James Harrison

[momeNt]

It's also the best way to create long lasting mental side effects for former players.

To me, Harrison is an ignoramus. He should be suspended for a season. Either figure it out, or retire. His arguments are about as ridiculous as they come. There are 1500 players in the league, and 1 name keeps coming up on helmet to helmet hits.

While I appreciate your humorous comment about their being no arms or shoulders, I can say there are a number of players who make a lot of clean "hits" that aren't wrap up tackles. Harrison even has made his fair share. But the vicious helmet to helmet shots need to stop. That is something that seriously can impact an individual's long term health.

Yes, on a serious note I completely do agree with you. The author of the mens journal story is a complete jackass by even attempting to intimate that Harrison is doing the people he hits a favor, especially in light of all the Boston University research on CTE.

How many more suicide cases or sudden deaths from CTE do we need to hear about before the NFL stops slapping wrists and gets serious on cracking down on this?

 

[Jeffg010]

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.

Fine let just hit all players in the knees. I even heard most players say they would rather get hit high then take one in the knee. That hit James did was just a hard hit that any running back would take. Quarterbacks can't take hits like that so everyone start to baby them. To bad if you running with the ball you better get ready to get hit.

 

[rcpratt]

It's hilarious that some of you think that Suh is dirtier than guys like James Harrison or Dunta Robinson with the crap they pull.

 

[Krazy4Real]

It's hilarious that some of you think that Suh is dirtier than James Harrison or Dunta Robinson with the crap they pull.

At least Harrison doesn't lead with his cleat.

 

[darrontrask]

Yeah that play was with intent to harm. I watched it a couple of times and if you look he lowers his head at the last minute to use as a projectile. Suh gets shit on for his dirty play but he has noothing on Harrison.

And did you see the look in McCoys eyes when the did the close up near the endzone right before the pick? You could just see the dazed and confused look in his eyes.

 

[momeNt]

Fine let just hit all players in the knees. I even heard most players say they would rather get hit high then take one in the knee. That hit James did was just a hard hit that any running back would take. Quarterbacks can't take hits like that so everyone start to baby them. To bad if you running with the ball you better get ready to get hit.

He was looking down field to make a play, completely different way of running than what a running back would be doing in that situation, QB's attention is diverted elsewhere.

As was said earlier, there are more parts to your body than just head/knee.

 

[Jeffg010]

You guy must really hate how Troy Polamalu tackles. He is superman when he tackles. I'm quit surprised that he has not blown out someone's knee.

 

[vi edit]

You guy must really hate how Troy Polamalu tackles. He is superman when he tackles. I'm quit surprised that he has not blown out someone's knee.

Yeh and he has what, 137 concussions to show for his style?

 

[Jeffg010]

Yeh and he has what, 137 concussions to show for his style?

Yup he pays the price for it and everyone say he the best tackler ever.

 

[vi edit]

Yup he pays the price for it and everyone say he the best tackler ever.

I don't think I've ever heard him called "best tackler ever". He's definitely got an eye for the ball and usally one of the first to make contact and definitely explodes at the opponent. But that's not synomymous with sound, fundamental tackling.

 

[Jeffg010]

I don't think I've ever heard him called "best tackler ever". He's definitely got an eye for the ball and usally one of the first to make contact and definitely explodes at the opponent. But that's not synomymous with sound, fundamental tackling.

You obviously don't watch steelers games. Every announcer is praising him like he is a tacking god.

So is sound, fundamental tackling what James Harrison does?

 

[JD50]

You obviously don't watch steelers games. Every announcer is praising him like he is a tacking god.

So is sound, fundamental tackling what James Harrison does?

What? Like others have said, the proper way to tackle is hitting someone in the chest/stomach area. Diving at the knees with your helmet (like Troy) and spearing people in the head with your helmet (like Harrison) is not the correct way to tackle. That's why Harrison keeps getting fined and Troy keeps knocking himself out.

And no one calls Troy "a tackling god", unless you're talking about biased announcers from Pittsburgh, which obviously no one but people living in the Pittsburgh area are going to hear.

 

[watek]

The hit was awesome!

Even better in slow motion replay and to see his face expression seeing harrison in his face ha

 

[Analog]

Suh Approved!

 

[SP33Demon]

Just ban the mental midget. He didn't get it last year, and never will no matter what the fine.

 

[sactoking]

What? Like others have said, the proper way to tackle is hitting someone in the chest/stomach area. Diving at the knees with your helmet (like Troy) and spearing people in the head with your helmet (like Harrison) is not the correct way to tackle. That's why Harrison keeps getting fined and Troy keeps knocking himself out.

And no one calls Troy "a tackling god", unless you're talking about biased announcers from Pittsburgh, which obviously no one but people living in the Pittsburgh area are going to hear.

Ummm, no?

1. Square your shoulders
2. Square your hips
3. Lower your shoulder
4. Make contact with the thigh/quadricep
5. Wrap
6. Lift
7. Plant

That's the proper way to form tackle. All the other methods are to be used only when necessary.

And people wonder why kids get hurt these days...

 

[BoomerD]

Hell, at this rate, the NFL is going have to change their name to the NFFL...which will stand for the National Flag Football League, where they play non-contact flag football, and any actual touching of an opposing player will result in the offending player getting sent to the corner for a time-out and a stern talking-to.

