Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has waded into the raging debate in the NFL this week over hefty fines for helmet-to-helmet hits. And he's not happy with the NFL's crackdown on defensive players."It's freaking football. There are going to be big hits,'' Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. "I don't understand how they can do this after one weekend of hitting. And I can't understand how they can suspend us for it. I think it's a bunch of (B.S.)."
Urlacher was referring to Steelers linebacker James Harrison being fined $75,000, Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather being fined $50,000 and Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson being fined $50,000, all for helmet-to-helmet hits on Sunday afternoon. In Urlacher's opinion, those fines represent the NFL's attempt to fundamentally change the game of football.
"You know what we should do? We should just put flags on everybody. Let's make it the NFFL -- the National Flag Football League. It's unbelievable," Urlacher said.
Urlacher did acknowledge, however, that Meriweather went too far when he launched himself into Todd Heap, using his own helmet as a weapon to drill Heap in the head.
"There was one bad hit this past weekend: the Meriweather hit,'' Urlacher said. "The other two hits were legal hits. Robinson had a great hit. They were both running full-speed."
On merit, I think Urlacher is right about the three players who were fined: Meriweather is the only one who was really trying to take a cheap shot at his opponent. Robinson and Harrison were simply trying to play tough, physical defense.
But Urlacher is wrong to belittle the NFL's efforts to crack down on concussion-causing hits. Brain damage on the football field is a serious problem, worthy of the NFL's attention. The NFL needs to protect players from themselves, even if players like Urlacher don't want that protection.
FanHouse TV's LeCharles Bentley wants the players to be protected and those who play outside the rules to be punished, but senses a bit of a contradiction from the league. He explains to Pat McManamon in the latest edition of NFL Two-a-Days on FanHouse TV.
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