Mitchell has been fined 5 times this year

[jtnc]

You have guys like Brandon Merriweather trying to kill people on the field, and he only gets suspended for ONE game. Mitchell does not play with malice, he can lay the wood without going to your head.

[LinvilleGorge]

i would challenge the definition of the word "pussification" so that it does not include due diligence by the league in removing playing style that severely impacts the long-term health of its employees

 

They're going to create another problem.  You're going to start seeing DBs adapt to these rules and start taking out WRs' knees.  If flags keep flying on good, clean legal hits to the chest area, DBs are going to have no choice to target even lower and that's going to lead to knees getting taken out.  We saw it earlier this season when that GB WR got his leg broken.  He caught a pass over the middle and you could see the DB prepare to pop him in the chest, but he thought better of it and took out the guy's knees.  Aaron Rodgers confronted him and then spoke about it after the game and said the DB told him that he simply couldn't risk a flag, he had to hit him low and take out his legs.  Rodgers admitted he could kind of see that perspective.

 

Throw the flags as the rules state.  Don't throw flags on good, clean hits just because they were hard.

[Jmac]

We ripped him an ass when he laid out Cam last year and now he is our enforcer in the secondary. This NFL is a funny business.....just keep laying the wood MM...given us some much needed balls.

[PhillyB]

They're going to create another problem.  You're going to start seeing DBs adapt to these rules and start taking out WRs' knees.  If flags keep flying on good, clean legal hits to the chest area, DBs are going to have no choice to target even lower and that's going to lead to knees getting taken out.  We saw it earlier this season when that GB WR got his leg broken.  He caught a pass over the middle and you could see the DB prepare to pop him in the chest, but he thought better of it and took out the guy's knees.  Aaron Rodgers confronted him and then spoke about it after the game and said the DB told him that he simply couldn't risk a flag, he had to hit him low and take out his legs.  Rodgers admitted he could kind of see that perspective.

 

Throw the flags as the rules state.  Don't throw flags on good, clean hits just because they were hard.

 

i think the emphasis has been on protecting the head (as it should be) as opposed to extremities. sore joints post-career are one thing, rattled brain and concussion issues are another entirely. the rule changes we've seen have largely been a means to the end of accomplishing this goal.

 

i do agree hits shouldn't be flagged for simply being hard.

[frash.exe]

i always think it's silly when people say this

It's funny when people act as if it's a technical term in the same way words such as cannibalization are

[xav8tor]

No doubt this guy pushes the envelope, but so far, it's easily been worth it.  In the preseason, even Luke got called for a HARD clean hit and we were all worried about a fine.  Speaking of Luke, in the recent Sound Fx video, IIRC I'm pretty sure it was Mitchell he has to calm down at one point, so yes, it  is something to keep a close eye on.

[Cpt slay a ho]

not to step on anyones toes but if i got payed millions i'd go over the middle with Lott at SS and Pollard at FS, the risk outlives the reward IMO but i don't fault them for changing the rules so players can have a life after football

[LinvilleGorge]

i think the emphasis has been on protecting the head (as it should be) as opposed to extremities. sore joints post-career are one thing, rattled brain and concussion issues are another entirely. the rule changes we've seen have largely been a means to the end of accomplishing this goal.

 

i do agree hits shouldn't be flagged for simply being hard.

 

I agree with you.  The NFL does need to protect the head and they're changing to do that.  However, the issue is when you're not officiating the game consistently.  Why is it only WRs and QBs who matter?  Just look at that block Smitty threw on Greenway a couple of weeks ago.  We all love it.  It was great.  However, flip it the other way around and have Greenway ear hole Smitty like that after a catch and flags would've flown from everywhere and Greenway would be villified as a dirty player.  Not fair.  Greenway was every bit as defenseless while focusing on pursuing the ball carrier as a WR is defenseless while focusing on the ball trying to make a catch. 

 

Why do legal hits get flagged simply because they're hard?  If they stop throwing flags on good, legal hits to the chest, we won't have the issue of DBs taking out knees, but if they continue to throw those flags it's going to become a problem.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Our very own Brandon Merriweather!

[R0CKnR0LLA]

7 games and only 5 fines. Someone tell this guy he's suppose to show up EVERY week.

[Delhommey]

Edit: someone already said it.

Get ready for the U this weekened homey.

 

I'm actually a little concerned...

 

That we may not cover the spread.

[KendrickPanther]

That taunting fine was weak. To me the intent wasn't there. He was celebrating a positive play for his team and the Rams reaction drew the fine.

 

Same with Cam and the mask clips. He was targeted by a disgruntled Giants fan in the media and the NFL stuck it to him while looking past everyone else.

 

Steve got fined for hitting JJ in the head but it looked like a normal NFL play to me, it's called run blocking.