Normally this column has been dedicated to a topic that dealt with teams, players and even coaches. It focused on the effects that one element of a sport had and would have on the future. Today this column will be different, as the NFL has made a decision that could very well affect the existence of the entire NFL.The Cleveland Browns’ offense lined up at their own 44-yard line on first and 10. Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy took the snap, read the defense and threw the ball to the open receiver, Mohammed Massaquoi. Massaquoi was running a dump-off route, a route that went less than 5 yards. After catching the pass, Massaquoi turned around in time to watch Steelers linebacker James Harrison launch into him. The receiver fell to the ground, hurt badly. The Cleveland trainers rushed out to the field to make sure he was alright. Truth was that Massaquoi had a concussion. He did not return to that game.

Want to know the scary part? That was the second player in that game that Harrison took out. Earlier Harrison hit running back Josh Cribbs, giving Cribbs a concussion as well. That game displayed some punishing hits, but the display was not limited to the game in Cleveland. Philadelphia watched as Atlanta Falcons corner Dunta Robinson delivered a devastating shot to wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who also left the game with a concussion. New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather launched himself head-first into Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap’s head, even though the ball already went by Heap and the play was virtually over.

In response to the overwhelming number of headshots that took place this past Sunday, the NFL changed a rule mid-season that states that any shot to the head or neck area is prohibited and could result in suspension. The league reacted in a way that they felt would protect the players from concussions as this has been a point of emphasis in the past few years. They want to fix this problem.

The higher the level of football, the faster the game is played. Quarterbacks make their reads faster, receivers break into their routes faster, defensive players swarm on the ball carrier faster in the NFL than in college and high school football. It’s just the steady progression of talented athletes competing at the highest level possible.

So when this level of football is played with so much speed, how can we expect a defensive player to actually take the time to consider how to hit the ball carrier when he is caught up in the moment? How can we expect this guy, who is being paid to play to beat the offensive player he has been lined up against, to make the extra effort to not make a split-second reaction to bring him down by leading with his helmet or shoulder? And who’s to say that the defensive player’s intentions were to avoid helmet-to-helmet contact. Due to the offensive player lowering his head, does the defensive player get suspended because the ball carrier simply lowered his head? And does the linebacker whose helmet hits the offensive player in the chest but, due to momentum, moves up and into the ball carrier’s helmet get suspended?

Player safety is extremely important to the preservation of both the league and its players, but even with safety a line must be drawn. Past and current players will tell you that football is a violent game. People will get hurt and may even have some complications for the rest of their life.

No one understands that more than the players. Any player who signs a football scholarship for a school or a contract for the NFL knows the danger of playing. By signing that letter of intent or contract, they signify that they acknowledge and accept that danger to play the game that they love.

The NFL does need to continue to monitor helmet-to-helmet hits to protect the players from head injuries but do it in a way that monitors intent. Watching the film of past hits, it can be obvious which headshots were intended to be malicious and which ones the defense just meant make a play. Protect the players, but also let them do what they are being paid to do – play football.

With the NFL experiencing financial issues and a lockout already appearing imminent, this rule change will only worsen the lockout situation. As of now, 2010 is the last season of NFL football. Rules preventing defensive players from playing the way they have been taught to play since they were young kids will not gather support and unity for the NFL, but will instead cause division. The NFL could be making a giant mistake at the wrong time.

If the NFL strictly enforces this rule, enjoy this season while you can as it could be the last for some time.

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