On Violence . . .

Ok - so this post has been days in coming . . .you'll learn good Extra Point readers that I have a job so getting to the posts isn't really ever breaking news. But I'm pretty sure you know I have no press credentials so I probably won't ever have breaking news - just something to say about recent news.

In any event - some pretty news worthy things went down in football last weekend. Here are the events as I see them.
1. There was a terrible tragedy in New Jersey and an RU football player was forever changed by an injury which rendered him paralyzed at the neck down.
2. The NFL had three games in which there were major hard hits (well 3 games as of Monday - apparently a few more by Friday)

Here's how I see it . . .had that horrible tragedy NOT happened on Saturday, the sensitivity Sunday would not have been as heightened, but always in the light of such a sad terrible tragedy are we ever more aware and vigilant. Remember a few years ago when there was that fire in an over crowded Rhode Island nightclub? Well about two weeks later, I was out at some bars in a town in NJ that was never ever ever more STRICT on the headcount in their bar. Anyway - the terrible events of Saturday created a more pointed lens Sunday.

Regardless of why - the lens was sharp and the punishments were handed out by the NFL joyfully. I am of three thoughts here...

1. I understand the people that say things like "well - you know what you were signing up for. You're in the NFL. You get hit hard. You might get a concussion, that's just the name of the game". ok. I see that point. But immediately I think that driving a car is inherently dangerous and you would NEVER tell the victim of a deadly accident that 'they knew what they were signing up for'. As a society we adopt new regulations to use car seats, wear seat belts, build cars with airbags because we DON'T want to die on the highway. It still might happen but we never stop striving to stop it. So to say that these players 'get what they deserve' is just plain heartless. RIGHT as soon as I say that I think about the civilian contractors serving in war areas . . .they get massive salaries, often at no tax because they are willing to sacrifice and work in these dangerous areas. It's called hazard pay. If THEY get shot in a war zone, you kind of DO say 'you knew what you were signing up for'. Like a contractor in a warzone, these professional athletes make MILES more money then most of us could ever dream. This IS what they signed up for. Their skill will make them rich and famous. Big reward comes with big risk.

2. In more than one of these cases - there was NO penalty thrown in the game or even on further review considered to have been an illegal hit. YET they are considered in retrospect are 'flagrant'. So - if they WERE legal - then WHY IS THERE A FINE? If they were illegal and weren't called - then WHY DO THE REFS PAY NO PENALTY!!?? I just dont understand how something that happens in the game which is illegal NOT being called is a price for the player to pay. Or if something that IS legal still being penalized means the rules aren't right. But to START enforcing a rule without notice or agreement in the middle of the season all of a sudden - it's like finding out half way through a 5k race that it's actually a Marathon. you simply cannot change the rules half way through. Fine, NFL - you want stricter rules? FINE but change them officially and fairly and make it well known before the season starts.

3. Sure - sometimes the league steps in and makes a statement when a player has been out of line. They step in with a 5k or 10k fine. Sometimes even a 20k fine. But 50k??? 75k???? Are you KIDDING ME? Wait now I tell myself. For players making many millions of dolalrs a year 50k might sting but it's not detrimental. It's the same amount Dez Bryant had to pay in dinner a few weeks ago. Maybe I'm a bit of a cynic - but it seems to me that the league is putting on a show here. 50-75k is the kind of money that makes Joe Q Citizen stand up and take notice because for most of us it's all or most of our annual salary. Not our friends in the NFL however. If the NFL REALLY wanted to make a change and make players more safe they would take REAL action like force the 'concussion proof' helmets. Shoot - force the players to play with NO helmets! (pretty sure you'd be a lot more careful with your noggin if you had nothing protecting it). My darling husband even suggested implementing a 'fair catch' rule all throughout the game so any receiver could protect themselves. This therefore negates the 'defenseless receiver' BS. Or the NFL could suspend people? Or fine them 1M dollars...bottom line is the NFL put on a show. It won't stop concussions and to at ALL pretend a 50k fine will do anything is crazy.

I'm glad James Harrison got over his big old bruised ego and he goes back to playng his game.
I hope the NFL stops changing the name of the game in mid-stream.
I hope the hard hits don't stop - afterall, what would they put in the Renegade video if they do!!??

oh - one last thought here - I'm bummed the Yanks won't be in the World Series. Here's hoping the Giants get the job done of my Philly fan friends on facebook will be relentless and I can think of nothing more barfy than a Philly fan gloating.