James Harrison Suspended One Game

Added on Dec 13, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

Steelers linebacker James Harrison is once again in trouble with the NFL watchmen. However, his latest transgression will cost him more than just cash after he was slapped with a one-game suspension that will prevent him from playing in Pittsburgh’s key intra-division matchup with San Francisco on Monday night. Harrison will likely pursue an appeal, but considering his spotty reputation as a cheap-shot artist he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

Speaking of not being able to stand properly, Colt McCoy, the recipient of Harrison’s helmet-to-helmet assault suffered a concussion but was allowed to return to the field by Browns’ team doctors. He has yet to practice since the hit and admitted he has no memory of it happening.

This marks the seventh punishment levied against Harrison since 2009. He has been fined a total of $100,000 and yet maintains none of the hits he delivered warranted action being taken by the league. Regardless of whether or not he agrees with the NFL’s strict policy on leading with the helmet, Harrison’s refusal to comply will now cost his team one of its best defensive players.

The four-time All-Pro is waging a one-man crusade against commissioner Roger Goodell. His complaints about pro football becoming too soft are correct. His belief that rules have been written to favor offenses and penalize defenses is accurate. All that said, Harrison is fighting a losing battle.

More and more players are being diagnosed with concussions, some of which, like McCoy’s, are a direct result of illegal hits. Quarterbacks in particular are receiving preferential treatment by game officials and league executives. Like it or not, signal-callers are vital to the NFL’s mass appeal and will continue to be protected as valuable commodities.

Harrison, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and every other defensive player knows they are being placed under a microscope on a weekly basis. Needless to say, headhunting “defenseless players” won’t do much to decrease the scrutiny.