Polamalu Speaks Out
 

And I could not agree more. Its getting ridiculous. Quaterbacks should be able to slide and not be hit, but thats it, no other special rules. Offensive plays and players are not more important then Defensive plays and players.

[URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-unhappypolamalu&prov=ap&type=lgns"]Two-hand touch? To Polamalu, NFL now flag football - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/URL]

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

i agree that the refs have over-protected the qbs this year (see personal foul on ravens at end of close game) but polamalu is a dirty player who will try to bend players back when they are down and have their legs pinned down, that shot in college on the dude who called for a fair catch, etc.

polamalu is a dirty cheap shot player who crosses the line too many times. he is right up there with incognito.

go skins!!

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

Refs have definitely overprotected the QBs for sure. I'm also not a big fan of levying all these fines on plays where no flag was thrown. I know the officials don't see everything (especially this year), but it's a little ridiculous. For Hines Ward to be fined $15K on consecutive weeks and not have drawn a single yellow flag is just silly.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

The NFL is an offensive driven league and they are going to protect their stars. I'm not defending it, but that's just how it is.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

I think most people would agree that QBs are "more important" than the other players on the field. Its a QB driven league and when the top QBs go down with injuries the quality of play suffers. I'm not saying QBs shouldnt be touched but I do think providing rules to provide more protection to QBs is a good thing.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

Some of the calls this year are so bad it's not even funny. The hit Peppers put on Ryan was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. That's the type of call that can change the outcome of a game cause that play resulted in a Carolina TD. Something needs to be done. What makes it even worse is the NFL fines players and coaches for talking about the refs. Those people up on Park Ave are a bunch of thin skinned cry babies.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=over the mountain;490867]i agree that the refs have over-protected the qbs this year (see personal foul on ravens at end of close game) but polamalu is a dirty player who will try to bend players back when they are down and have their legs pinned down, that shot in college on the dude who called for a fair catch, etc.

polamalu is a dirty cheap shot player who crosses the line too many times. he is right up there with incognito.

go skins!![/quote]

Maybe Polamalu plays over the line sometimes but he's not trying to defend himself. He's sticking up for Hines Ward who was fined for laying some great blocks on the poor helpless CB's. There is now freaking way Hines Ward should have been fined for those blocks he dished out the last 2 games. If you don’t want to get hit go play Bache Ball or something. Fining a player the levels a guy with a great block is a joke and the NFL really should check itself.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

i have no problems about protecting the qbs.i do think the nfl hands out way too many fines on hits that are'nt really that dirty.did anybody ever notice that most of the time when the league gives out a fine that a penalty is'nt called?back to the qbs,they should be protected,but when a personal foul like the one called on the ravens a few weeks back for accidentally hitting kerry collins is called,that's bullshit!

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

The refs have to be able interpret the intent of the rules and distinguish between an intentional dangerous play/intent to hurt someone and an incidental one.
The game moves so fast some times a situation may happen that may barely meet the definition of a foul but it was not intentional and that should not be penalized or fined.

For example:
1) When a defensive lineman is rushing a QB and that QB is in the process of throwing the ball, the DL throws his hands up to try to bat or deflect the ball. But his momentum or he gets pushed and makes the DL [B]barely touches[/B] the helmet of the QB. The refs call that 100% of the time. Even though there was no harm and no itent to injure.
2) A defensive lineman bends to make a tackle on a QB and that QB bends to try to slip the tackle, their helmets accidentally collide. Again it is incidental helmet to helmet contact but the DL gets called for the penalty.

This kind of incidental situation should never be called or fined.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

I definitely agree with Polamalu here. The rules protecting offensive players is becoming ridiculous. Football is an inherently violent and dangerous game and these players know what they're getting into.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

The NFL also needs to get a life. The commish and his..."I'm going to clean up the sport" attitude needs to go. I know Pac-man not playing may or may not benifit us but I feel the NFL should stay out of it unless a player is found guilty of a charge first. All the players need is for some one to make a claim that is not true and be suspended then have it come out in court that the story was made up or not totally true. If a team wants to gamble on a problem child let them.

The NFL should only be concerned with their urine testing for drugs/steroids. If someone pops positive then decide the fine or suspension.

