Collision Sport

The NFL has rejected 2 appeals by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison for a total of $95,000. That is about $140,000. in real money. Hey football fans, football is not a contact sport, it is a COLLISION sport. Not too long ago, the veteran coaches of the 1970's and before taught their players when tackling to put their facemask on the ball. Now the fear exists in the NFL that defensive players leading with a helmet can create a stir and can cause the player to be levied a fine by the NFL hierarchy. Like I said in a previous blog, a hard charging running back can lower his head below pad level while running full speed and drive his helmet into a defensive players helmet and never be levied a fine. Should it not be a 2 way street. We all know that the Concussion issue has come to the fore-front in football circles, and the NFL is attempting to avoid serious injuries especially to the brain. But again I say, football is a high speed COLLISION Sport. These 240 to 260 pound linebackers, like James Harrison, are flying around the field with explosiveness and driving their powerful bodies into receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks. These types of linebackers and Defensive Ends did not exist 50 years ago. As my memory serves me, the Steelers had an offensive lineman who was real good named Gerry" Moon" Mullins who played guard and tackle at about 240 pounds under Coach Chuck Noll in the 1970's. The speed of the game and the size of the players has changed dramatically so I think adjustments need to be made with the equipment especially the outside shell of the helmet. A soft helmet shell would solve numerous problems. Can it be done?