Should Helmet To Helmet Tackles Be Permitted in the N.F.L.

            The biggest controversy in sports currently in my eyes is if helmet to helmet tackles should be permitted or not in the N.F.L. There are many people sided to stricter rules and some people believe that they should just play on.

The first side of the argument is enforcing rules on the contact more. “bleacherreport.com” refers to the example in the 2013 A.F.C. championship game of the two hits, one of a hit from Bernard Pollard on Stevan Riddley and the other between Ray Lewis and Aaron Hernandez. Pollard’s hit was legal due to the fact that Riddley was a running back and Ray Lewis’s tackle was illegal because Aaron Hernandez was a defenseless receiver. Bleacherreport.com says that the N.F.L. should have more restrictions on helmet to helmet tackles no matter what the situation is, weather it is a running back or a receiver/tight end.

The other side of the argument thinks that we should just be loose with it as the culture of football has been thus far. Profootballtal.nbcnews.com asked Hines Ward a retired receiver for the Pittsburg what he thinks about the situation and he said that we should go back to the time where you had a leather helmet and no facemask. When I heard this I thought he was crazy, but his backup support and reasoning seems to make a lot of sense to me. He says if we wear a leather helmet in the N.F.L. then it would add the sense of self-preservation to the players and would not make such reckless decisions. Both of these are great points, but I’d like to know what you think or if you have any ideas for this controversy but it in the comments below and have a great day.

Works Cited

Levy, D. (2013, 1 21). Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2 26, 2013, from Bleacherreport.com: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1494820-nfl-needs-a-culture-change-to-eliminate-all-helmet-to-helmet-hits

Smith, M. D. (2012, 12 4). Hines Ward: “If you want to prevent concussions, take the helmet off”. Retrieved 2 26, 2013, from footballtalk.nbcsports.com: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/04/hines-ward-if-you-want-to-prevent-concussions-take-the-helmet-off/