Roger Goodell might ban James Harrison (1 Viewer)

[Godsbrother]

Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison is so far beyond everyone else in the NFL in terms of this kind of behavior that he's now far beyond everyone else in terms of discipline, too. Just because you keep comparing Harrison to Ray Lewis, it doesn't mean it's actually a valid comparison.

No question that Harrison has a history but this is first infraction this season so he has been trying I chose Lewis as a comparison because he also is a multiple offender -- it could have been anyone on the "leagues dirtiest player" lists that we see every year. My point is the league is entering a new era where players now face suspension for infractions that occur during a play and that past transgressions are considered in this decision. Obviously this suspension is meant to send a message to Harrison and the rest of the league. If this is the path we're going down so be it -- as long as the NFL applies the rules consistently.

 

[Popinski]

Strong response by Harrison on twitter

 

[Godsbrother]

Strong response by Harrison on twitter

oh boy....

 

[GregR]

For anyone who missed it, it's official. 1 game suspension.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7348112/pittsburgh-steelers-james-harrison-banned-1-game-hit-cleveland-browns-colt-mccoy

 

[roadkill1292]

But if the league is going to suspend players that aren't getting the message then I am wondering why they haven't suspended Ray Lewis? Lewis was fined earlier this season for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Hines Ward. In 2010 Lewis was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Austin Collie and in 2009 was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Chad Ochocinco. Apparently James Harrison isn't the only player that isn't getting the message.

I really dislike the suspension of players for past transgressions. In my opinion each punishment should be considered on its own. However if you ARE going to consider infractions from previous seasons then it should be done for all players.

If James Harrison is suspended then Ray Lewis should be too.

Probably because Ray Lewis is smart enough to not publicly admit that he is doing it on purpose, which Harrison has done repeatedly. Then here, he tries to misquote the rules to make himself seem innocent or, at least, ignorant.

Ray Lewis quote:“A linebacker's job is to knock out running backs, to knock out receivers, to chase the football...”

I think you are not seeing what most non-Steelers fans are seeing. That Harrison continues to make intentional helmet-to-helmet hits on totally defenseless players and shows no willingness to modify his behavior.Here's the quote that Ray Lewis said earlier this season after being fined for the hit on ward:

"I heard from the league, and they fined me whatever they were going to fine me, but I'll definitely call in [an appeal]," Lewis said Wednesday. "I think the thing is, you definitely respect them trying to protect players' safety, but at the same time, it won't change the way I play in this league, no matter what the fine is. You just can't stop playing defense the way this defense has always played.

"If the receiver has the ball, it's your job to disengage him from the ball. You never want to hurt anybody. I've been in this business too long, and the last thing you want to do is hurt anyone. But I just think that once you start getting into these fines — and I don't even know how they come up with these numbers — just get done with it and whatever it is. I'll talk to the league and move on from there."

How about Ryan Clark? Should he be suspended too as a multiple offender?

He was fined $40,000 after he made helmet-to-helmet contact with Ravens tight end Ed Dickson and was fined the previous week for a hit on the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski.

"So it's going to turn into if you're going to fine me $40,000, I might as well put him to sleep for real or I might as well blow his knee out," Clark said.

There are different degrees of fouls, and Harrison is clearly over the line.

A player can say whatever they want but if they keep on doing it, as Harrison, Clark AND Lewis are guilty of, then it should not matter. If the league is going to suspend multiple offenders then they should all be facing suspension, don't you think?

No, I don't think that at all, and I don't think most reasonable people do, either. I'll be interested to hear what the NFL says, but I don't think they have a plan to suspend multiple offenders. I think they have a plan to improve player safety by limiting headshots as much as possible, that most players have begun to alter their style of play to conform to that plan, and that they will take necessary steps to discipline players that won't conform.

Okay so Ray Lewis can be fined for helmet-to-helmet hits for three years running and not face suspension because he says he didn't try to hurt him? Earlier this season Lewis clearly lead with his helmet and knocked out Hines Ward. Clearly he was not conforming to the plan...

"We've all wanted to shoot Darryl at some time."

 

[slayer666]

Harrison is so far beyond everyone else in the NFL in terms of this kind of behavior that he's now far beyond everyone else in terms of discipline, too. Just because you keep comparing Harrison to Ray Lewis, it doesn't mean it's actually a valid comparison.

I'd like to see James Harrison jack up Goodell. #### Goodell, he's a skirt-wearing #####.

