Written by Alexandra McClain
In recent weeks, the NFL has been cracking down on defensive players for making helmet-to-helmet contact with offensive players on tackles. The rule is in place to protect offensive players, but it has put a strain on defenders just trying to play the game.On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed down a $50,000 fine to Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins after Collins “violently and unnecessarily struck a defenseless receiver in the neck and head area with his helmet.”This “defenseless” player was Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams. After the game, Williams made a plea on behalf of Collins, saying, “Commissioner Goodell, don’t fine the guy. It wasn’t that bad of a deal; he shouldn’t get fined. It was a football play: a football player making a football play. No injury, no harm.”With players, offensive players no less, reacting this way to the fines, should the NFL not back off?As someone who has grown up around the game and who has seen friends needlessly injured in the course of a high school game due to the hotheadedness of opposing players, I understand the need to protect the men playing the game. In the NFL, however, these are grown men who make their living playing a game they love. Not a group of hot-tempered teenagers.In last Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, Colts wide receiver Austin Collie was hit by safety Kurt Coleman. Collie was motionless on the field for a solid 10 minutes before he was finally carried off the field on a stretcher.So what’s the problem with this? Fine him. The only problem is that the hit was clean. And the NFL acknowledged as much by not fining Coleman.Collie is expected to be back on the field in a couple of weeks, but he will sit out the week 10 game against Cincinnati. While I do believe players need to be protected, a 15-yard personal foul penalty should be enough of a punishment. As evidenced by Coleman’s clean hit resulting in a concussion and by Williams pleading the commissioner not to fine Collins, it is safe to say football is a rough sport. These are grown men who made the choice to play football as a career. Let them play the game.
