Stop the Insanity

I think it is time for the NFL and NCAA to take control of the assaults that are occurring on quarterbacks in their respective leagues. Quarterbacks that in many cases are standing defenseless after releasing a pass, that don’t practice for contact and that don’t work out in the weight room to bulk up.

Behavior can be controlled by rules and regulations with the exception of those who refuse to abide by the rules for whatever reason. Are the inhabitants of our prisons rule followers?

People will do whatever they can get away with and many times in sports players are encouraged for making the big hit by the fans and media. So it is up to the leagues to take the lead to protect layers.

In fact I am all in favor of putting the defense on defense by giving the offense opportunities to attack the defense by giving them the opportunity to hit, hold and block anywhere on the field at any time.

But the penalty that can have the greatest impact is one that makes the defensive player, or the player who delivers the injury causing blow, sit out for the same period of time as the injured player. A series, a game, a season or a career. But it must be a player of equal impact for both teams. Not a substitute or second team player who takes out an All-Pro player. Then the Team should be penalized if they have more than one of these types of players during some period to be defined by the league.

The way to make this more effective is to increase penalties geometrically for the first, second and third offense. Only three episodes in a career and then the player is banned from the league.

Harsh? Sure. But this idea or something like it can change things. Football hasn’t always been about taking out other players. Most tackling used to be about wrapping your arms around a player and pulling them down. No leading with the helmet or shoulder. But it can remain fun and enjoyable eliminating intentional hits to seriously injure other players.