 

[Dancing Bear]

I for one think his suspension is a TRAVESTY on so many levels.

1) McCoy committed to being a runner. Harrison did not hit a QB in the pocket. He hit a QB who was actively running like he was a RB, and Harrison should be allowed to treat him as a RB.

2) This ridiculous rule of treating the QB like a ballerina is not enforced uniformly from game-to-game or even within games. Aaron Rodgers got hit helmet-to-helmet so hard his helmet came 1/2 off. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension. Big Ben gets hit high and low this past game ... his season is nearly ended. No penalty, no fine, no suspension ... Even the penalty called against Fletcher [brady] was ridiculous. Brady waited until the last instance to dive and Fletcher was caught in mid-air. Last year Big Ben gets hit in the face so hard his nose gets broken. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension.

3) If you are going to create such a subjective rule then the means should be put into place to insure that it can be enforced uniformly by the zebras to all QB's in all games. Meaning for instance that the instant replay should be extended to include this sort of penalty.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

I for one think his suspension is a TRAVESTY on so many levels.1) McCoy committed to being a runner. Harrison did not hit a QB in the pocket. He hit a QB who was actively running like he was a RB, and Harrison should be allowed to treat him as a RB.2) This ridiculous rule of treating the QB like a ballerina is not enforced uniformly from game-to-game or even within games. Aaron Rodgers got hit helmet-to-helmet so hard his helmet came 1/2 off. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension. Big Ben gets hit high and low this past game ... his season is nearly ended. No penalty, no fine, no suspension ... Even the penalty called against Fletcher [brady] was ridiculous. Brady waited until the last instance to dive and Fletcher was caught in mid-air. Last year Big Ben gets hit in the face so hard his nose gets broken. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension.3) If you are going to create such a subjective rule then the means should be put into place to insure that it can be enforced uniformly by the zebras to all QB's in all games. Meaning for instance that the instant replay should be extended to include this sort of penalty.

"Of course it was a penalty," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday after the suspension was announced. "We have to be accountable for that; he has to be accountable for that."

 

[jonessed]

Seems like when you come out and say you aren't going to change your style after you get fined you are painting a giant target on your chest to get a suspension. While other players have had multiple incidents I can't think of any other player that has so publicly thumbed their noses at the rules and what the league is trying to do with regard to safety.

We are at the point where the Steelers organization is going to have to start taking responsibility for their player or he will get banned.

 

[Godsbrother]

Seems like when you come out and say you aren't going to change your style after you get fined then you are painting a giant target on your chest to get a suspension. While other players have had multiple incidents I can't think of any other player that has so publicly thumbed their noses at the rules and what the league is trying to do with regard to safety. We are at the point where the Steelers organization is going to have to start taking responsibility for their player or he will get banned.

I don't disagree with this. At some point Harrison is either going to have to comply with the rules or he is a liability to the team. According to Tomlin, Harrison has been trying to modify his game to comply with the rules but he is going to have to try harder or he'll be gone. With Jason Worilds coming on it may come sooner than expected.

 

[bryhamm]

I for one think his suspension is a TRAVESTY on so many levels.1) McCoy committed to being a runner. Harrison did not hit a QB in the pocket. He hit a QB who was actively running like he was a RB, and Harrison should be allowed to treat him as a RB.2) This ridiculous rule of treating the QB like a ballerina is not enforced uniformly from game-to-game or even within games. Aaron Rodgers got hit helmet-to-helmet so hard his helmet came 1/2 off. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension. Big Ben gets hit high and low this past game ... his season is nearly ended. No penalty, no fine, no suspension ... Even the penalty called against Fletcher [brady] was ridiculous. Brady waited until the last instance to dive and Fletcher was caught in mid-air. Last year Big Ben gets hit in the face so hard his nose gets broken. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension.3) If you are going to create such a subjective rule then the means should be put into place to insure that it can be enforced uniformly by the zebras to all QB's in all games. Meaning for instance that the instant replay should be extended to include this sort of penalty.

None of this has anything to do with it being a QB. You cannot have a helmet-to-helmet hit to ANYONE. Harrison did and got penalized.

