You're the most watched member of the most watched team in the NFL in regards to this type of penalty. You called the commisioner a devil during the lockout and half-heartedly apologized for it. This is the hit you will burn for, James. Weather legal, or excessive, or all points in between, you are going to burn for this one.

weather = whether. These are the mistakes I make after I clock in.

Nabb1: I see that he is also a moron.

You spend 15 years trying to maintain your balance by smacking your head into thigns and see how smart it leaves you.

I want to see Harrison after his stint in the NFL. That guy is all sorts of stupid AND criminally insane.

OK, maybe the McCoy looked like a runner just before he threw the ball, and MAYBE Harrison couldn't stop the hit. And maybe.....just maybe...... helmet-to-helmet hits are part of the game because you can't help it when things are moving at NFL speeds......

But Harrison seems to be the only one who can't help himself. The suspension should stick. There's no argument the other way, is there?

Dogfacedgod: I want to see Harrison after his stint in the NFL. That guy is all sorts of stupid AND criminally insane.

If he keeps hitting things with his head, he'll just be a veggie drooling all over himself in his lazy boy.

I'm not sure this was even worth a fine. Mccoy tucked the ball and began running the ball forward. It wasn't the defenders fault that he pulled out at the last second and got rocked. If your going to run the ball, you're going to get hit. Often helmet to helmet occurs with running backs because both the offense and defense are hitting each other. In this case, the offense tried to shy away from contact too late and got obliterated in the process.

I think this had more to do with reputation then anything else, which is disappointing.

/go ravens!

Good.

r0Be: It wasn't the defenders fault that he pulled out at the last second and got rocked.

He was behind the line of scrimmage and he's still a quarterback. You're not paying attention if you think you can just rock a guy like that. The rules in the NFL are pretty clear.

homarjr: But Harrison seems to be the only one who can't help himself. The suspension should stick. There's no argument the other way, is there?

I think Harrison is just a good example of the kind of player that straddles the line between the old-school rockhead form of football and the kinder, gentler form they're trying to get people to play now. He's also a good example of the type of player that can't get his mind wrapped around the fact that the old school smashmouth days are gone and they're not coming back.

Now, I don't disagree with the notion that the players - especially players that are often left defenseless, like a quarterback in mid-throw or a receiver focused on the ball - need better protections from dangerous hits and I don't disagree that players like Harrison are responsible for amending their play to the new rules, but I also don't think it's that Harrison is a dirty player so much as this is how he knows how to play football and he's just not cut out to adjust to the new rules.

As a Steelers fan, I hate to see it happen, but he's just going to have to retire. I don't think he's going to be able to change his play style sufficiently and he can't keep hammering people like this and just shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal. Yea, that's how football used to be played. But the key phrase their is "used to be" and there are perfectly good reasons the NFL is trying to put these types of hits in the past.

Here is an easy five step guide on how to properly tackle someone. It's so simple that even the functional retards that the Steelers draft can follow it.

Link (new window)

if the nfl is going to suspend every player that accidentally hits the facemask/helmet of another with their helmet, rosters are going to need to expend. oh, they are just going to suspend players that insult the commish, ok, carry on then.

i'm all for head safety, but this wasn't exactly a intentional or violent hit. not harrison's fault that mccoy is a pansy-ass motherfarker.

/still not as bad as the "runner ducked his head into the tackler's helmet" bullshiat
//at least the nfl can pretend to care, not enough to fund healthcare for struggling former players, but...

As a Steelers fan, let me just say that his suspension is warranted. I also hope that should the opportunity arise, that he would make the exact same hit again on any opposing quarterback.

I'm not sure about the comparisons of Harrison and Suh (in regards to subby's headline). Suh does a lot of "after the play" stuff and his wrangling of Delhomme was certainly above and beyond anything Harrison has ever done.

With Harrison, his problem is that he almost always leads with the helmet. His form is completely wrong, but he doesn't want to change it because that's what he knows. It's not like he's specifically aiming to hit helmet to helmet, but he has the attitude of "if it happens, it happens, lets move onto the next play". Which is wrong, but I think it's more of a problem of the excessive blows to the head he has taken over the years affecting rational thought.

