The NFL's desire to address concussions is commendable. I recently finished Steelers great Merril Hoge's autobiography, "Find A Way," and his account of the extreme repercussions he suffered soon after playing through multiple concussions is really frightening.

This is also one thing I've individual expertise with as I was when concussed within a roller hockey game gone horribly awry even though my young goddaughter couldn't get pleasure from a lot of her summer after an unfortunate gymnastics accident. Speaking of which, USA Gymnastics is one of only two sports organizations (soccer becoming the other) that refuses to acknowledge the danger of concussions. Get your act with each other, USAG, no one wants to see a person as cute as Shawn Johnson turn out to be a vegetable.

I applaud Roger Goodell's diligence within this location and hope all sports comply with his lead.

However, using the Steelers playing Monday evening, I had an opportunity to view other NFL action this previous Sunday. The Philadelphia-Indianapolis game, in particular. Eagles guard Max Jean-Gilles left using a concussion, which only proves search-and-destroy form hits are not the only ones which are risky. When your sport revolves about collisions,Wholesale Cartier Jewelry, any play can potentially bring about an unhealthy result.

Which begs the question, if collisions are a fundamental part of football, along with the much more collisions, the a lot more probably a single is to be concussed, how do we limit the quantity of hits a player absorbs over a career? Safer equipment plus a crackdown on reckless hits leap to mind. What doesn't is definitely an 18-game schedule. If Mr. Goodell is serious about player safety, adding two games for the standard season obviously runs counter to that goal.

Let's talk about those reckless hits for a second. James Harrison just lately met with Commissioner Goodell about the exorbitant fines levied against him this season. Harrison looks to be the NFL's designated fall guy, obtaining docked $100,000 so far this season, which includes an unprecedented $75,000 for the clean hit on Cleveland's Mohammad Massaquoi. If issues continue at this rate,Cole Haan Boots, Harrison may well as well be playing for charity.


Meanwhile,Von Miller Jersey, Troy Polamalu received a lot of media interest final week for saying Commissioner Goodell "has an excessive amount of energy." Lost in the headlines was the simple fact he was basically pointing out the inherent fallacy in getting fined by 1 entity then attractive mentioned fine to the very same entity. You do not appeal your parking ticket to the meter maid who wrote it and you don't appeal a speeding ticket for the cop who stopped you. The NFL has a Competitors Committee that oversees rule adjustments, why not possess a Punishment Committee to decide whether or not fines/suspensions are staying handed out relatively?

Which brings me back to the Eagles-Colts game. A actually scary moment occurred when Colts receiver Austin Collie lay motionless on the turf for numerous minutes soon after acquiring sandwiched by a pair of Eagle safeties. Quintin Mikell was flagged for "hitting a defenseless receiver." In reality, the true harm was completed by Kurt Coleman, who flew in in the other direction like a heat-seeking missile. Collie saw Mikell and turtled up, lowering his head. Thus when Coleman came in in the other side,Wholesale Bvlgari Jewelry, he ended up delivering a blow to Collie's helmet as an alternative of his entire body. This was an exact replay from the situation that led to Harrison knocking out Massaquoi.

Commissioner Goodell told Harrison defensive players "are entirely accountable for what occurs when speak to is created with an offensive player." So no matter what Collie did or what Coleman's intentions had been, he ought to be held accountable to get a player getting stretchered out of a game. However, it was announced that Coleman not merely won't be suspended, he's not even getting fined.

How is this fair? The Harrison hit as well as the Collie conditions had been practically identical. The NFL claims Coleman was absolved since yet another player knocked Collie into him. Effectively, in accordance with the NFL's player security handbook not too long ago released for the public along with the in depth illustrations (Could not you receive an individual like Joe Quesada to complete your diagrams?) contained inside of, that doesn't matter. In fact, in the event you look at the picture at the best of page 10, it is precisely what occurred to Collie.

The NFL has stated the guidelines governing hits have not altered, only the penalties. This was Mr. Goodell's first opportunity to place his words into action by suspending someone for a flagrantly violent hit. Instead, he was absolved completely. I'm confident James Harrison, Troy Polamalu as well as other players who've been subjected to enormous fines is going to be curious as to why the crackdown on violent hits only applies to a choose few. Soon after all, fair is fair.

For Steelers news on Twitter,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, comply with @Steelers_Live.

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-- CHRIS VIOLA
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