DMN Blog: NFL fines Jay Ratliff and Denver's Ryan Clady

[Bob Sacamano]

CrAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIg

 

[links18]

And it is pretty clear that NFL refs should not be expected to determine intention - the rule is what it is. I prefer good old hard hitting ball but I am smart enough to realize that given the advances in strength training etc., defenders are just going to flat out kill QBs if they aren't protected more.

You can say fans are "turned" off by all the fines but that is NOTHING compared to how turned off fans will be seeing inferior QBs playing b/c the #1 guy is out.

Why shouldn't the refs be expected to determine intention? I don't think the rules do much to protect the QBS, the hits keep coming anyway, the only difference is that the flow of the game is interrupted by multiple arbitrary BS roughing penalties per game often keeping drives alive when they should have ended.

 

[AbeBeta]

Why shouldn't the refs be expected to determine intention? I don't think the rules do much to protect the QBS, the hits keep coming anyway, the only difference is that the flow of the game is interrupted by multiple arbitrary BS roughing penalties per game often keeping drives alive when they should have ended.

It is impossible to determine intention unless you are in the player's head. More importantly, intention doesn't get QBs hurt. The actual play does.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think all of these rules that promote player safety are more a product of greed than anything else.I'm not saying that player safety should be ignored,however there is a line between player safety and creating a glorified flag football league.I think the protection of any marquee offensive player is more important to the league than the game itself.Marquee players are the face of the league and have to be protected at any cost is the current mantra it seems.It boils down to how much money players like Brady or Manning make this league and those revenue makers have to be insulated from injury in every way possible.I'm just of the opinion that the game is being undermined by corporate greed moreso than for player safety.

Craig

Corporate greed? Sure.

But also a better product overall for fans.

We can complain about the 1 or 2 plays a game that we think are ticky tack calls but that does far less to impact the product than would an injured QB.

 

[craig71]

And the NFL rule is you can't go helmet to helmet. so if that is what they are teaching in HS and College then they need to realize that is no longer the correct way to tackle a QB.

Just maybe the college and high school ranks have it right and the NFL is wrong.

I think the problem with the NFL is that you have a bunch of pansy corporate executives in charge of things they don't understand.I would like to see some of those pencil necks take a good hard shot.Randy White yesterday had some comments as to what he thought about the current rules.Needless to say I agree with the Manster.

Craig

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I have to agree with Honest Abe here.

Those rules are their to protect the Quarterback because it is directly related to revenue and fan interest.

However, I think they have taken things too far.

 

[AbeBeta]

Just maybe the college and high school ranks have it right and the NFL is wrong.

I think the problem with the NFL is that you have a bunch of pansy corporate executives in charge of things they don't understand.I would like to see some of those pencil necks take a good hard shot.Randy White yesterday had some comments as to what he thought about the current rules.Needless to say I agree with the Manster.

Craig

Well the college and HS ranks aren't raking in the sort of money that the pros are... so the NFL really does have the winning hand here.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Might as well put dresses on QB's now. What a weak fine and a weaker call.

Defenses can't do anything anymore.

Why even put pads and helmets on QB's anymore? Just run em out there with the red shirt and call it done.

 

[AbeBeta]

I have to agree with Honest Abe here.

Those rules are their to protect the Quarterback because it is directly related to revenue and fan interest.

However, I think they have taken things too far.

Too far? Maybe. The problem is that most in the league would hate to see the rules scaled back and then have a big star go down because of it.

 

[links18]

It is impossible to determine intention unless you are in the player's head. More importantly, intention doesn't get QBs hurt. The actual play does.

No, its not impossible, juries do it all the time in differentiating between murder and manslaughter, etc. Its pretty clear to me, a reasonable person I think , that Rat's penalty was not an intentional blow to the head. There was incidental contact as a result of him trying to make a play. The NFL product is getting really bad. And all this BS about back-up QBs, well--develop better back-ups. I seem to remember the Giants winning a SB with their back-up.

 

[craig71]

Corporate greed? Sure.

But also a better product overall for fans.

We can complain about the 1 or 2 plays a game that we think are ticky tack calls but that does far less to impact the product than would an injured QB.

But then again this is a physical game of which injuries are a part of.Nobody wants to see their franchise player go down to injury,but at the same time those injuries create an unknown.How good can our team be without the star quarterback,will our backup be the next Romo/Warner?Injuries are a part of the game,when you try to eliminate the chance of injury you change the game.I don't want to see any player injured,but neither do I want the game itself forsaken for individual players.

Craig

 

[Eldorado]

I gaurentee in 10 years, the NFL quarterbacks won't even need to wear pads because simply "touching" the quarterback is a personal foul. a "sack" only occurs when the pansy *** QB falls on his finely padded ***.

(As you can tell, I'm speaking this from a 4-year varsity defensive-end's point of view, who's been flagged for "roughing the ******.. I mean passer" quite a few times.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That "fans want to see the superstars" theory is exactly what has ruined the NBA for me and tons of other former fans.

If Goodell goes down that path, I may have to look to college for my football.

 

[craig71]

Well the college and HS ranks aren't raking in the sort of money that the pros are... so the NFL really does have the winning hand here.

Not comparing apples to oranges here either,regardless of the rules it is still professional football.

Craig

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Too far? Maybe. The problem is that most in the league would hate to see the rules scaled back and then have a big star go down because of it.

With some of the rules for the Quarterback and Wide Receivers, I think you are taking away alot of the instincts players have.

Football is an extremely violent game and I believe the NFL Front Office needs to look at things from a case by case basis.

Does this protect the Quarterback? Sure, but it doesn't mean they haven't gone a bit too far to do it.

 

[AbeBeta]

That "fans want to see the superstars" theory is exactly what has ruined the NBA for me and tons of other former fans.

If Goodell goes down that path, I may have to look to college for my football.

How did it ruin the NBA?

The NBA is ruined by being deadly boring because of its long season, equally long post season, amazingly thin college talent pool, and expansion that has diluted the product.

 

[AbeBeta]

With some of the rules for the Quarterback and Wide Receivers, I think you are taking away alot of the instincts players have.

Football is an extremely violent game and I believe the NFL Front Office needs to look at things from a case by case basis.

Does this protect the Quarterback? Sure, but it doesn't mean they haven't gone a bit too far to do it.

it is violent ... but the players are getting bigger and bigger, as well as more and more explosive in tackling. given the advances we've made in understanding concussions, etc. it would be irresponsible to not take extra precautions to try to avoid them.

 

[Hook'em#11]

I want to see hard nosed good football. I don't care about Superstars. That is the chance these players take. No one is forcing them to play this game.

The fines are ridiculous and some of these penalties effect the outcome of the game... See Ravens/Pats last week.

It sucks that money has to ruin everything.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

The constant whining and complaining ruined the NBA.

But more than anything, the obvious bias shown to Superstars is what hurts the product.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

And you might as well get used to watching great matchups like Brian Hoyer vs. Jim Sorgi and Charlie Batch vs. Troy Smith

Ok I grant you that. But you think fans of the Vikings aren't showing up to see Adrian Peterson play? Where's all the rules protecting runningbacks so that he doesn't get hurt and ruin that teams best player?

Or how about Ravens fans? You don't think they come to see Ray Lewis and Ed Reed? Where are all the rules protecting LBs and Safeties?

Then in Dallas you don't think fans want to see Witten or Ware playing all the time? Where's all the over sensitive rules to protect our TE's and OLB's?

There is protecting a player and then there is being completely overboard and stupid. It's football. It's a physical game. If you don't want the QBs having any sort of physical contact on them then put flags on them.