With Suh, he's just a head case. He builds up a head of steam and thinks "I'm going to spear this guy because he pisses me off". His hits are certainly intentional, not spur of the moment because he has bad form. Just look at the Delhomme incident and tell me that he wasn't trying to rip his head off. Harrison doesn't do things like that.

I'm not saying Harrison is right. I'm saying that what he does and what Suh does are not the same in any way.

Suhspension? Dear subby:

r0Be: I'm not sure this was even worth a fine. Mccoy tucked the ball and began running the ball forward. It wasn't the defenders fault that he pulled out at the last second and got rocked. If your going to run the ball, you're going to get hit. Often helmet to helmet occurs with running backs because both the offense and defense are hitting each other. In this case, the offense tried to shy away from contact too late and got obliterated in the process.

I think this had more to do with reputation then anything else, which is disappointing.

/go ravens!

The ball was out of McCoy's hand before Harrison was committed to the tackle. He was over a yard away when the ball came out and had to take two steps to drive through McCoy. He then lowered his head and speared him.

fark you Harrison.

Link (new window)

I still maintain that Harrison would be the ultimate baby sitter.

r0Be: I'm not sure this was even worth a fine. Mccoy tucked the ball and began running the ball forward. It wasn't the defenders fault that he pulled out at the last second and got rocked. If your going to run the ball, you're going to get hit. Often helmet to helmet occurs with running backs because both the offense and defense are hitting each other. In this case, the offense tried to shy away from contact too late and got obliterated in the process.

Almost this.

Between 2010's spate of fines and last Thursday, Harrison had fastidiously avoided late hits, head shots, and launches. When viewed at normal speed, the McCoy hit was a case of a defender driving through a runner's chest, with the runner pulling up too late for the tackler to change course.

An unintentional headshot is still a headshot though, and an unintentional blast on a defenseless player is still a blast on a defenseless player. So if the NFL intends to be serious and consistent in regards to player safety, this can and absolutely should call for a substantial fine.

But a suspension is unwarranted here. No suspensions for on-field activity that I can recall have been for instances where there was no apparrent intent to injure. Was this personal? Did the NFL seize the opportunity to exact a measure of revenge against a vocal (albeit stupid critic)? Is Goodell that petty? Maybe.

He's still dumber than a sack of hammers. The Pittsburgh front office really needs to coach him on how to speak in a way that won't put the team in deeper doodoo.

homarjr:

But Harrison seems to be the only one who can't help himself. The suspension should stick. There's no argument the other way, is there?

Unless you're a Steelers fan. We have a die-hard Steelers homer here in the office and he's run the gamut of excuses for Harrison.

1) McCoy was a runner and fair game. (Yeah, until he threw the ball, then he became a QB without the ball.)

2) McCoy ducked into it. (Um...not in the clip I've seen repeatedly.)

3) Harrison couldn't adjust on the fly because the throw was at the last moment. (No. Harrison's head was up and watching McCoy throw the ball, after which he took a step and a half and lowered the crown of his helmet into his facemask.)

4) Harrison had his arms out to make a form tackle. (The hell he did.)

5) Harrison is just aggressive and plays hard, like football should be. (I agree that football is a game of collisions and big hits are fun. But, go back and look at tape of guys like Ronnie Lott, who absolutely destroyed guys with hits that would still be called legal today. OR, even better, go back a couple of weeks and take a look at Julian Edelmann wrecking Vince Young. It's kind of sad that a 5'7" wide receiver who played QB in college knows how to tackle better than a linebacker.)

While I would agree that too many ticky-tack penalties are being called in the NFL (i.e. the one Brady drew when he slid against the Redskins -- that was a horrid call and I'm a Pats fan), this was not one of those cases. Just about every player in the league has learned that these type of hits are wrong and have adjusted their playing style. Harrison has refused to do so and has even gone on record saying that he isn't going to change his ways. That, by definition, is idiotic.

If the league is serious about player safety, especially regarding concussions, there should be a fine for the Browns' coach for putting McCoy back in the game after that hit.

