NFL Administration Memo: Players, don't forget to bring your flags on Sunday

What's next, the NFL banning blocking?

The new "rule" against hits to the head in the NFL is ridiculous, and might just be the last straw in them losing me as apart of their regular audience. The rule says that any contact or blow to the opponents head using the head, shoulder, or forearm, is subject to suspension, fines, and possibly being kicked out of the game, even for first time offenders.

For those of you who have never played football, or it's been awhile, I'll put it into basic words so it's easier to understand: The defensive players in the NFL are now asked to not give their all. If a receiver is running a route over the middle, the linebackers and safeties can no longer launch into them, causing the huge hits that have made Ray Lewis, James Harrison, Brian Urlacher, and Ed Reed famous. Instead, they now have to calculate their hit to make sure they don't catch any of the helmet and facemask of the receiver.

How ridiculous is this? I've played football for 8 years all together, and have given and received plenty of helmet to helmet hits. Yes the guys in the NFL are going about twice as fast as I went in my football days, but it's basically the same situation.

What this does now is makes a defensive player have to decide between playing full speed and paying a fine, and slowing down to "aim" his hit at the players chest. If he slows down, he potentially misses the tackle, and that shows on film, which then possibly results in him getting pulled for someone who will go full speed.

All of this said, I don't agree with the NFL on this rule. This makes me not want to watch the NFL at all, as it seems like I'm watching puppets who are controlled by all of the strings attached to the NFL Administration's fingers. The tension between the players and administration is building, and with the Player's Agreement situation (the contract between the Players Association and the NFL expires at the end of the season), I don't see the administration helping themselves at all for the negotiations that will take place.

I hope you all like College Football, because at this rate, that's all that will be around next fall.

Now for some College Football predictions for the week:

UCLA 14
#2 Oregon 42


#6 LSU 24
#4 Auburn 27


#13 Wisconsin 38
#15 Iowa 28


#16 Nebraska 28
#14 Oklahoma St. 38

#1 Oklahoma 42
#11 Missouri 30


And finally...

NLCS Game 5
Phillies 6
Giants 2

ALCS Game 6
Yankees 3
Rangers 7


Next Post (Sunday):
My experience at Oklahoma State Homecoming


Go Rangers, Go Cowboys, Go Pokes!