The NFL distributed to players and coaches this week a video identifying legal and illegal hits in the NFL. It comes at the time the NFL announced that they would now be placing an emphasis on eliminating illegal hits in the NFL and handing out suspensions for those hits.
NFL Distributes Guide To Legal And Illegal Hits
The video is narrated by NFL VP of Football Operations Ray Anderson and shows several plays with illegal hits and several that are legal.
For hits to a defenseless receiver, the video played an example from the Chiefs and Browns Week 2 game in which Kendrick Lewis hit the Browns tight end as he was reaching for the ball. The hit drew flags and he was later fined.
For illegal hits to the head of the opponent, the example was Panthers safety Sherrod Martin hitting Giants tight end Kevin Boss, who received a concussion on the play.
He calls the hit on DeSean Jackson last week as "bang, bang but still illegal." With the Brandon Meriweather hit on Todd Heap, Anderson said, "This play is inexcusable. Severe discipline will result from these types of illegal hits."
Meriweather was fined $50,000 on the play. Other recent examples used as illegal hits include LB James Harrison’s hit in the Browns game Week 6. Harrison was fined $75,000. Anderson said that you are still responsible even though you’re aiming for a moving target.
“Gentleman, you must know that player safety is our high priority,” Anderson said. One of the keys is not leading with your helmet -- or using your helmet as a weapon -- and hit shoulder to chest on a defenseless receiver. Anderson reiterated several times that suspensions will be coming for hits they deem particularly bad.
Week 7 will be the first opportunity for a suspension due to an illegal hit under the league’s new emphasis.
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