 

[cvnpoka]

I for one think his suspension is a TRAVESTY on so many levels.1) McCoy committed to being a runner. Harrison did not hit a QB in the pocket. He hit a QB who was actively running like he was a RB, and Harrison should be allowed to treat him as a RB.2) This ridiculous rule of treating the QB like a ballerina is not enforced uniformly from game-to-game or even within games. Aaron Rodgers got hit helmet-to-helmet so hard his helmet came 1/2 off. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension. Big Ben gets hit high and low this past game ... his season is nearly ended. No penalty, no fine, no suspension ... Even the penalty called against Fletcher [brady] was ridiculous. Brady waited until the last instance to dive and Fletcher was caught in mid-air. Last year Big Ben gets hit in the face so hard his nose gets broken. No penalty, no punishment, no fine, no suspension.3) If you are going to create such a subjective rule then the means should be put into place to insure that it can be enforced uniformly by the zebras to all QB's in all games. Meaning for instance that the instant replay should be extended to include this sort of penalty.

man you apologists still dont get it. has nothing to do with being a runner or defenseless or any of that. it was a textbook spear.

A tackler using his helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent.Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily.

its been a penalty for like 20 yrs now.

 

[treat88]

It gets old listening to people who don't know the rules continually spout those same incorrect rules.

If McCoy had been deemed a runner that is a legal hit, not according to me, according to the rule book, precedent, Jason LaCanfora, and Ray Anderson.

2011 NFL Rule Book pg. 73 Unnecessary Roughness

Note: This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless

player, as defined in Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9.

Just below the section cvnpoka quoted above, but conveniently left out.The ruling was based on McCoy being defenseless, which BTW is a correct call, and that is the only reason it was a penalty or a fineable offense.

 

[thayman]

It gets old listening to people who don't know the rules continually spout those same incorrect rules.

If McCoy had been deemed a runner that is a legal hit, not according to me, according to the rule book, precedent, Jason LaCanfora, and Ray Anderson.

2011 NFL Rule Book pg. 73 Unnecessary Roughness

Note: This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless

player, as defined in Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9.

Just below the section cvnpoka quoted above, but conveniently left out.The ruling was based on McCoy being defenseless, which BTW is a correct call, and that is the only reason it was a penalty or a fineable offense.

If you drop your helmet like Harrison did on a QB at any time the odds are very high you will get a flag.

 

[AngryPatriot]

Should have been 2 games but one is good. Dirty player... that doesn't get it. By the sound of it, this won't be the last time.

 

[Godsbrother]

Does anyone know how the appeals process works? I seem to remember that Cedric Benson and possibly others that were able to play during the appeals process. From the sound of it Harrison is currently prohibited from practicing and from team facilities even though he has (or is planning) to appeal.

Just curious how the NFL handles it...

 

[renesauz]

It gets old listening to people who don't know the rules continually spout those same incorrect rules.

If McCoy had been deemed a runner that is a legal hit, not according to me, according to the rule book, precedent, Jason LaCanfora, and Ray Anderson.

2011 NFL Rule Book pg. 73 Unnecessary Roughness

Note: This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless

player, as defined in Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9.

Just below the section cvnpoka quoted above, but conveniently left out.The ruling was based on McCoy being defenseless, which BTW is a correct call, and that is the only reason it was a penalty or a fineable offense.

the spearing rule DOES apply to runners...the blow to the head of a defenseless player doesn't. The ambiguity is to cover RB's running head first through a tiny hole leading with their own noggins, not guys standing upright in open space. Expect to see more clarification, but the point is ver, VERY SIMPLE....YOU DON'T HIT GUYS IN THE HEAD IF YOU CAN EASILY AVOID IT.....PERIOD. Most people pretty much get this...apparently Harrison and a few fans still don't. He will and you will....eventually.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I heard an interview with a retired Bucs NFL D lineman yesterday, and he seemed to defend Harrison. I thought he had some good points. I will paraphrase the devils advocate argument:

• Defensive players don’t have 2 or 3 seconds to make a judgment of whether to pull up or hit, and much less can predict the incidence of contact based on the dynamics of each players body movement. They have milliseconds to make that decision. It’s not fair to impose hefty fines on players for hits that require that little margin for error.

• Harrison has a history in the league for these type of blows, and has been fined 5 or 6 times now. Yet if you go over the last 2 years, he’s recorded 100+ tackles in each year, but only 5 out of 200 tackles are the personal foul type. That’s still a low number in that context.

• The league is penalizing Harrison based on a history of his transgressions, and not each individual act. He’s got the deck stacked against him as a “bad boy” and they want to make an example of him.

