If the ball carrier fights to break free from the tackle, or attempts to gain extra yards and not go down with the tackler, then I'm all for the safety to come flying in and finish him off.

Next time round, you usually see the ball carrier hit the dirt in no time when he's grabbed and Mike Brown is closing down on him sharpish.

Okay... I'm not talking about the QB ice. I agree that they are TOO protected.

I'm NOT talking about the WR going across the middle who gets popped by a safety. That's part of that play/position.

I'm NOT talking about some guy charging up on a play b/c the offensive guy might get free.

I'm NOT talking about a guy putting his hat on the ball to knock it free.

I'm talking about Mr. Launch yourself at a defenseless player guy. It's actually a TERRIBLE way to to tackle as there is no wrapping up and you are selling out (so it's not because the guy might break away). They are ALWAYS leading with their head/shoulder because they want to make a hit that gets them on sportscenter as oppossed to making a sure tackle.

It's chicken shit and there's no honor in it.

I played football for 8 years and know that there are some unspoken rules about hitting. If some guy is already being tackled, you don't run and dive at the guys knees from the side as you are going to cripple him for life. You don't lead with your helmet and spear someone in the back for similar reasons.

But now its common place in the NFL for people to try to decaptate a player who is already entangled. I'm not talking about hitting him hard, or putting your hat on the ball, I'm talking about flying at the guys head trying to knock him out of the game.

I LOVE hitting and it's what I used to be great at. I love the Ronnie Lott type players, but I hate it when someguy tries to cheap shot someone at the end of a play. I wish they had a hockey type retaliation system to prevent it.

T

Speaking of all this hitting and receivers going over the middle knowing that they are going to take a hit, did any of you catch the one Monday night when that DB (don't rmember his name) tried to lay a big one on Keyshawn Johnson and ended up knocking himself silly? I really felt for guy afterwards but man that was funny. KJ is not a small receiver but I wouldn't thought you could knock yourself out by running into him. The gave himself a concussion on that play according to something I read the next day.

Yeah, that was horrible form too. If he came in with his hands high and stripped down he could have pulled the ball loose, instead he went for the hit on a guy that has made a living going over the middle like that. Updown time!!