/Steelers fan
/Feels suspension is justified

He could have had a decent argument on this one more than most others. Colt didn't act like he was going to pass it until the last second and was out of the pocket, may count as a runner not a passer just for that. (I don't know every damn rule) This was just one too many in too short a time period. Luckily, Harrison is an idiot and will miss an imaginably losable game.

I am Jack's user id: But a suspension is unwarranted here. No suspensions for on-field activity that I can recall have been for instances where there was no apparrent intent to injure. Was this personal? Did the NFL seize the opportunity to exact a measure of revenge against a vocal (albeit stupid critic)? Is Goodell that petty? Maybe.

How many times can you fine a guy? The purpose is (supposed to be) to change his attitude. Harrison doesn't seem to care about the money. Maybe a game will change his mind? That's the idea here....

They do need to give the officials some leeway for helmet to helmet hits. I've seen several this year where the receiver ducks his head low and draws contact that way. Not purposefully, but when you've got a 250 lb LB hitting supersonic speeds on his way to you, most people instinctively try to turn into a much smaller target. That shouldn't result in a penalty against the defense...there's no way they can stop it or anticipate the actions of the tacklee.

Splinshints: homarjr: But Harrison seems to be the only one who can't help himself. The suspension should stick. There's no argument the other way, is there?

I think Harrison is just a good example of the kind of player that straddles the line between the old-school rockhead form of football and the kinder, gentler form they're trying to get people to play now. He's also a good example of the type of player that can't get his mind wrapped around the fact that the old school smashmouth days are gone and they're not coming back.

Now, I don't disagree with the notion that the players - especially players that are often left defenseless, like a quarterback in mid-throw or a receiver focused on the ball - need better protections from dangerous hits and I don't disagree that players like Harrison are responsible for amending their play to the new rules, but I also don't think it's that Harrison is a dirty player so much as this is how he knows how to play football and he's just not cut out to adjust to the new rules.

As a Steelers fan, I hate to see it happen, but he's just going to have to retire. I don't think he's going to be able to change his play style sufficiently and he can't keep hammering people like this and just shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal. Yea, that's how football used to be played. But the key phrase their is "used to be" and there are perfectly good reasons the NFL is trying to put these types of hits in the past.

Yeah, 20 years ago Harrison would be a star player that would be on every highlight reel. He'd be up there with Ronnie Lott, Mike Singletary, and LT as a punishing hitter. That's not the way Goodell wants the NFL to be - and in many ways he's right. At the same time, I still feel that Harrison has a wrongly earned reputation (the Massaquoi hit that started it all was a perfect form tackle where MoMass ducked into Harrison's helmet) and the commish should be a bit more lenient based on that. But at the same time, a reputation is a reputation whether earned or bestowed, and Harrison's reputation means he has to sit.

Splinshints: but I also don't think it's that Harrison is a dirty player so much as this is how he knows how to play football and he's just not cut out to adjust to the new rules.

He's dirty and he knows exactly what he's doing. He's done it before, he'll do it again. He's a farking professional football player...he knows how to tackle properly, and even in some bizarro-world where you wanted to accept the fact that he didn't know....he should be able to learn proper form....cuz ya know....he's a professional football player.

example: Julian Edelman.....former college QB, turned WR, turned punt returner, turned DB.....making a perfectly legal and/or clean hit with great form on the QB. (new window)

/Now...either julian edelman is a more talented football football player or harrison likes to lead with his head.

CavalierEternal: MadRocketScientist: If the league is serious about player safety, especially regarding concussions, there should be a fine for the Browns' coach for putting McCoy back in the game after that hit.

/Steelers fan
/Feels suspension is justified

Browns fan, hoping Shurmur and the Browns get a decent fine for putting him back in that game.

I do too. The league and the players association met with the Browns yesterday. Not sure what the outcome was though.

MadRocketScientist: If the league is serious about player safety, especially regarding concussions, there should be a fine for the Browns' coach for putting McCoy back in the game after that hit.

/Steelers fan
/Feels suspension is justified

I have to agree with this, if they are going to fine players for this they need to fine coaches for their "Its not a concussion, its just dirt in the helmet" attitude.

