I've been ruminating on this for a little while, because all in all, I'm very confused. The NFL, this year, has had a very firm stance on player safety. This has turned into the manifestation of some pretty egregious fines for men who are, for all intents and purposes, just playing the game the way they've been taught. No one has been singled out more than James Harrison of the Steelers on this matter, who was fined again this week for a great hit on Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills - a hit that this writer thinks was not late, not dirty and just an example of a great pass rusher making a solid hit and trying to make a play. As I mentioned, for his efforts, he was fined.
What staggers me the most on this is that, on the same week, Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan and Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson shed their helmets and started beating on each other like they were on ice, not a field and were levied the same fine as Harrison afterwards. Richard Seymour of the Raiders punched Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers right in the face during a game and was fined similarly. What I don't understand is how the league can be so heavy-handed in doling out fines on guys who are just trying to play the game, but basically give guys who are throwing punches little more than slaps on the wrist.
I'm of the opinion that anyone who throws a punch or otherwise displays violent acts that have no part of the game of football should be fined significantly - I'm talking six figures, not five - and suspended for at least one game, if not more. I find it astounding that men brawling on the field is somehow acceptable - and the low fines being levied for it encourage it. Trust me on this - if Richard Seymour had been suspended for a full game after throwing his punch at Big Ben, I have a feeling Finnegan and Johnson might have reconsidered their little game of Punch-Out.
As for the big hits thing, well, that's gotten out of hand, too, but I'll talk about that another time. But never before in an NFL season have I seen so many flags thrown arbitrarily. Hines Ward spoke out against it this week and so has Brian Urlacher of the Bears. One of these flags is going to make a huge difference in a playoff game. I think Troy Polamalu - and Urlacher - suggested the best idea - a committee of NFL executives, personnel men and retired players who evaluate and decide on fines. As it is, these fines are handed out in a way that seems, at best, as arbitrarily as the flags being thrown.
Coaches on the Hot Seat
Ah, a favorite late-season and off-season topic - the coaching carousel - who stays, who goes. Or in this case, who will probably go. The below are all guys I think need to find new teams or step back down to coordinator:
(In no particular order)
Mike Singletary - San Francisco 49ers. Sorry Mike. I love his enthusiasm and the vigor he brings to the game, but I think it's clear he's in over his head. He reminds me of Rod Marinelli in his last season as Lions coach - out of his depth, repeating the same mantra over and over as his team continues to flounder. Marinelli is thriving as a defensive coordinator in Chicago now. I think Singletary would benefit from a similar move.
Gary Kubiak - Houston Texans. Too many years of no progress. This team continues to stay stuck at .500 or a game within it. Time to move on. This team is too talented to be .500 and be content about it and their defense is underperforming to be ranked as low as it is.
Jack Del Rio - Jacksonville Jaguars. Unless they have a huge surge to end the season and make the playoffs, virtually the same case as Kubiak. This team is almost always at .500 or one game above/below it. No progress over too much time. Move on.
John Fox - Carolina Panthers. His contract is up at the end of the year anyway, but I have to believe he's counting the days til he can walk out that door and has no desire to stay anyway.
Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati Bengals. Same as Fox, only amplified times ten or so.
Norv Turner - San Diego Chargers. Win a playoff game or else. They fired a better coach for not winning playoff games after a 14-2 season. If Turner can't find postseason success, they need to move on. His inability to get them playing good football until November is of concern, also.
Ken Whisenhunt - Arizona Cardinals. He took over a good team with good veteran leadership, but those veterans are gone now. Can he keep this team competitive without Kurt Warner? I give him another year after this one to find out, or I chalk up his success to Warner's skill at QB.
Josh McDaniels - Denver Broncos. Every coach deserves 3 years. But starting 6-0 and being a .250 team after that sort of sets an expectation early. One more year is deserved here, but if the Broncos aren't over .500 next year, I think it maybe safe to let him go.
Jim Schwartz - Detroit Lions. As above, everyone deserves 3 years. But the Lions are more talented than they have been in a long time and still lose games. I question their fundamentals, their mental toughness and their discipline. Schwartz needs to pull this team to .500 or better next year or I question his ability to remain a head coach.
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