 

[BoomerD]

They're used to it. They've had to defend a rapist, a terrorist sympathizer, a drunk driver, and Harrison's own wife-beating ways.

So you're whining about what the players do in their personal lives?

Hell, professional athletes in all major sports are known for their brushes with the law over a wide variety of things.

It's really all about what they do on the field that should matter. (and yes, I think Harrison needs to be smacked down for leading with his helmet so often...but in spite of the rules, that's coached into the defensive players.

 

[vi edit]

this is where you are so wrong... textbook tackling is NOT shoulder to the numbers. its FACEMASK to the numbers. Yes that results in helmet to helmet at times, and often leads the appearance of leading with the crown. It is what it is however.

I played several years of football through JV leagues and into highschool playing defensive end and OLB. I was *never* instructed to lead with a facemask. It was lead with the shoulders, wrap at the thighs. In fact if you were caught leading with any part of your head you got to do suicide sprints between the 5's.

 

[Via]

Only one game? not enough.

 

[Barfo]

No, he aimed high, hit Colt's helmet with his own. That's a helmet to helmet hit and he really ought to be suspended for more than just one game.

You Steeler fans defending a thug who aims to cause serious, long-term injuries to other players disgust me.

Steeler fan here. As much as I love what Harrison brings to the team, his hoodlumish behavior is inexcusable. He should be told one more dirty hit and he's out of the league.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The Silverback knows what is best in life.

 

[Jeffg010]

There is a lot of haters in this thread. You see the Steelers #1 thing they preach is to be the toughest SOB on the field. When we come to your team we will dominate you in the trenches that how we roll. We will put an ass whippen on your team and people can't handle that. People calling for lifetime bans and all the other garbage are just a bunch of haters.

What is going to happen when quarterbacks start running the ball like Tebow and he gets hit in the head? Should they be suspended too? Look at the massive hits that Mendenhall took to the head on the goal line stance. Were the fouls for that? Either hits to the head are illegal or they are not.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

They should probably just have QBs wear a target on their chest. Then they can tell the D that if their head is below or above the target ring, the hit is illegal. Because they cannot go low anymore. And they cannot risk going high, because the dumb ass will probably duck down into the shot making it helmet to helmet.

Or just stop wearing pads like the Brits and Aussies, that will perforce change the way they tackle.

 

[MotF Bane]

There is a lot of haters in this thread. You see the Steelers #1 thing they preach is to be the toughest SOB on the field. When we come to your team we will dominate you in the trenches that how we roll. We will put an ass whippen on your team and people can't handle that. People calling for lifetime bans and all the other garbage are just a bunch of haters.

What is going to happen when quarterbacks start running the ball like Tebow and he gets hit in the head? Should they be suspended too? Look at the massive hits that Mendenhall took to the head on the goal line stance. Were the fouls for that? Either hits to the head are illegal or they are not.

If that was Rofflesburger who got beheaded by Suggs, you'd be singing a different tune.