The only time someones "character/image" needs to come into account is when being looked at for the Hall of Fame. Butt out Mr. Commish.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

Goodell has taken the right approach since he took over. The league is too valuable to let a few punks and thugs ruin the league's image. I applaud his tough stance on character issues.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=Mattyk72;490903]Goodell has taken the right approach since he took over. The league is too valuable to let a few punks and thugs ruin the league's image. I applaud his tough stance on character issues.[/quote]

I couldnt agree more. The NFL is a multi million $ business and does not need a few idiots to ruin the image. In addition there is always someone ready to take those idiots place so the league is better off without them.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

has anyone even seen the two plays that hines ward got fined for? i have not seen them on any sports channel and it ain't from lack of looking!

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=over the mountain;490867]
polamalu is a dirty cheap shot player who crosses the line too many times. he is right up there with incognito.
[/quote]

I usually refute statements like this with facts... but in this case (and watching Troy P. since college), I'll just say- you're wrong.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=itvnetop;490955]I usually refute statements like this with facts... but in this case (and watching Troy P. since college), I'll just say- you're wrong.[/quote]

I agree, he is not a cheap shot artist. Tough guys like Polamalu that hit hard are some times accused of it because they always play so hard. They never let up.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

I'm fine with protecting QBs--the refs just need to get their calls right! They are over-applying a reasonable rule.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=Defensewins;490958]I agree, he is not a cheap shot artist. Tough guys like Polamalu that hit hard are some times accused of it because they always play so hard. They never let up.[/quote]

I can't remember where I saw it, but a survey of players recently said the dirtiest players were Rodney Harrison, Antonio Pierce, and Roy Williams

As for Polamalu's comments, first JW is right that really more should be made about the refs' role in all this. Secondly, this is a business with much bigger and stronger players than just 20 years ago. You can't just let them play without some guidelines in place to protect the players and in turn protect the business

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

“It’s just the essence of what NFL football is,” Polamalu said. “You don’t want to get into a sport that loses the core mentality. It’s like playing basketball and, `Oh, you can’t body somebody up. You can’t touch them. You can only play defense from a foot out.’ It takes away from the real athleticism of the sport. … football loses its identity.”

^ That's the same analogy that I was going to make ^

Face it, helmet to helmet will happen every now and again, you can't completely control your contact and the other person's reaction right beforehand leading up to the contact points. But then things like Brady going down and other QB's in the past getting hurt make these rules "necessary" to the NFL.

I definitely agree that non-penalized plays shouldn't bring fines, unless a penalty was grossly missed. Too much incidental contact is bringing fines just because someone was sore the next day from the hit.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=Mattyk72;490903]Goodell has taken the right approach since he took over. The league is too valuable to let a few punks and thugs ruin the league's image. I applaud his tough stance on character issues.[/quote]

Do you think that anybody is going to stop watching football.. or not start, because of that?

Couldn't you say that people in the media too much running their mouths are looking like even worse representatives?

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=Mattyk72;490903]Goodell has taken the right approach since he took over. The league is too valuable to let a few punks and thugs ruin the league's image. I applaud his tough stance on character issues.[/quote]

I agree in general but what I think TP was saying was the league is going too far to protect players.

This is a violent game, The contact shouldn't be removed from the game.
You have to be able to layout a WR going over the middle, I don't know how you do that if you get fined and suspended everytime someone goes down.

There is a big difference between a dirty shot and a clean hit that ends up hurting someone

No one player is bigger than the sport. No one outside of boston cares that Brady is gone for the year.

They need to stop overprotecting players.

and players arent that much bigger or stronger than inthe 90s, let's atleast get back to those contact rules.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

Reason number 15,861 why college ball is better and more exciting than pro ball.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC7_WHGsoV8"]YouTube - #14 Kyle Jefferson Takes A Big Hit - Mich State @ Wisconsin[/ame]

No fines for FOOTBALL.

Completely agree with Troy. He is an amazing playmaker and he NEVER lets up.

At the same time I love what Roger has done as the Commish but this situation is blown out of proportion. Let them play. Protect the QB a certain amount but damn... you can't protect everybody to that extent.

Leaving shortly for DC for the Browns game... Go SKINS!!!

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=tryfuhl;490983]Do you think that anybody is going to stop watching football.. or not start, because of that?

Couldn't you say that people in the media too much running their mouths are looking like even worse representatives?[/quote]

I never watch NBA because of the thugs and punks. And, if you look at their ratings a lot of people in America are also tuning out more and more. An hour of the NFL draft gets higher ratings than an NBA Finals game.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=jamf;490990]I agree in general but what I think TP was saying was the league is going too far to protect players.