After watching the clip a few more times, it's pretty obvious that Harrison never intended for a clean tackle, regardless of whether or not McCoy was a runner. McCoy was actually well into the process of throwing the ball, and Harrison could have (and should have) turned to pursue the receiver. Instead, you can clearly tell that his intention from the moment McCoy pulls the ball down is that he is going to "blow up" McCoy. This is also what he did to Massoquai (sp) last year. He purposefully intended to not make a tackle on the opponent, but rather to injure them in some way.

mrtoadswildride: Splinshints: but I also don't think it's that Harrison is a dirty player so much as this is how he knows how to play football and he's just not cut out to adjust to the new rules.

He's dirty and he knows exactly what he's doing. He's done it before, he'll do it again. He's a farking professional football player...he knows how to tackle properly, and even in some bizarro-world where you wanted to accept the fact that he didn't know....he should be able to learn proper form....cuz ya know....he's a professional football player.

example: Julian Edelman.....former college QB, turned WR, turned punt returner, turned DB.....making a perfectly legal and/or clean hit with great form on the QB. (new window)

/Now...either julian edelman is a more talented football football player or harrison likes to lead with his head.

edelman is just really, really grabby

It's funny everyone is jumping on his case when 4 years ago (or even more recently) people would have been talking about how good a hit it was, it'd be added to NFL Films videos all over.

McCoy had the ball tucked and was running with it when Harrison entered his "i'm gonna wipe this guy out" progression...helmet to helmet hits don't get penalized on ball carriers. The fact that McCoy suddenly flipped the ball out after Harrison had basically hit that point of no return should strongly be considered. Sure, in super slow mo it looks bad, but at game speed with reaction times factored in, I felt the hit was clean.

MadRocketScientist: If the league is serious about player safety, especially regarding concussions, there should be a fine for the Browns' coach for putting McCoy back in the game after that hit.

/Steelers fan
/Feels suspension is justified

If the NFL was truly serious about player safety, Shurmur would actually be suspended this week too. The teams need to learn that the concussion safety standards matter.

whizbangthedirtfarmer: After watching the clip a few more times, it's pretty obvious that Harrison never intended for a clean tackle, regardless of whether or not McCoy was a runner. McCoy was actually well into the process of throwing the ball, and Harrison could have (and should have) turned to pursue the receiver. Instead, you can clearly tell that his intention from the moment McCoy pulls the ball down is that he is going to "blow up" McCoy. This is also what he did to Massoquai (sp) last year. He purposefully intended to not make a tackle on the opponent, but rather to injure them in some way.

Which would be perfectly legal if the player were not a quarterback of a receiver. Halfback, Fullback, Tight End, or eligible lineman can be hit any which way you please. It's kindof a travesty, because it's not like those players don't suffer from the same injuries as anyone else.

ihatedumbpeople: It's funny everyone is jumping on his case when 4 years ago (or even more recently) people would have been talking about how good a hit it was, it'd be added to NFL Films videos all over.

McCoy had the ball tucked and was running with it when Harrison entered his "i'm gonna wipe this guy out" progression...helmet to helmet hits don't get penalized on ball carriers. The fact that McCoy suddenly flipped the ball out after Harrison had basically hit that point of no return should strongly be considered. Sure, in super slow mo it looks bad, but at game speed with reaction times factored in, I felt the hit was clean.

...besides the fact that Harrison was leading with his helmet and jammed the crown of his helmet in McCoy's jaw. And McCoy was already well into the throwing motion when Harrison started his motion. It was a dick move, plain and simple.

Splinshints: homarjr: But Harrison seems to be the only one who can't help himself. The suspension should stick. There's no argument the other way, is there?

I think Harrison is just a good example of the kind of player that straddles the line between the old-school rockhead form of football and the kinder, gentler form they're trying to get people to play now. He's also a good example of the type of player that can't get his mind wrapped around the fact that the old school smashmouth days are gone and they're not coming back.

Now, I don't disagree with the notion that the players - especially players that are often left defenseless, like a quarterback in mid-throw or a receiver focused on the ball - need better protections from dangerous hits and I don't disagree that players like Harrison are responsible for amending their play to the new rules, but I also don't think it's that Harrison is a dirty player so much as this is how he knows how to play football and he's just not cut out to adjust to the new rules.

