A day after several scary collisions in Sunday's games, Anderson acknowledged the league might need to do more than fining players to prevent such hits.
"There's strong testimonial for looking readily at evaluating discipline, especially in the areas of egregious and elevated dangerous hits," he said in a phone interview. "Going forward there are certain hits that occurred that will be more susceptible to suspension. There are some that could bring suspensions for what are flagrant and egregious situations."
Anderson said the NFL could make changes in its approach immediately, with commissioner Roger Goodell having the final say. League officials will consult with the union, but he didn't expect any opposition.
The Eagles' DeSean Jackson and the Falcons' Dunta Robinson were knocked out of their game Sunday after a frightening helmet-to-helmet collision, while Steelers linebacker James Harrison sidelined two Browns players with head injuries after jarring hits.
Anderson wouldn't speculate on how any players would be punished for hits from Sunday's games.
More: Ex-NFL Head of Officiating Irked by Dangerous Hits
Lions' Zack Follett Has Movement After Scary Collision
DeSean Jackson Injured on Dunta Robinson Tackle
Joshua Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi Suffer Head Injuries
Chris Cooley Leaves Game With Concussion
Lions' Zack Follett Has Movement After Scary Collision
DeSean Jackson Injured on Dunta Robinson Tackle
Joshua Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi Suffer Head Injuries
Chris Cooley Leaves Game With Concussion
"The fundamentally old way of wrapping up and tackling seems to have faded away," he said. "A lot of the increase is from hits to blow guys up. That has become a more popular way of doing it. Yes, we are concerned they are getting away from the fundamentals of tackling, and maybe it has been coached that way. We're going to have to look into talking to our coaches."
Retired safety Rodney Harrison, now an analyst for NBC, was fined more than $200,000 during his career and was suspended for one game in 2002 for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
"You didn't get my attention when you fined me 5 grand, 10 grand, 15 grand," he said during the "Sunday Night Football" broadcast. "You got my attention when I got suspended and I had to get away from my teammates and I disappointed my teammates from not being there. But you have to suspend these guys. These guys are making millions of dollars."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
No one is more qualified than Rodney Harrison to address this situation. He knows that fines don't work, but suspensions are an entirely different matter. They cost a game check, which for a top notch defensive back are far more than just a fine, as well as hurting the team.
Why suspend a guy for making a good hit? Robinson hit Jackson in the shoulder.
Is that the only picture of Robinson's hit on Jackson you could find that sort of resembled a head to head hit? That was as clean a hit to stop a big 3rd down play as you will see. HE HIT HIM IN THE SHOULDER and then I have to listen to a bunch of former roid-mongers tell me how Jackson was defenseless despite having control of the pass and making a football move. It's amazing how simple and full of poop you all are. Let's just start playing two hand touch while we're at it.
Robinson's hit on Jackson was clean. Was that the only picture you could find that sort of looked like a helmet to helmet? That black stuff by Jackson's head is Robinson's dreads people...stop believing the media's lies.
Sorry about the triple/quad post. This site is crap.
I agree with you 100 percent. However the Harrison hits were helmut to helmut with Cribbs going to the ground when the hit occured.Harrisons comments afterward should be taken into account.If Cribbs is out for games Harrison should be out for the same number of games.
I agree with you 100 percent. However the Harrison hits were helmut to helmut with Cribbs going to the ground when the hit occured.Harrisons comments afterward should be taken into account.If Cribbs is out for games Harrison should be out for the same number of games.
THE NFL IS ALWAYS THINKING OF WAYS TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF PLAYERS POCKETS AND BANK ACCOUNT. PLAYERS CANNONT CELEBRATE WITHOUT GETTING A FINE, THEY GET FINES FOR HITTING THE QUARTERBACK, THEY GET FINES FOR HELMET TO HELMET HITS
THEY GET FINES FOR UNIFORMS OUT OF PLACE,, THIS IS RIDICULOUS
They all do head to head to make the film clips for the news. Some even put aside "fine" monet to pay. They are just trying to look outragious to make the best plays clip. I say fine the team and suspend the players...then perhaps it will stop.
Robinson's hit on Jackson was not helmet to helmet....he lead with his shoulder.....look at the picture frame by frame and you will see his hit was perfectly clean.....and jackson was not defenseless, he was catchimng the ball and Robinson only did his job...wake up!!!
Play flag football if you want to avoid all the hits. A player comes in and the offensive player lowers his head and the defense getas flagged! How can you even make a call
I no longer watch professional football. It has gotten to the point that attempting to injure a player to put them out of the game is now acceptable practice. I want no part of it.
As long as men weighing 200 to 300 lbs are running into each other this will not end. I would like to see the weight lifting taken off the physical condition and let them run and do calisthenics. Making tackling an art by only allowing the tackler to grab and hold from the numbers down with no spearing, leaving your feet, or running into the ball carrier. This will make if more fun because you actually have to grab and hold the ball carrier until you bring him down, or when someone else shows up. You have to wrap up the guy and if you can't he's gone. I think this would make it more fun to watch.
Watching Aaron Rogers trying to get the refs to call penalties every time he was tackled in the backfield on Sunday was disgusting. What happened to being a leader and motivating your O-line to block better? No one likes a whiner or a cry baby.
the hits are dangerous but kolb should have never put him in that position by throwing that ball
When do the referees start getting fined!!! During the week, players get fined for plays the refs didn't even call..Aaron Rodgers was SPEARED under his facemask right in front of a ref...no call!!! Happens every week and the refs don't lose a dime or time!!!!
I have watched professional football for over 60 years and we have today an element in the players ranks that have no respect for anyone on the field including themselves. they launch their well developed bodies with complete abandon leading with their head trying to decimate the other guy sometimes taking themsleves out. I have seen a man die on the field, an end named Hughes playing for Detroit against the Bears. Caught a pass over the middle and got hit in the chest by Dick Butkus. Butkus knew immediatly that Hughes was seriously hurt and and I can still see him frantically waving to the Detroit bench. Today those same players would make a chest bump and walk away.
Rodgers may have looked like he was whining everytime he got hit, because he has been abused several times this year and last by illegal hits, for which the NFL has issued fines. Other quarterbacks are barely touched and penalty flags fly. If you had been watching the games this year you would realize that. The hit that gave Rodgers the concussion last week should have been flagged because it was a direct helmet to helmet hit. The interception ended up costing the Packers the game. Same thing in last year's playoff loss to Arizona.
just play the dam game you all make a ton of money if you dont like it get a real job
Go back to leather helmets and I bet there are no more problems.