NFL Crackdown On Hard Hits Comes With A Video

Ever wonder what goes on inside an NFL team facility?  There are placards all around the players environ that stress proper tackling techniques and what is allowed and not allowed on the field of play.  In the wake of last weeks heavily fined offenses for helmet to helmet and defenseless receiver contact the NFL is coming down even harder in the coming weeks and months.

While some players criticize the action of the NFL the fact is this is nothing new.  It’s been around for years.  The NFL originally cited the issue of concussions by leading with your helmet and now that has come full circle to include contact itself.  In an newly released video by the NFL that was sent to all 32 teams, the NFL breaks down what is acceptable forms of defensive punishment and non-acceptable forms.  You can view the same video that NFL players received, here.

The subject of how the NFL will determine the severity of the punishment will be predicated on a subjective system that will attempt to determine the malicious intent of a hit.  So in other words, when Clay Matthews drills Brett Favre into the “not yet frozen” tundra on Sunday night, some guy in the league offices in NY will try and decide if it was incedental or malicious.

The video is actually interesting especially when they show what constitutes a good hit and you suddenly realize that all those years of playing football they did actually teach you to hit right, and it still makes sense today.  Of course we can all hope that Penn State HC Joe Paterno gets his wish and all levels drop the face-masks.  Wonder if that would really sway anyone from going for the head or just give them a better opportunity not to break their hands when they throw a punch?

The Packers will host the Vikings on Sunday night and I guess the NFL will be watching!