PITTSBURGH -- Steelers linebacker James Harrison states his objective matter-of-factly: He's out to hurt any opposing player who roams into his vicinity... The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday that the NFL will take a look at Harrison's hit on Massaquoi. "The first hit [on Cribbs, who was a runner] was legal," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the newspaper. "The second will be reviewed." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5699976 Why Dolphins' news? Well, it is possible they may suspend Harrison for Sunday's game and that could only help our chances. Imo, they do not suspend him for this Sunday, but what do all of you think? With the Desean Jackson hit, Harrison's two hits, and Rodney Harrison's comments on NBC Primetime (he was suspended for one game while with the Patriots) it may occur. James Harrison's comments concerning wanting to hurt people may not help his cause, considering the way Goodell wants to institute patty cake football into the NFL. Again, thoughts?
I’ll believe he gets suspended when it happens. Even then, he’s not the best player on that defense. Troy Polamalu is the guy who makes that defense run. They’re good without him, but dynastic with him.
I agree Polamalu makes that defense elite. Nonetheless, contending with Woodley and Harrison is a handful. I concur, I think he will get suspended...but just in time for our game? I sincerely doubt it, however Goodell seemingly enjoys making statements.
I hate to hope he gets suspended because it sounds like trying to wimp out like we don't stand a chance of beating the big bad Steelers in our own house unless they're missing players but at the same time this stuff has to stop. It really seems like I've seen more of it this year and everyone talks about how these dinky fines aren't stopping well paid players from doing it. Rodney Harrison said that and he should know, he's the one that once bragged about how he'd set up a little slush fund for paying off the fines he received for hits he put on players. It seems like the issue is coming to a boil and the NFL has an opportunity to take a guy that made himSELF a poster boy for this nonsense (talking about how his aim is to hurt people), and make an example out of him. Truthfully Ben Roethlisberger should not be in this game either.
Thats the thing with Pitt, they are kinda dirty, Woodley, Harrison, Clark.....and have been in some questionale plays...they absolutely do not mind monatery fines if it gets their point across.....that being...don't go over the middle on them.... which brings me to another point....I worry that Henne throws one of his pattened floaters to Marshall over the middle leaving him exposed defenseless...... as far suspending Harrsion....I dont think so....he gets 7,500-10,000 fine....IMO...
Any word on the league's stance with regards to the Brandon Meriweather hit on Todd Heap? I thought it was significantly worse than either of Harrison's hits or the hit that led to Jackson's concussion. Meriweather's hit was a blatant cheapshot if I've ever seen one.
He mentioned the following: New England Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather said Monday his helmet-to-helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap on Sunday was not intentional and that the fine -- or suspension -- that could be coming from the NFL won't alter his aggressive approach to the game. "I'm going to be aggressive, point blank..." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5699549
Thanks. I can hardly stand listening to EEI or the Sports Hub at any point during football season, but its especially infuriating in the days following a Patriots victory.
CK, I agree with your sentiments in that I do not want to "wimp" out. However, it is what it is...if it happens I would not be upset as it can only help us. Do I think it happens in time? No. Rodney Harrison stated last night on NBC Primetime that he allocated $50,000 every year to pay for fines. To be completely honest, I hate the fact that football is becoming patty cake (Ex: Brady/QB rule), however the safety of the players is important. I read somewhere this morning that the public craves these big hits and players look to make the highlight hit, which plays into the leading with the head...That is a problem...like many other things in the United States and for that I can see change coming.
I just try and make sure I'm all for the suspension for league reasons and not because I want the Dolphins to have an easier game. Rapelesberger should be out for this game and that's a justice thing, I don't give a god damn about it making this game harder or easier or whatever.
I agree. Like you, it sucks to be in Boston, MA after a Patriots win. Fox25, etc. coupled with Patriots fans...is annoying to say the least.
Did you watch his interview on Sunday on CBS with Bill Cowher? A good friend of mine at school says that her good friend was the "target" in Texas the first time around while she worked part time at the hotel(?). I remember her telling me this when it first came out. That is despicable, with his comments/attitude just making it worse that he can evade punishment. One has to love Rooney and his double standard though.
I didn't see the interview. He seems to be playing the part of the reformed from everything I'm hearing. But he's still a dirt bag. I seriously, seriously, seriously want to see a "She said no!" chant start up in the stadium this Sunday. If I could have one wish, outside of a Dolphins victory, it would be the crowd chanting it so loud that Rapelesberger hears it, and also that the cameras and microphones are forced to pick up on it, and this would hopefully cuz an awkward moment between Gumbel and Dierdorf. I would pay so much money to make that happen.
