Ed Reed Suspended

[Ravens2006]

What's annoying is that Reed obviously wasn't intentionally "leading with the helmet"... he dove in to make a tackle, and there was minimal incidental contact that had as much to do with the WR as it did with the Safety. Yet almost every time a RB carries the ball he lowers his head and gives / takes some helmet to helmet contact, and nobody seems to care. There are probably 20 plays a game where a WR is tackled and the defenders helmet hits the WR's helmet... but they call it sporadically just to prove a point. Why not penalize a ball carrier (WR or RB) for ducking his head down when preparing for contact? How is that different?

It's a shame what the league is becoming. Said it before and it continues to unfold... the league offices invite more violent collisions by molding the rules to allow receivers to sprint around untouched... then they slap defenders for simply doing their jobs. Allow more contact at the line, allow more jamming, slow the guys down, teach QBs that they shouldn't be leading their streaking targets in to double and triple coverage without risk. Make WRs line up on the LOS, allow a DB to jam inside the numbers for 10 yards. And for the love of Christ, soften the helmets. All the latest modifications that supposedly prevent more concussions are coming with experimental helmets that feature softer outer layers. Absorbing shock typically works better when it's actually absorbed and dispersed. The league has done all of this to themselves, just to placate what a bunch of advertising weenies who never played a day of any sport whatsoever thinks appeals more to the viewing public. And ignoring that the sport exploded in popularity in a very different fashion.

[Eastside Terp]

does banging helmets 3 times in three years really constitute a habitual offender .......

[DkBlue]

Can't agree with ya on this one. Watch the video:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-h...sary-roughness

All Sanders did was turn slightly after he made the catch and Reed was already off his feet and leading with his helmet. Sanders in no way "ducked".

Most of these hits are that way. He has to appeal as this will cost him 440,000 AFTER TAX dollars. It's a big deal.

[can you hear me now!]

You are absolutely correct, that's really what happened. I am surprised the NFL headquarters did not see that in the film review.

I'm not....the league is mired in several lawsuits regarding head injuries....this shows the world they are cracking down on the problem (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean).....

[Omaha Beach]

Who would take his place at free safety?

[cprenegade]

does banging helmets 3 times in three years really constitute a habitual offender .......

Under the NFL's 2012 schedule of fines, "players who were fined for violations in 2010 or 2011, and whose fines were either partially or fully upheld, will be considered second and/or repeat offenders under this policy."

Reed fits into that category and will be forced to miss Baltimore's game against San Diego as a result.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/ey...s-safety-rules

Under NFL rules, Reed should be suspended. I don't agree with those rules, and have said so before. Obvious launching or leading with the helmet with an intent to injure should be penalized. Not every hit is a malicious hit. It is football, there is going to be helmet to helmet contact. It's what players risk and get paid for. The hypocrisy of the NFL's "safety" rules is evident though. There are helmet designs that greatly decrease concussion possibilities even in helmet to helmet hits. But those designs are not as streamlined and appealing as the current helmets, and they are about 3-4 times as expensive. Seems the NFL is safety conscious as long as it fits their image and budget!

[OriginalColtsFan]

Under NFL rules, Reed should be suspended. I don't agree with those rules, and have said so before. Obvious launching or leading with the helmet with an intent to injure should be penalized. Not every hit is a malicious hit. It is football, there is going to be helmet to helmet contact. It's what players risk and get paid for. The hypocrisy of the NFL's "safety" rules is evident though. There are helmet designs that greatly decrease concussion possibilities even in helmet to helmet hits. But those designs are not as streamlined and appealing as the current helmets, and they are about 3-4 times as expensive. Seems the NFL is safety conscious as long as it fits their image and budget!

It's not hypocrisy; it's a change in the old guard to help reduce concussion related injuries. Some players just can't get with the program. Ed Reed is one of those players. But that doesn't make it hypocrisy.

[Ravens2006]

Can't agree with ya on this one. Watch the video:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-h...sary-roughness

All Sanders did was turn slightly after he made the catch and Reed was already off his feet and leading with his helmet. Sanders in no way "ducked".

Watch the same video around the 56 second mark and explain to me exactly where Reed "was already off his feet" when Sanders turned around. One foot is planted on the ground when he makes first contact. He takes another step in the process of the hit and basically "runs through" Sanders, then falls down. Sanders' head does also come down a little bit in the process on turning around and bracing for the hit. Call it whatever you want, use a word other than "duck", but it's no different than what virtually every player does on every play when bracing for contact.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Watch the same video around the 56 second mark and explain to me exactly where Reed "was already off his feet" when Sanders turned around. One foot is planted on the ground when he makes first contact. He takes another step in the process of the hit and basically "runs through" Sanders, then falls down. Sanders' head does also come down a little bit in the process on turning around and bracing for the hit. Call it whatever you want, use a word other than "duck", but it's no different than what virtually every player does on every play when bracing for contact.