Now having heard the counter-arguement, I still think it’s peculiar that this seems to be only a repeated problem for Harrison and not anyone else in the league. Also, I think Harrison brings a lot of this on himself with his comments that seem to defy his punishment. He’s not doing himself any favors going forward by not at least acknowledging his acts and admitting he can’t keep punishing people with impunity. I respect his commitment to playing hard, but he’s causing concussions outside the whistles. If he does that between the whistles, then fair game and all’s good.

But he doesn’t have the right to level the QB helmet to helmet after the QB fully releases the ball. The rules are clear about that. Hitting McCoy like he did was not hard play, but stupid play. And if he refuses to change his ways, well then Harrison is just a dummy.

I voted that Harrison does deserve the suspension. I think the hit was late, and he could have taken some of the muster off instead of following through. He could have also pulled up and relaxed his shoulders and his helmet would not have hit McCoy’s helmet. This was all avoidable, and the punishment fits the crime. I don’t think that going forward, Harrison should be judged on the “body of his work”; Rather, each infraction should be weighted separately. I think the Commish Goodell was fair in his judgment.

 

[The_Man]

Does anyone know how the appeals process works? I seem to remember that Cedric Benson and possibly others that were able to play during the appeals process. From the sound of it Harrison is currently prohibited from practicing and from team facilities even though he has (or is planning) to appeal.Just curious how the NFL handles it...

From today's Pittsburgh Post Gazetteending his appeal, Harrison will not play in Monday night's game in San Francisco."We will ask for an expedited hearing because we're dealing with a suspension," Parise said.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who puclicly defended safety Ryan Clark last month when he was fined $40,000 for an illegal hit by the league, did not do that with Harrison during his weekly news conference today."He hit him, he hit him illegally, he has to suffer the consequences," Tomlin said."We're disappointed," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of Harrison's suspension. "We're disappointed for James because we know how hard he's worked to play within the rules."But "he has to be accountable for that so we accept the judgment rendered by the league office."Tomlin continued: "He can't participate in any football activities with us this week. He'll be allowed in the building next Tuesday.

 

[jackdubl]

C'mon, even Harrison's defenders in this thread can't be the least bit surprised he's the first to receive this kind of suspension.

 

[Godsbrother]

Does anyone know how the appeals process works? I seem to remember that Cedric Benson and possibly others that were able to play during the appeals process. From the sound of it Harrison is currently prohibited from practicing and from team facilities even though he has (or is planning) to appeal.Just curious how the NFL handles it...

From today's Pittsburgh Post Gazetteending his appeal, Harrison will not play in Monday night's game in San Francisco."We will ask for an expedited hearing because we're dealing with a suspension," Parise said.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who puclicly defended safety Ryan Clark last month when he was fined $40,000 for an illegal hit by the league, did not do that with Harrison during his weekly news conference today."He hit him, he hit him illegally, he has to suffer the consequences," Tomlin said."We're disappointed," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of Harrison's suspension. "We're disappointed for James because we know how hard he's worked to play within the rules."But "he has to be accountable for that so we accept the judgment rendered by the league office."Tomlin continued: "He can't participate in any football activities with us this week. He'll be allowed in the building next Tuesday.

Yes I listened to the Tomlin press conference. In it Tomlin said that he had no idea how the appeals process worked and that they (the Steelers) are proceeding without him.What I would like to know is what happens when a player files an appeal? Apparently the league office makes a decision on whether or not the player is eligible to play/practice while the punishment is being appealed.I know in the case of Cedric Benson (and the Vikings' Williams brothers and possibly others) a stay in the suspension was granted until the NFL was able to hear the appeal. I was just curious what they do in the case of a player like James Harrison who is facing a one-game suspension. I would assume that they would expedite the review because there isn't much point in an appeal if the punishment will already be served by the time they get to it.

 

[CrossEyed]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

 

[Godsbrother]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not. Ray Lewis did take a helmet-to-helmet shot on Hines Ward earlier this season that knocked him out of the game. I don't remember any Steelers fan calling for suspension then.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension. QBs like Roethlisberger & Vick get abused regularly...

 

[CrossEyed]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

 

[Godsbrother]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

 

[CrossEyed]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

 

[roadkill1292]

I saw the derisive remarks about rugby style tackling earlier in this thread but I've observed that officials are less likely to call a penalty on a high hit if a defensive player attempts to extend his arms and wrap up the ball carrier. That almost appears to be a lost art these days. I realize that coaches call for ball carriers to be punished but sometimes a sure tackle is better than a highlight hit attempt that either fails to bring the ball carrier down or misses altogether.

