Helmet-to-Helmet Punishment: The NFL Has Opened a Pandora’s Box

October 20, 2010   ·   Randolph Charlotin   ·   Jump to comments

What’s surprising about this helmet-to-helmet issue isn’t the action taken by the NFL, but that the rule already was in existence for several years but was never enforced. The league gave referees the authority to eject players if they delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit in a game, but the referees never used that power. If the refs tossed a player or two out of a game, maybe this wouldn’t be an issue.
This isn’t an overreaction by the league, but a delayed reaction. With the rule already in place, it was up to the NFL to encourage officials to use their full authority and eject players when deemed necessary.
It’s disappointing the issue came to a head under these circumstances. Now that the NFL has the motivation to take action, they need to get the crime and punishment right. Good luck with that.
How is the league going to discourage helmet-to-helmet hits when they take place on every play? It happens along the line at the snap of the ball an...

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