The Los Angeles Chargers have already had a player fined and suspended for a dirty trick this season, but they haven’t changed their ways in Week 4. After safety Derwin James was suspended for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Friermuth in Week 3, two other veterans got into trouble for the same reason against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Peak runner Khalil Mack was fined $22,511 for use your headset on a pass rush on Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, while linebacker Denzel Perryman is owed $66,666 for a helmet hit on defensive end Kareem Hunt, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
With modern medical research showing the long-term brain trauma caused by football, the NFL has banned helmet-to-helmet hits as a safety precaution. Defenders must tackle to the torso or below the waist, which is also tricky due to the ban on “hip-drop” tackling, which is when the defender rotates their hips and drops his weight on the ball carrier.
Since it is difficult to hit the torso, defenders these days usually resort to wrapping the legs. However, this is not always easy to implement either.
Is the NFL handling this the right way?
The Chargers have to be careful, but it’s a tough business
Although it is important to protect players, it may take some time for defenders to adapt to the stricter rules. Today’s veterans were first trained under different conditions, and it’s difficult to remember all the protocols in the heat of battle.
James said he will not change despite the fine and suspension, via Kris Rhim of ESPN.
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“No, it’s not going to change that,” James said. “It certainly won’t change anything. Like I said, I’m just going to go lower. I’m not going to change…I’m going to play my style, but like I said, I’m just going to go lower.
James’ comments may seem inconsiderate, but in reality, he needs to maintain the intensity that made him a reliable pro in the first place.
“I’m not going to continue paying 700, 800 thousand [dollars]”James continued.
Mack and Perryman probably have similar feelings. For the sake of their wallets, they need to be attentive, but they also can’t lose their advantage and overthink every tackle.