 

[Godsbrother]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

Not defending Harrison. You were the one that brought up a scenario of Steelers fans calling for more than a 1 game suspension if Ray Lewis had done the same thing to a Steeler. So I brought up the helmet-to-helmet hit that Lewis delivered to Hines Ward earlier this season (Lewi's third offense in as many years) and said that I did not recall anyone calling for a suspension. You respond by lecturing me on not believing everything I read on the internet or hear on the radio. Look, I don't like seeing anyone getting hurt (even Ray Lewis) but there is a certain amount of risk these players take when they step on the field or ice. These are world class athletes going at full speed and sometimes violent collisions are going to take place. In the case of Sydney Crosby his latest concussion was likely a result of a collision with his own teammate although no one is even clear if that was the hit that did it or not.

 

[The Hank]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.Its true as well, there has been no inkling that Ray Lewis will receive a suspension for his next hit(s), whereas Goodell was waiting for JH to slip up and then hammer him (which he may/may not have deserved).

He never tried to argue the legality of the hit (GB openly acknowledges it was an illegal hit) only comparing the cumulative illegal hits between 2 players with comparable history in a certain time frame. You can go back and check all of his posts again. I'll wait

Do me a favor CE, next time why dont you try reading the whole thread more in depth before spouting off against a fellow Steelers fan for what he didn't say by putting words in his mouth. Not just what you want to post about.

 

[Sabertooth]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

 

[The Hank]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

Choice is putting it lightly. He flat out disrespected him.Definitely didnt score him any brownie points in the NFL Front Office.

 

[GregR]

...

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.

...

Which was an incorrect statement (or at least assumption) by GB. GB is excluding everything but helmet to helmet hits. The NFL makes no such exclusion. Their goal is to cut down injuries, so are holding players accountable for all of their on field finable offenses. Not just helmet to helmet.

This was Harrison's 7th such infraction from 2009 to present. I haven't seen an exact count for Lewis from the media, but I believe he's at 4, including 3 helmet to helmet and 1 kick. (Edit for clarification: I believe Lewis received 3 fines, but one of the fines was for both a helmet to helmet and a kick in the same game, so call it four infractions.)

 

[The_Man]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.Its true as well, there has been no inkling that Ray Lewis will receive a suspension for his next hit(s), whereas Goodell was waiting for JH to slip up and then hammer him (which he may/may not have deserved).

He never tried to argue the legality of the hit (GB openly acknowledges it was an illegal hit) only comparing the cumulative illegal hits between 2 players with comparable history in a certain time frame. You can go back and check all of his posts again. I'll wait

Do me a favor CE, next time why dont you try reading the whole thread more in depth before spouting off against a fellow Steelers fan for what he didn't say by putting words in his mouth. Not just what you want to post about.

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.

Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

 

[Sabertooth]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

Choice is putting it lightly. He flat out disrespected him.Definitely didnt score him any brownie points in the NFL Front Office.

Well, you mess with the bull, sometimes you get the horns. Harrison would seem to be a guy that would understand that. He probably does.

 

[The Hank]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

Choice is putting it lightly. He flat out disrespected him.Definitely didnt score him any brownie points in the NFL Front Office.

Well, you mess with the bull, sometimes you get the horns. Harrison would seem to be a guy that would understand that. He probably does.

I think he understands it but just doesnt care!

 

[Sabertooth]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

Choice is putting it lightly. He flat out disrespected him.Definitely didnt score him any brownie points in the NFL Front Office.

Well, you mess with the bull, sometimes you get the horns. Harrison would seem to be a guy that would understand that. He probably does.

I think he understands it but just doesnt care!

I hope he doesn't. Live by the sword and die by the sword. I hope he doesn't come out and complain though. That would be weak.

 

[The Hank]

Didn't Harrison have some choice magazine comments for Goodell last summer?

Choice is putting it lightly. He flat out disrespected him.Definitely didnt score him any brownie points in the NFL Front Office.

Well, you mess with the bull, sometimes you get the horns. Harrison would seem to be a guy that would understand that. He probably does.

I think he understands it but just doesnt care!

I hope he doesn't. Live by the sword and die by the sword. I hope he doesn't come out and complain though. That would be weak.