As a Steelers fan, I hate to see it happen, but he's just going to have to retire. I don't think he's going to be able to change his play style sufficiently and he can't keep hammering people like this and just shrugging his shoulders like it was no big deal. Yea, that's how football used to be played. But the key phrase their is "used to be" and there are perfectly good reasons the NFL is trying to put these types of hits in the past.

As a Steelers fan, I can't THIS this hard enough. There's a difference between playing hard and playing dirty. He's going to seriously hurt someone if he keeps playing like that. Which he will.

Thats too bad. I wanted him playing against the 49ers

Dog Welder: While I would agree that too many ticky-tack penalties are being called in the NFL (i.e. the one Brady drew when he slid against the Redskins -- that was a horrid call and I'm a Pats fan), this was not one of those cases. Just about every player in the league has learned that these type of hits are wrong and have adjusted their playing style. Harrison has refused to do so and has even gone on record saying that he isn't going to change his ways. That, by definition, is idiotic.

The call on Brady, IMO, is enough that the officials should be fined for it. "Helmet to helmet on a sliding QB" now means "forearm to forearm on a "still-going-into-his-slide QB". Horrendous call.

Harrison's an idiot (for precisely the reasons you stated). Either learn how to tackle, suffer the inevitable fines you WANT to get (because blowing up the guy with the ball gets you on TV), retire, or start your own league. Stop whining, it's really unbecoming of a 6', 242# multimillionaire who wears mustard-colored Spandex and rolls around on the ground in big man-piles.

James, honey - the rules are not there to protect sissy-boy limp-wristed pigskin tossing seat-fillers from the damage your perfect form is engineered to inflict, they're there to protect YOU from turning your brain-parts into tapioca. Be thankful you haven't concussed YOURSELF out of a game yet, pay the fine, and enjoy a day off.

I love me some football, but je-SUS. Grow up and get with the program.

I am Jack's user id: But a suspension is unwarranted here. No suspensions for on-field activity that I can recall have been for instances where there was no apparrent intent to injure. Was this personal? Did the NFL seize the opportunity to exact a measure of revenge against a vocal (albeit stupid critic)? Is Goodell that petty? Maybe.

Goodell is the commissioner of the NFL. He has people kissing his ass all day long. That kind of thing has an effect on people, and gives them an ego. And Goodell has been openly and publicly insulted by Harrison. If he didn't use this incident to get some payback, he would be viewed as being weak.

To me the question is not "will he be suspended?" but "how long will the suspension will be?"

whizbangthedirtfarmer: McCoy was actually well into the process of throwing the ball, and Harrison could have (and should have) turned to pursue the receiver.

Because QBs never pump fake while running to make LBs jump and miss a tackle, right?

Ask yourself: if this was Tim Tebus or Mike Vick scrambling, would it have been called?

Harrison: hurrdurr I appeal my suh-spension.

NFL: OK ... let us meet for a minute to review your case ... (incoherent mumbling) ... OK, we've reviewed your case, and indeed we were wrong. You are suh-spended for THREE games, not one

/ the lulz would be epic

James Harrison five days ago: "I assumed it wasn't against the rules once he was out of the pocket."

James Harrison today: "I tried to avoid it because I totally understood the rules, but just lost control."

James Harrison in five days: "I totally understood the rules and successfully avoided helmet-to-helmet contact. The film is deceptive."

James Harrison in ten days: "The truth is, I wasn't even at that game. Some other guy was in my uniform."

whizbangthedirtfarmer: They do need to give the officials some leeway for helmet to helmet hits. I've seen several this year where the receiver ducks his head low and draws contact that way. Not purposefully, but when you've got a 250 lb LB hitting supersonic speeds on his way to you, most people instinctively try to turn into a much smaller target. That shouldn't result in a penalty against the defense...there's no way they can stop it or anticipate the actions of the tacklee.

Actually, I canged my mind. There's no reason period to drop your head at the last second and lead with the crown of your helmet no matter what the guy you're tackling is doing. Unless you're a sociopath playing a sport you made up in your head where dealing concussions earns you extra points. See gif (new window) already posted. He likely thought he could get away with it because Colt might not have technically counted as a passer at that point.