I got an issue with this. Let's face it. the Game of Football is barbaric. When I played in High School, I played it in a barbaric manner. So did everybody else that gave a crap. Hitting is part of the game, and now we are going to say.."hey, we want you to be barbarians..but not too much...."
I'm gonna have to contact the Dol-Fan Bandits. See if they'll take on this task. I'd consider buying a ticket and driving 4 hours down there to see if I could start a "She said no!" chant myself, but I'm already committed to something this weekend.
........and that is the comment that I think of every time I hear one of the dumb broke bastards asking for more money at old age.
And when you were in high school, I'm sure you were taught that you should always tackle with your head up. No reason anyone should be leading with their head the way a lot of people do.
Even then it would still happen. But my point was that all this "defensless receiver" crap is just funny to me. When I played, that is who EVERYBODY wanted to hit. if you could lay somebody out, you did it. The harder, the better. NOW.... if you can somehow determine that a defender intentionally took a cheap shot...then by all means...suspend them. But there is a danger here of massive overreach by the NFL. But let's face it, the DeSean Jackson hit is the one that has the most people bothered. I am willing to bet...that hit got a bunch of fist pumps, chest beating and "**** yeah's" on the sideline and stands. Now that D-Jackson is hurt bad...oh..."can't have that...'
I could still put somebody out of the game with my "head up". It didn't matter...my face was just as protected as my head. Usually, the worst part of being hit when you're laid out like that is what happens when my weight and his weight combined to slam his body, and head, into the ground following the hit that may or may not have jarred his entire body into pieces to begin with. It's not as simple as "heads up". Defenders have NO FEAR whatsoever when you've locked in on someone and they don't see you coming. You can do max damage to them and zero damage to yourself...that spells disaster if from nothing other than a physics standpoint. Now, having said that, if I were issued a standard 1950s leather helmet with no facemask, NO WAAAAY I'm laying anybody out like that...forearm to the chest at best....I'm not going to get MY head cracked open. When you arm players with better and better protective gear year in and year out, sooner or later the defenders feel invincible and will hit an unsuspecting offesive player with all thier might without fear of personal harm. You can't legislate that away.
I like the idea of the dirty players being suspended as long as the player they hit is out, or longer if that player doesn't miss any time at all for the injury. James Harrison is a POS. I hope the next time he leads with his helmet, his helmet falls off midway through and he gets ****ed. Maybe then, he'll learn. There is no room for a player who could care less about the safety of others in this game. None at all. I don't want guys like that playing in this league. It's not fair to others who play the game the way it's supposed to be played. Actually, that entire Steelers defense is dirty and they have been for years.
Well there you are. So because a bunch of high schoolers liked knocking the snot out of a defenseless WRs, its gotta be fine? Nice logic.
I get what you're saying.... we all love to see a hard hit as long as the guy being hit gets up and is fine. I don't have a problem with defenders laying the wood, but when you lead with your helmet it's another thing. Serious injury could be caused. I'm also not a big fan of throwing cheap shots at defenseless players. I do agree that the NFL is getting too soft.... but in terms of protecting the safety of players I'm rocking with them on this one. I'm not with them on the ABSURD QB protection rules, but the dirty cheap shots must stop. There is no place for a POS like James Harrison in this league. I don't care how good he is. I wouldn't want him on my team and if he was on my team I wouldn't support him.
i hope that if he does play and intentionally tries to injure one of our players that somebody goes after him.
Good one. I'm serious. I laughed. Surely you can admit that sometimes hitting a defenseless WR is just plain dirty and wrong.
Well, theres a way to be aggressive, and hit hard while still having respect for the others out there playing the game. The Harrison shot, was brutal, the Merriweather one was real bad as well. I think they should both be suspended if the NFL really wants to make their point that headhunting like this should not be tolerated.
The only rape committed by big ben will be this sunday. When he rapes your secondary. By the way lawrence timmons is the Steelers best linebacker. Harrison and Woodley are still the best outside lbs in da game
I didn't see the Massoqui hit, but the cribs hit was ridiculous. He ran right through his head with...his head. He lead with his helmet, and crushed him with his head. How is this not a fine and suspension? It was a reckless play, he didn't even raise his arms, he just dipped his head and tried to Mark Coleman anything in his path. Harrison is a dirty player. he tries to come across as "mean", but that was dirty and he's done plenty of dirty crap before. you cant even do what he did in mma.
Nfl stated hit on cribbs was legal the other was not and a flag should have been thrown. He will be fined not suspended.
Dude has serious rage issues. You can't tell me he doesn't seek out to intentionally hurt people: And that's in the Super Bowl with the entire world viewing. I'm 99% sure he'd be a serial killer if he wasn't blessed with NFL talent.