I think he said something to the effect of (via twitter) that he is going to appeal the suspension and get ready for his next game.I think his appeal is going on as we speak.

 

[Godsbrother]

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

Just want to reiterate that I was responding to a hypothetical situation of Steelers fans calling for a 2+ game suspension had Ray Lewis delivered the same kind of a blow to a Steeler. I just pointed out that this situation did happen earlier this year and while Steelers fans were plenty pissed, most were upset because the official didn't throw a flag. I don't recall anyone calling for a suspension.I can guarantee you that they will the next time though...

 

[Sabertooth]

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

Just want to reiterate that I was responding to a hypothetical situation of Steelers fans calling for a 2+ game suspension had Ray Lewis delivered the same kind of a blow to a Steeler. I just pointed out that this situation did happen earlier this year and while Steelers fans were plenty pissed, most were upset because the official didn't throw a flag. I don't recall anyone calling for a suspension.I can guarantee you that they will the next time though...

Harrison is a very naughty player. Do you acknowledge that?

 

[Godsbrother]

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

Just want to reiterate that I was responding to a hypothetical situation of Steelers fans calling for a 2+ game suspension had Ray Lewis delivered the same kind of a blow to a Steeler. I just pointed out that this situation did happen earlier this year and while Steelers fans were plenty pissed, most were upset because the official didn't throw a flag. I don't recall anyone calling for a suspension.I can guarantee you that they will the next time though...

Harrison is a very naughty player. Do you acknowledge that?

He is just misunderstood. And stupid as a rock.

 

[Sabertooth]

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

Just want to reiterate that I was responding to a hypothetical situation of Steelers fans calling for a 2+ game suspension had Ray Lewis delivered the same kind of a blow to a Steeler. I just pointed out that this situation did happen earlier this year and while Steelers fans were plenty pissed, most were upset because the official didn't throw a flag. I don't recall anyone calling for a suspension.I can guarantee you that they will the next time though...

Harrison is a very naughty player. Do you acknowledge that?

He is just misunderstood. And stupid as a rock.

He is not a person I'd be comfortable mouthing off to in person.

 

[jonessed]

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

Just want to reiterate that I was responding to a hypothetical situation of Steelers fans calling for a 2+ game suspension had Ray Lewis delivered the same kind of a blow to a Steeler. I just pointed out that this situation did happen earlier this year and while Steelers fans were plenty pissed, most were upset because the official didn't throw a flag. I don't recall anyone calling for a suspension.I can guarantee you that they will the next time though...

Harrison is a very naughty player. Do you acknowledge that?

He is just misunderstood. And stupid as a rock.

He is not a person I'd be comfortable mouthing off to in person.

You must be a lot better off financially than most people I know. Someone that dumb with that much money is a prime target for provoking into a fight. I imagine that's why they have bodyguards or well paid "friends" around them so much when they go out.

 

[The Hank]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.Its true as well, there has been no inkling that Ray Lewis will receive a suspension for his next hit(s), whereas Goodell was waiting for JH to slip up and then hammer him (which he may/may not have deserved).

He never tried to argue the legality of the hit (GB openly acknowledges it was an illegal hit) only comparing the cumulative illegal hits between 2 players with comparable history in a certain time frame. You can go back and check all of his posts again. I'll wait

Do me a favor CE, next time why dont you try reading the whole thread more in depth before spouting off against a fellow Steelers fan for what he didn't say by putting words in his mouth. Not just what you want to post about.

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.

Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

And that makes it BETTER??Since the argument is helmet to helmet hits lets compare.

Ray Lewis completely annihilated Ward (25K),

. There is another fine out there that I cannot locate for the life of me.Rough count 4 helmet to helmet *FINED hits to JH and 3 to Ray Lewis, but I'm sure the next helmet-to-helmet hit that Ray Ray does will not end up in a suspension. Also 6 Fines for JH and 4 for Ray Ray. I doubt that if Ray gets 2-3 more fines that he will be suspended either.

Harrison is a dirty player but there is other repeat defenders, such as Lewis, that are out there that need to be considered for suspension soon but wont be because of a double standard that exists in the NFL; there is no method to Goodell's madness and guidelines need to be defined as to what merits fines/suspensions/etc..

THAT'S what GB and I are trying to say...

