The NFL cannot claim to care for player safety without making significant changes

Player safety has always been a hot topic in the NFL. Be it regarding head injuries and long term damage, treatment options, protecting the quarterback or defenseless players, the NFL has taken steps to see the game become safer and keep their stars healthy, all the while claiming they take player safety seriously.

However, far more needs to be done before the NFL can honestly say they truly care for their players’ safety.

Week 4 saw at least three significant helmet-to-helmet hits, and under the current model the NFL didn’t do enough to protect these players. The issue isn’t the rule, it’s pretty clear and extensive when it comes to unnecessary roughness, the issue is its enforcement and consequent punishment.

I’ll start with the hit I think they handled properly. Vontaze Burfict – surprise, surprise – yet again showed complete disregard for anyone’s safety, including his own, in one of the most obvious headhunting displays in my recent memory. 

This is the most Vontaze Burfict play ever.

Legitimate headhunting.

This play belongs in the 1970spic.twitter.com/S8Bq0dDQqn

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 29, 2019

He was rightfully kicked out of the game and the NFL has already announced his suspension for the rest of the season and postseason (should the Raiders make it). The statement included: “There were no mitigating circumstances on this play. Your contact was unnecessary, flagrant and should have been avoided.” This is spot on and demonstrates the way these flagrant and avoidable helmet-to-helmet hits should be treated.

Thursday Night Football clearly set the tone for the rest of the week. On the Packers first offensive play, Eagles DE Derek Barnett produced a hit worse than Burfict’s. Jamal Williams is clearly ‘down’ for all intents and purposes. He’s wrapped up and his forward progress has more than stopped, when Barnett flies in from the backside, with a good ten yard run-up, hitting Williams in the helmet.

He may not have led with the crown of his helmet, but this hit was more avoidable and more unnecessary than Burfict’s. Sure, the officials tacked on an unnecessary roughness penalty, but no disqualification? Seriously? That is unacceptable. It was obvious this was a reckless, dangerous and avoidable hit the moment it happened.

Derek Barnett just ENDED Jamaal Williams night😱 pic.twitter.com/P0oFeoKSdm

— ᴅɪ ᴀᴍʙᴀssᴀᴅᴏʀ💦 (@2two4seven7) September 27, 2019

In the wild game that was the Buccaneers win over the Rams, there was one play that stuck out in my mind. Jameis Winston threw a pick which led to a vicious hit from the Bucs’ LT Donovan Smith on Rams CB Marcus Peters as he crossed the goal line. Smith launched himself at Peters, initiating contact with Peters’ head with the crown of his helmet. 

What's more shocking about this play is there wasn’t even a flag, which is inexcusable. This hit was worse than Burfict’s, too, given the run up and speed of both players. Again, it was immediately obvious this hit was reckless, dangerous and avoidable and should have at least been flagged.

Marcus Peters takes an INT to the house and holds on after a HUGE hit to bring the Rams to within one score. #TBvsLAR pic.twitter.com/qFFNYJeYdW

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2019

In Burfict’s case the season long suspension is just, thanks to his rap sheet, but the rest should face more punishment. The NFL has to take severe action in incidents like this to really try to eliminate them from the game.

Firstly, like in college, these plays need to be looked at by the replay official and players should be immediately disqualified for hits like the three above – where the player clearly made forcible and avoidable helmet-to-helmet contact with another. When watched live and at full speed, all of the above hits fell into this category, and upon review it was even more obvious.

Secondly, these players should be immediately suspended for one game. Why? Under the current rule, a 15-yard penalty and a fine is clearly not enough to stop players making hits like this. Taking them out of the game and the next game is tangible and meaningful punishment that will encourage coaches to enforce proper tackling technique and force players to play with more control to keep their money in their pockets.

An argument against a system and punishment like this comes from just watching college football. In their replay and disqualification system there have been many incidents in which a player has been harshly disqualified for incidental helmet-to-helmet contact – leaving many spectators and analysts perplexed. Often times, though, it is quite clear when a player has led with their helmet as opposed to making incidental helmet-to-helmet contact. For example the hit below.

The Jonathan Jones hit on Josh Allen in the 4th quarter that knocked Allen out of the game. Ugh. #GoBills @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/TKpqb7zrlf

— J.T. Messinger (@JTMessinger) September 29, 2019

Pats DB Jonathan Jones drilled Bills QB Josh Allen and forced him to leave the game with a concussion. The video looks bad, it really does, and it drew an unnecessary roughness penalty (that was offset by a holding penalty on the Bills).

However, what separates this hit from the others is the way Jones hit Allen. Jones has his feet set and turns his body to initiate contact with his shoulder. He does not launch himself nor lead with his helmet to initiate contact. Yes, there is helmet-to-helmet contact, but it was not purposeful nor overly forceful, it came largely due to Allen dipping his head as he braced for contact.

This hit, especially when looked at in replay, is clearly different from the above three. It is unfortunate and did lead to a head injury, but I think can be chalked up to a ‘football play’ that is almost inevitable. Ultimately, Jones did use pretty good technique and initiated contact with his shoulder onto Allen’s shoulder.

Importantly, the officiating of the hit was also correct. The helmet-to-helmet contact was enough to draw the flag, but not to draw an ejection, as explained by Al Riveron: “We looked at (the hit) and in this situation, we didn’t feel that that contact rose to the level of an ejection. The player actually turns. Obviously there is helmet contact, but we have standards for an ejection, and this did not rise to that standard.”

The NFL does do some very good work regarding player safety. A number of rule changes have taken positive steps to reducing injuries, the NFL has had a hand in excellent research into helmets and cleats as to which brands and models are safest – apparently Antonio Brown doesn’t care for this – and the league has also assisted in the research of traumatic brain injuries.

But that doesn’t justify their shortcomings. As I’ve mentioned they need to do more to limit violent, reckless helmet-to-helmet hits, and the only way they’ll be able to do it, short of taking away helmets, is by enforcing stricter punishments.

The NFL is on the right track with how they have handled Vontaze Burfict, they just need to replicate that across the board to remove the hits we saw this weekend.