 

[angminas]

At least Harrison doesn't lead with his cleat.

I'd much rather get stomped on than have some slam their helmet into mine.

Hell, at this rate, the NFL is going have to change their name to the NFFL...which will stand for the National Flag Football League, where they play non-contact flag football, and any actual touching of an opposing player will result in the offending player getting sent to the corner for a time-out and a stern talking-to.

Don't be stupid. The NFL is still extremely fast, violent, and dangerous. Even with the new rules, people get serious injuries ALL. THE. TIME. This "flag football" stuff is pure garbage.

 

[BoomerD]

I'd much rather get stomped on than have some slam their helmet into mine.



Don't be stupid. The NFL is still extremely fast, violent, and dangerous. Even with the new rules, people get serious injuries ALL. THE. TIME. This "flag football" stuff is pure garbage.

Is you stupid?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole

 

[angminas]

Is you stupid?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole

I know what you were saying, but the "flag football" thing is destructive to the situation. Men aren't pansies because they don't want to go crazy and commit suicide in their 50s (quite the opposite, in fact). With all we're starting to learn about how dangerous those head injuries really are, taunting those who are trying to improve the situation is the stupidest, most evil, most ridiculous thing anyone has ever even dreamed of. Anyone who would say such a thing must hate all football players and want them to die horribly.

See how hyperbole can be disingenuous and destructive? That's sorta what you're doing when you play the "flag football" card.

 

[Q]

I thought the rule was only for "defenseless receivers."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfFW-Yezv0k

Earlier in the game, there was a helmet-to-helmet hit by the Browns on a Pittsburgh linebacker in their attempt to score from the 2 yard line...no flags were thrown.

Harrison has lots of money. He LIKES giving it to Roger Goodell...(and hopefully, the Steelers compensate him for every fine)

I agree 100% with all above

 

[tboo]

I miss the days of Chuck Cecil

 

[MotF Bane]

It's hilarious that some of you think that Suh is dirtier than guys like James Harrison or Dunta Robinson with the crap they pull.

Meriweather isn't as bad, but his name can join consideration.

 

[HendrixFan]

Hell, at this rate, the NFL is going have to change their name to the NFFL...which will stand for the National Flag Football League, where they play non-contact flag football, and any actual touching of an opposing player will result in the offending player getting sent to the corner for a time-out and a stern talking-to.

Defensive players throughout the league don't tackle anymore, they hit. I just watched the Harrison/McCoy play for the first time a second ago, and he wasn't trying to tackle the player.

The NFL is quite literally killing players these days. With all the steroid use, HGH, and the like; players are too overgrown and powerful for their own good. You mix that with the trend towards passing which leaves offensive players exposed in a way running backs aren't and you have a combustible mix. The icing on the cake is the high rate in which defensive players are out trying to deliver a knockout hit instead of a form tackle.

If the NFL cared even a little bit about the long term health of its players, a defender would get ejected for a hit for the first offense. If they aren't coming in with their shoulder/chest and trying to wrap up they should be gone. Second offense would be multiple games suspended. And so on.

The NFL could require the concussion resistant helmets too, but they don't. It seems they are inching towards progress with the rule changes but it isn't enough IMO.

 

[SP33Demon]

The Ivy League knows what's up, from this summer:

Today, the Ivy League issued a release that stated, after extensive research, steps will be taken to try to limit concussions and sub-concussive injuries among the conference’s football players. Part of the release reads:

The recommendations, to take effect this coming season, include limits to the number of full-pad/contact practices that can take place throughout the football year. Also, there will be further emphasis on educating student-athletes on proper tackling technique, the signs and symptoms of concussion, and the potential short- and long-term ramifications of repetitive brain trauma. In addition, there will be a more stringent post-game League review of helmet-to-helmet and targeted hits.

http://penngazettesports.com/2011/07/20/ivy-league-acts-on-growing-football-concussion-problem/

I bet Harrison already has extensive CTE and we'll be reading about him in the paper in the not so distant future.

Hell, you don't even need to have a concussion to get CTE. From Lew Carpenter's death yesterday (where he never even had a concussion):

"Concussions aren't necessary for CTE to exist," said Dr. Robert Cantu, a Boston University researcher working on the project in conjunction with the Veterans Administration Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. "Even if he didn't have any concussions, the amount of subconcussive trauma that he had -- he probably had between 1,000 and 1,500 subconcussive blows a year, just from practice and play in games."
...
"Brains that we really desperately need to study are the ones that we're not getting," Cantu said. "Those are the ones of people that have played in a collision sport ... and went on to live a normal life. In other words, were not symptomatic."
...
"We didn't even know anything about CTE until my dad passed away," Carpenter's daughter, Lisa Prewitt, told the AP. "Knowing that he did have CTE, a lot of those things started to make sense."

Prewitt said her father would ask five times in the car to the doctor where they were going. "Then he arrived at the doctor's office and they started talking about football and he remembered every detail," she said.

"Looking back, if anybody along the line would have known that there was something so significant and he had it, there could have been a whole different approach to his care."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7332016/evidence-cte-found-lew-carpenter-brain