Examining NFL Hits

This season, Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been fined three times by the NFL due to hard hits on offensive players, for a total of $100,000. Only one of them, a roughing-the-passer on Titans QB Vince Young, has actually been a penalty. That was the smallest fine, $5,000. Which means, Harrison has lost $95,000 for hits that, by the referees, have been deemed legal.
   
Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims was fined $50K by the league for a single hit on Titans receiver Lavelle Hawkins. There was no penalty on the play.

And these aren't the only two guys. Various defensive players have been fined countless times this year for hard hits to members of the offense, as part of the NFL trying to minimize dangerous hits. This is an effort to protect the league's "moneymakers," the guys who sell the jerseys, are on fantasy teams, etc. Because injuries to them would be devastating to the league's income. This issue is totally one-sided; the defensive players have no benefits. All it does for them is keeps them from playing their hardest. Big hits are a part of the game; if there is no penalty for it, there should be no fine. Injuries are part of football; that's the way it is. The guys out there are getting paid millions; their job should be tough. I know I'm not one to talk, but I'm sure many working-class Americans would rather get an NFL salary and have a chance of a concussion.

By no means am I saying the NFL shouldn't worry about an offensive player, but not in the way they are doing it. The guys in the league are full of money, $25,000 won't do much to them. But the players don't like it, and it is unfair for Goodell to take away the money they earned even if they do get an NFL salary. Technically, most of the hits are legal. Until there's a specific rule established about what a defender should do instead of the hard hit, there shouldn't be a fine. It's like being charged extra for taking five meals home from a buffet. It is frowned upon, but legal. Make it illegal before dishing out the fines. And if it is a penalty already in effect, have some more leeway. It isn't fair how the offense has no chance of getting fined, but the other side does. Fairness should be put into effect on this issue.