Football head shots

So, James Harrison has been suspended one game for his hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and will miss Monday Night's game with the San Franciso 49ers. An important game, I might add. This is for the whiners and cryers out there. First, yes, perhaps the punishment being meted out by commissioner Roger Goodell is not consistent. You will not get an argument from me there. But, let's look at the bigger picture. I have made this argument for years. I have watched a ton of football in my day and the product has gotten worse, not better. Offensively, records are being set that boggle the mind. Defensively, it seems everyone wants to get on ESPN and SportsCenter. Whatever happened to form tackling? Yes, you know what I'm talking about. Leading and hitting with the shoulder, wrapping your arms around the chest, midsection, or legs, and holding on tight. That type of tackling. I do not see this anynmore. Now, it's launching your body for the "big hit" and the oohs and aahs that follow. Time for coaches to go back to the old school and show these fine professional athletes how it is supposed to be done. Harrison is not the only one that is guilty. It happens all over the league. Everyone wants to get in that one big shot to showcase to the world. In the process, there are fines levied, suspensions, or both. Here's an idea. If all of these defenders learned how to tackle the right way, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Harrison wouldn't be suspended, no one would be getting fined, and we could watch a football game for a change without thinking about the next player getting knocked out. I have no problem with Harrison's suspension. Getting fined is one thing. Having to sit out a game and making your teammates have to work that much harder for a win, a win they desperately need by the way, is quite another. Maybe all of these athletes will think twice before launching themselves again and start tackling the right way. Football 101.

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