 

[roadkill1292]

Ray Lewis is a Christian and a saint.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.Its true as well, there has been no inkling that Ray Lewis will receive a suspension for his next hit(s), whereas Goodell was waiting for JH to slip up and then hammer him (which he may/may not have deserved).

He never tried to argue the legality of the hit (GB openly acknowledges it was an illegal hit) only comparing the cumulative illegal hits between 2 players with comparable history in a certain time frame. You can go back and check all of his posts again. I'll wait

Do me a favor CE, next time why dont you try reading the whole thread more in depth before spouting off against a fellow Steelers fan for what he didn't say by putting words in his mouth. Not just what you want to post about.

This is completely untrue. Lewis has one fine in each of the last three seasons. One was only $5,000. None was on a QB. Harrison's hit on McCoy was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. In addition to the fines he has received for hits on quarterbacks, he also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness on other hits during that time period. He was fined $125,000 alone in 2010 for taking what were considered illegal or unnecessary shots.

Harrison earned this suspension because he is so far beyond any other player in the NFL (including teammate Ryan Clark who was fined in consecutive weeks this season but was never the subject of suspension talk) in terms of dealing out these kinds of illegal hits.

And that makes it BETTER??Since the argument is helmet to helmet hits lets compare.

Ray Lewis completely annihilated Ward (25K),

Good job son..Gee thanks Dad..

 

[The_Man]

and even though he wasnt fined, check out how he launches his head first at a defenseless receiver in Dustin Keller

Did you even look at your own clip?Please watch this video. Please! And pause it at the 25-second mark. It is a textbook example of a legal hit, with Lewis's shoulder striking Keller in the lower chest. He then goes on to wrap up Keller's legs with his arms. It didn't draw a fine, or a flag, because it is a form tackle. If Harrison would hit players like this, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

[Godsbrother]

Ray Lewis is a Christian and a saint.

James Harrison helps old ladies cross the street. Of course when get her to the other side he head butts her and knocks her babushka off.

 

[roadkill1292]

Ray Lewis is a Christian and a saint.

James Harrison helps old ladies cross the street. Of course when get her to the other side he head butts her and knocks her babushka off.

 

[CrossEyed]

If the hit was Ray Lewis on Ben, the same people who are defending Harrison would be screaming that one game isn't enough.

Probably, although considering Lewis would be the first player in three decades to be suspended for an illegal hit maybe not.Big Ben did get punched in the face well after the play by Richard Seymour last season and there was no talk of suspension.

You know as well as I do that this is a cumulative thing with Harrison, not simply a suspension because of a single illegal hit.And it's not the first one in 3 decades.

In 2008, Eric Smith of New York Jets got a one-game penalty for a hit on Arizona's Anquan Boldin. In 2002, Rodney Harrison of the San Diego Chargers got one game for a hit on Jerry Rice of Oakland.

Just because you read something on the internet or hear it on sports radio doesn't make it true.

I am not going over this again. Ray Lewis has also had multiple infractions.Gerry Dulac said on Stan Savran's show this was the first such suspension since 1986 so I assumed it was true.

Sorry that I offended you...

I'm not offended. I'm just tired of listening to Steeler fans defend the indefensible. Harrison's track record shows that the guy hits high way too often. With all that we are starting to learn about concussions, the league needs to do whatever they need to do to protect these guys. This is not a video game, and these are not robots running around for our entertainment pleasure. They are young men who have a lot of years of life ahead of them. How many Sidney Crosby type situations would you like us to have before the NFL cracks down on this stuff?

GB was merely stating that Ray Lewis/James Harrison received the same amount of illegal hits in the same time frame, yet JH was the only person who has been suspended thus far and wants to know why league isn't holding everyone to the same standard.Its true as well, there has been no inkling that Ray Lewis will receive a suspension for his next hit(s), whereas Goodell was waiting for JH to slip up and then hammer him (which he may/may not have deserved).

He never tried to argue the legality of the hit (GB openly acknowledges it was an illegal hit) only comparing the cumulative illegal hits between 2 players with comparable history in a certain time frame. You can go back and check all of his posts again. I'll wait

Do me a favor CE, next time why dont you try reading the whole thread more in depth before spouting off against a fellow Steelers fan for what he didn't say by putting words in his mouth. Not just what you want to post about.

I didn't even address GB with my original post, so I'm not sure how anyone could take it as me putting words in his mouth. The two times I've referred to "Steeler fans" I was speaking in general, not about anyone specific.