Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Steelers have a 'dirty hit' pool?

I've seen some articles mentioning that the players for the Steelers take a 'collection pool' to pay for penalty fines for taking shots to the head of opposing players.

Is this a "dirty hit pool"?



That's the first time I've heard of a team taking up a penalty fine pool from players.

I mean, why worry about a fine if you can take a head-shot to the opposing player, knock him outta the game and take a measly 15yd penalty, and possibly greatly improve your chances of winning the SB by not having that player in the game anymore?

If the Steeler defense intentionally goes 'head hunting' on Rodgers, what is the downside to that for them? Upside is taking Rodgers out of the game which would be a huge advantage for Pittsburgh. Downside is what? 15yds and a fine? Maybe a suspension that is enforced a few games NEXT season? Who cares about a suspension next year if it could mean a SB ring on your finger?

A penalty (and fine) is meant to discourage some type of wrong-doing in the field of play. But violent head hits that can be major game-changer don't have a discouragement equal to the impact on the game. Only way of discouraging those head shots is ejection from the game.

It sounds more like a Raider thing, but I wouldn't put it past any team, given the rewards. The Steelers (especially Harrison) have had more than their share of blatant helmet hits this year. I guess we'll know once the game is played.

If the hit is blatant the hitter can be tossed from the game. Harrison is notorious for hits to the head and it wouldn't surprise me to see him do it in the SB. Funny how Pittsburg is the only team complaining about the hits being illegal, you don't hear Green Bay whining about it.

A 15 yard penalty in a Superbowl for a dirty hit would be beyond stupid. The Steelers, and some of their players got significant fines this year. Some were warrented, some were not. Some of the players contributed to the payemnt of these fines, as well as the fans. I would think this has more to do with the context of the article than what you are implying. They are going to play the way they have played all year, and if the result of that play is getting fined, then they are prepared for that. Do you think any other team plays any differently?

R.

If the officials actually declared the flagrant hitters ineligible and ejected them players would suddenly be able to play more cleanly, it would be a miracle. As it is now the players play within what the officials are allowing and worry about the money later.

jim

I don't think there is a single player today who could have played in the 60's-70's.........

Check out Night Train Lane and Hardy Brown.

James Harrison donated all of the hit money he received to charity. I beleive he started some type of foundation with it; I can't recall what it was. I just read that in the newspaper the other day.

Your in a contact sport some people need to quit the whining out of tune.

One of my favorite football stories, as told by my father-in-law, involves Night Train Lane. He was chasing down a running back near the side line. He was so feared, most would run out of bounds, rather than be hit. Hearing the approach, the running back calls out "Is that you, Night Train", the response? "It's me baby, it's me". Night Train proceeds the fold the rb in half, gets up, looks at the crumpled mess, and exclaims, "I told you it was me!" and walks away. He was one tough s.o.b.

R.

The NFL is cracking down on this because of the possibilities of the league being sued from past players now having all kinds of health problems from taking so many hits to the head over the years.

Much more is known now about the effects of concussions vs years ago when nobody really gave it second thought.

No reason to be going for the head in proper tackling technique, I realize there will be head contact during the instantaneous collisions of the game. But to be deliberately 'head hunting' or leading with the helmet directly at the head of the other player is not needed.

For a deeper insight into Hardy Brown, I very highly recommend the book Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent. (Actually, I highly recommend anything by Jim Dent, but this particular book fits the discussion.)

Don't matter cause Clay will be knocking Big Ben out.

That's just stupid!! I just hope that they remember that it works both ways! It would be a pity for ole Ben to get his bell rung again or his leg broken.

This thread reeks with the odor of used kotex.....what a bunch of wimps. IT'S FOOTBALL.....it's suppose to hurt when you play a contact sport!!

Well said! They could always join the well respected Pro Touch Football League with just a slight cut in pay.

TexasRick - Hurt and pain's one thing in football but intentionally trying to cripple someone is another. Not sportsmen like in my book..

Not a damned thing in that article indicates what you allege.

I've gone back and read the original quote a bunch of times and can't really see how it can be interpreted as any threat to intentionally injure anyone.

But if you're looking to get whipped into a frenzy I guess you can read anything you want into it.

Maybe they'll run it dry on sunday.



Really, that's pretty bushleague if they do have that pool. But the commish has brought this on himself with the pussifying of the league.

I woulndn't be a bit surprised if teams pay player fines for hard hits that generated fines from the commish.