NFL to the Fine Clubs for the series of flagrant

The NFL will punish teams next season if their players committing several flagrant hits that result in fines.

The penalty will be financial, while the Vice-President of the League Adolpho birch, said Tuesday and that he did not exclude Commissioner Roger Goodell apply more sanctions such as stripping of clubs of choice of project.

Citing "the notion of accountability club", Birch said details such as the amount of the fines against clubs, or how much player fines would trigger a punishment have not been determined.

"Such as total increases of a club to a certain threshold, we will apply some... recovery to encourage clubs to remain below this level," said Birch. "" "". We envision a system similar to one, we have in place a few years off-field conduct. ?

The NFL began a crackdown illegal hits, particularly those of players without defence, last October. He threatened to suspensions, but some players had to sit out games. However, Ray Anderson, Chief disciplinarian of the League, said suspensions will be considered for flagrant hits this season.

Now, clubs, as well as the players are put on notice that illegal hits will result in an important discipline.

Birch would not identify which teams of 2010 would have been subjected to fines policy had been implemented, but did say at least three teams could have been punished. A player, linebacker Pittsburgh All - Pro James Harrison, has been fined $ 100,000 for the flagrant hits last season.

"We will check the number of fine particles and out the level of fines for offences relating to various violations of player safety," said Birch. "Especially head and helmet issues."

32 Owners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve changes to player safety rules, including a measure to maintain a player to start an opponent without defence. A 15-yard penalty will result to any person who leaves two feet before the contact spring forward and upward in an opponent and offers a blow to the helmet with a any part of his helmet.

These tackles will be also subject to fines.

The definition of a receiver without defence already has been extended. Now, a receiver who did not had time to protect or not clearly become a cross-country runner even if both feet are on the ground is regarded as defenceless.

Players without defences cannot hit in the head region or neck with the helmet, the mask, the forearm or the shoulder. The definition of these players now includes people throwing a pass; any attempt or complete a capture without having time to postpone or avoid contact. a cross-country runner whose forward progress was stopped by a Plater; coup sent or punt returning while the ball is in the air; Kickers or punters in a foot or a back kick; a quarterback in a change of possession; a player who receives a block blindside a Blocker to its own end zone.

Penalized players are subject to be ejected for flagrant misconduct.

"This should change permanently the mentality of a defensive player, trying to loosen the ball to change your target point," said Committee Co-Chairman Rich McKay, Chairman of the Atlanta Falcons competition.

Also, hits to the head of a smuggler who are not considered to be a blast "forced" will not be penalized.

"We do not say take the physicality out of the game in any way, shape or form," McKay said. "There still many hits that are legal."