We're definitely seeing the same thing very differently. And the league, given Reed's history of hits/fines, is seeing it differently than you as well.

[yeah]

obviously to most ravens fans reed can do no wrong. and i think many non-ravens fans dont consider reed to be a head hunter. but its pretty clear that the league thinks its chronic enough to warrant a suspension and i agree. hes leading w/ the helmet alot more now that he cant tackle

[Icterus Galbula]

I just saw the play. It looked like Reed was looking down and leading with his helmet. At best he was showing poor form.

[pmore108]

The problem I have with Ed's suspension is this: the NFL didn't step in on Sunday night and say, "Ryan Clark can't play. The guy has had two concussions in three weeks because he leads with his helmet." In fact, the opposite happened: The network pre game was all about the "special" helmet Clark was wearing and how it was outfitted with kevlar. This sends the wrong message about concussions ("equipment can fix it") and could seriously jeopardize Clark's health down the road. With regard to Reed specifically, if Ed does get a guy high he usually helps him up and apologizes (see Deion Branch earlier this year) so take that for what it's worth.

I have no problem with the league taking the stance that if you are committing multiple high hits you should be suspended. That in itself is a good idea. Where i cry 'hypocrite' is when a player like Clark who does launch himself head first (see Darius Heyward Bey, the following week against the jets I believe, Sunday against the ravens) and has concussed HIMSELF leading with the head is allowed to play when all of this is known before kickoff. It should be fairly obvious that the league doesn't care about player safety. They make these guys play on Thursday nights with three days rest, they let guys with multiple concussions keep playing and they want to expand the season. The NFL seriously needs to reevaluate the way they handle situations like Clark's and to a lesser extent Reed's. There is no rule that says the NFL has to be the most popular sport forever (to quote TMQ one of my favorite football writers).

[PEZ]

Who would take his place at free safety?

This guy would.

[Ravens2006]

We're definitely seeing the same thing very differently. And the league, given Reed's history of hits/fines, is seeing it differently than you as well.

I know the league's take... helmet to helmet, repeated offenses, yadda yadda yadda...

I was pointing out that to watch the video and claim Reed "left his feet" to deliver the hit is seeing something that is NOT there. He has one foot planted firmly in the ground when he first hits him, he takes another step while hitting / "running through" him, and then falls down afterwards. Tell me where Reed is "already off his feet" when Sanders turns around?

[Aclobat]

He never led with the helmet. Any besides, Reed dosn't hit hard anymore. Although it did look like the guys arms doubled in size over the last year.

[DkBlue]

I know the league's take... helmet to helmet, repeated offenses, yadda yadda yadda...

I was pointing out that to watch the video and claim Reed "left his feet" to deliver the hit is seeing something that is NOT there. He has one foot planted firmly in the ground when he first hits him, he takes another step while hitting / "running through" him, and then falls down afterwards. Tell me where Reed is "already off his feet" when Sanders turns around?

Ray Anderson was on Mike and Mike this morning and there was no mention of launching. He said Reed made no effort to wrap up and it was helmet to helmet. He said the fines no longer worked hence the suspension.

That is a real jump in level from 25 K to over 400 K when missing agame check.

[baltimoreron]

does banging helmets 3 times in three years really constitute a habitual offender .......

Until yesterday, no. It seems like Goodell is making the rules up as he goes along.

[Steveg85321]

I am quite sure this is more than the "repeated" thing. The NFL is making an example of Ed because he is high-profile and outspoken in criticizing the stupid way this rule is applied. This is the league digging in their heels on something even the casual fan can see is ridiculous. An official should be able to discern the intent of a hit and call it accordingly, rather than knee-jerk calling unnecessary roughness whenever helmets happen to touch.

[can you hear me now!]

it was interesting to hear the comments from Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, Cris Carter and Mike Ditka...they all agreed the penalty was wrong, it was not a helmet to helmet hit, Sanders was ducking, Reed was leading with his shoulder, the suspension is unwarrented, especially since the price is $440K, and that the NFL is very concerned about the lawsuits against them...

[cprenegade]

It's not hypocrisy; it's a change in the old guard to help reduce concussion related injuries. Some players just can't get with the program. Ed Reed is one of those players. But that doesn't make it hypocrisy.

I was not claiming hypocrisy where Reed's suspension is concerned. In fact, I think it is warranted under their rules when you consider some of the other hits that have been fined and upheld as helmet to helmet. My charge of hypocrisy comes from the league claiming it is all done for player safety when there are newer helmet designs that greatly reduce the possibilities of concussion. As I said, they are not particularly appealing, and they cost about 4 times as much as current ones. The hypocrisy is saying player safety is number 1 but refusing to accept changes to the equipment because of league image and cost.