I don't see that having rules and consequences against whacking other players across the bare head with a helmet is necessarily getting "soft".
40 years ago, it probably would have been a penalty, but nothing else. In the 55 years I've watched the NFL, what Garrett did doesn't even crack the top 5 of most violent acts in a game.
I do understand protecting players. If they don't, kids won't be playing the sport as youngins. Then there won't be new blood entering the pro ranks. Billionaires are protecting their investments.
At the same time, it needs to be remembered football is a violent sport. It requires a special man to take the beating of the sport. If too much of the violence is taken away, it will lose its mystique.
IMO, they're turning the game into a mess with all the rules intended to reduce the injury risk. In their zeal to clean it up, they have caused more injuries than they've prevented.
Flags have interfered with the flow of the games. Defensive players have so many don'ts, they don't know what they can and can't do. It's getting so there can't be a big hit without a flag flying.
I do believe what Garrett did was wrong and deserves a fine and suspension. Also the true nature of the sport has to be taken into consideration when handing out punishment to him and the other participants. Emotions run high, tempers flare, and horrible incidents occur.
