Should players be banned....

...If they continually break the helmet to helmet rule?

I record the game on Channel 4 every week, then watch it a day leter. During the Eagles and Falcons game, I forget which players were involved, but a Falcons defender practically launched himself head first into an Eagles receiver - then heard the same player had been fined last season for the same offence.

I believe that persistent offenders should get match bans, aswell as being fined. Don't get me wrong, I know there's always going to be these types of contact, but leading with your helmet is now illegal in the game.

Robinson was the DeSean one last season as well.

Eh, he got a larger fine, another one probably will see him miss a game.

The using a helmet as a weapon play is being picked up by the league and to answer your question yes I can see players being banned as well as heavily fined, the trouble is so many runners lead with their heads the defenders do the same to level it up.
The bigger issue for me is the hit on a defenceless player which can/does cause far more serious injuries, again the league are trying to get on top of it but the sport has an extreme physical base and changing attitides won't be easy

i did read somewhere (Ask Vic on packer.com perhaps?) that one idea to improve safety is to remove the helmet entirely...

i guess it would stop players using the head as a battering ram, although perhaps a rugby style scrum cap would be needed to avoid skull to skull clashes

Moot

I've heard that banded around but it will never and should never happen - the sport suffered deaths before hard helmets were introduced.
There was a study done a couple of years ago by the league and there is a helmet that;s been designed that has been trialled by players but rejected on comfort/sight grounds, despite it being by far the best helmet available.
The bigger issue for league officials is to get players to wear their helmets correctly, apparently if a helmet fits correctly and is secured properly it's impossible to come off but we see countless helmets flung across the turf every Sunday

You never used to see helmets fly off -- it was very rare. Now they fly off all the time. I heard one former player turned analyst say there are a couple of snaps on the chin strap, but many players are not fastening them all so that their helmet has a chance to pop off and they get face time on TV.

Too many players leave chin straps undone and I for one would like to see that enforced by the NFL. As I understand it, NCAA rules insist on straps being done up and correctly fitting and gum shields for all players. We certainly apply this in the UK leagues. Problem is its made just that bit harder when you have kids watching NFL players thinking the rules don't apply to them.

On suspensions though, I think you have to be careful. Leading with the helmet as a runner is not the same as leading as a defender. Often when a runner is going for the extra yard, they will dive or stretch out and may therefore to an extent lead with the helmet. They can't always raise their hands in defense as they are carrying the ball. The real issue is with defenders (who usually have their hands free) leading with the helmet intentionally and especially leading with the crown (which is actually not only illegal but totally stupid as it lowers the protective value of the helmet). That's why its mainly defenders who get penalised.

A really flagrant hit by Robinson, I'm surprised that the fine was only $40k.

As an aside, what should be done about the two NYG players who "comically" fell to the ground to get an injury timeout and stop the Rams from running a no huddle offence down at the goaline.

Do the Giants deserve fines, warnings etc.

crazy_dave23 wrote:As an aside, what should be done about the two NYG players who "comically" fell to the ground to get an injury timeout and stop the Rams from running a no huddle offence down at the goaline.

Do the Giants deserve fines, warnings etc.

I saw some headlines this morning on this and thought never, not in NFL, cheating and faking injury would never happen in this sport.
So this evening I looked for some tape and I have to say it looks poor - not convinced you can ever prove beyond doubt that they cheated but you league make a habit of penalising players without trial so maybe they are in trouble (as should be the Giants as a franchise).
Got to say I can't remember seeing anything like this....

crazy_dave23 wrote:As an aside, what should be done about the two NYG players who "comically" fell to the ground to get an injury timeout and stop the Rams from running a no huddle offence down at the goaline.

Do the Giants deserve fines, warnings etc.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21092011/2/nfl-league-warns-teams-possible-fines-faking-injuries.html

Skyforger wrote:

crazy_dave23 wrote:As an aside, what should be done about the two NYG players who "comically" fell to the ground to get an injury timeout and stop the Rams from running a no huddle offence down at the goaline.

Do the Giants deserve fines, warnings etc.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21092011/2/nfl-league-warns-teams-possible-fines-faking-injuries.html

I read something that said they can fine players and teams over the fake injuries but the players would have to admit to it being a fake injury, for them to be able to punish them for it.

Its a bit of a grey area... nice to see the NFL try to address it, but what defines a real injury and a fake one.

To me the Giants clip this week was textbook faking, but now there's a little bit more attention on it I imagine people could quite easily tone up the "realism" of it all... just takes the guy who tackles the receiver/back to stay down after the play and you simply cannot accuse them of faking it.

From what I've seen in the NFL, it's really damn hard to get game suspensions. Why so?

You have to accept it is a physical game, and sometimes passion overrules the brain.

The helmet to helmet situations should lead to bans in my opinion. It is dangerous and could lead to injuries. Though it seems that there are a few players who don't know how to tackle, they can just put in the big hits.
The Giants thing it looks bad, but you can never prove that they were actually faking it. To put a stop to this kind of thing the players who claim to be injured have to sit out at least the next 2 Plays.

Agree helmet to helmet should be a ban, but only when its deliberate. Dropping the head, and particularly to hit with the crown, is stupid and dangerous and deserves suspension until the message sinks in.

But incidental contact should not be punished at all. The example is the hit on Vick (I think it was Abraham) where he virtually fell into him. No way he could avoid the contact without being a contortionist or removing his own head! And he hit him with his face-mask, not the crown. Officials need to show judgement and not flag as a first option.

One of the things I've always said I love about American Football versus the round ball version of the game is that you don't get play acting and feigning of injuries - the players take too much pride in being tough and appearing to be tough. That's why this thing with Giants really bugs me. It's pretty obvious from the tape that it was all fake and Bradford's account of what he saw and heard taking place is pretty damning - no reason why he'd lie about it as far as I can see since the Rams have nothing to gain now from any sanctions meted out to the players or the Giants. I'd fine the players and the organisation and I'd make the players sit out the first couple of series of their next game or maybe even the whole 1st quarter or 1st half.