This is a violent game, The contact shouldn't be removed from the game.
You have to be able to layout a WR going over the middle, I don't know how you do that if you get fined and suspended everytime someone goes down.

There is a big difference between a dirty shot and a clean hit that ends up hurting someone

No one player is bigger than the sport. No one outside of boston cares that Brady is gone for the year.

They need to stop overprotecting players.

and players arent that much bigger or stronger than inthe 90s, let's atleast get back to those contact rules.[/quote]

I agree. If Laron had said the same things we would all be 100% behind him.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

I think I can see it both ways. On one hand, I don't like how much the NFL protects players, QB's in particular. Football is football, and you signed up to play it. Obviously certain plays are out of line, but incidental helmet to helmet contact? That shouldn't automatically be a 15 yard first down and fine. You can't hit certain players too high or too low. I think it really takes away from football is all about.

On the other hand, though, if one of our beloved Redskins got hurt with one of these so called "out of line" plays, I'm sure we'd all be demanding the full extent of the Goodell's wrath to come. In the end it's just a really tough argument either way.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=itvnetop;490955]I usually refute statements like this with facts... but in this case (and watching Troy P. since college), I'll just say- you're wrong.[/quote]


lol since your a USC fan you probaly saw that f'in POS palamolu clearly deck a guy who called for a fair catch and was waiting for the ball in college. if you forgot about that why dont you youtube it and tell that wasnt a cheap shot with intent to injure that did injure the player.

and he does bend guys back in a pile after the whistle among other things . . . just youtube the guy for visual facts or google him and "dirty" to see what other nfl players say about him. its not just my opinion.

i guess well have to agree to disagree my USC friend.

go skins!! palamulu is a POS lil b%$ch and i like the steelers.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ac-JYp25Bx0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ac-JYp25Bx0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

im not good at links to videos but announcers said the guy who he cheap shotted had thrown palamalu down twice in the game and they were jawwing each other and then . . . .palamalu cheap shots the guy in revenge and injures him . . . hes a POS

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=tryfuhl;490983][B]Do you think that anybody is going to stop watching football.. or not start, because of that?[/B]

Couldn't you say that people in the media too much running their mouths are looking like even worse representatives?[/quote]

Um yeah, ask the NBA

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

that asshole for the rams got fined 35k for cursing the refs at last sunday's game.
dre bly also got fined for being critical of the refs last week in denver too.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

[quote=RJ2kWJ;491000]Reason number 15,861 why college ball is better and more exciting than pro ball.

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC7_WHGsoV8"]YouTube - #14 Kyle Jefferson Takes A Big Hit - Mich State @ Wisconsin[/URL]

No fines for FOOTBALL.

Completely agree with Troy. He is an amazing playmaker and he NEVER lets up.

At the same time I love what Roger has done as the Commish but this situation is blown out of proportion. Let them play. Protect the QB a certain amount but damn... you can't protect everybody to that extent.

Leaving shortly for DC for the Browns game... Go SKINS!!![/quote]

legal hit if you ask me.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

urlacher got hit with a 20k fine for abusing the refs last week in atlanta too.
i think TP is a great player who hits hard.he is certainly no dirty player like roy williams,conrad dobler,dierdorff,and rodney harrison will always be thought of as.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

Polamalu's argument breaks down when he discusses the greats of the past like Butkus. The game has changed since Butkus played. Players are both much bigger AND much faster. Therefore the chance of someone getting hurt is much higher now. I can understand how the rules would change as the game itself has.

That being said, some of the penalties and fines have been ridiculous. Polamalu is right when he says the game has become too much like touch football. Perhaps the NFL has gone too far to protect players.

Football is about hitting people. You take your chances when you sign up.

Re: Polamalu Speaks Out
 

It is all about ratings, money and greed. The NFL has to be careful.
What was the announcement this week? The first $1,000 Super bowl Tickets? Something like that?
All at a time when corporate NFL and NFLPA are balking at pitching in more money to help former players that do not have enough money for health care. According to ESPN the NFL is generating over $6 billion in annual revenue. Do they really care about the health of the players or are they greedy?
I would say they care about their ratings and their wallets.
This is about protecting certain players.