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Back Page NFL trying to keep valuable QBs safe
By Bob Harris, Special to CNNSI.com There's no two ways about it: The NFL's commitment to the concept of "Quarterback Safety" is absolute. And whether you're in favor of this commitment or not, you have to admire the tenacity the league is showing in backing up their stance. It all started back in March, during this year's annual NFL owner's meeting in Palm Desert, Calif. That's when the league's "collective conscience" -- better known as the Competition Committee -- began telling anybody willing to listen that officials would be encouraged to protect the quarterback vigorously this season. Tampa Bay GM and Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay said at the time, "When in doubt about roughing the passer, we're telling [officials] to throw a flag." Roughing the passer was called 84 times last season, compared to an average of fewer than 60 in previous years, but the league said it wasn't sure if that was because of stricter enforcement or because play was getting rougher. While it's not clear whether the increase in roughing calls is behind the trend, the Competition Committee noted that quarterback injuries are decreasing. And even as the "purists" howl in anguish, Fantasy owners can rest easy, secure in the knowledge that Paul Tagliabue has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to defenders taking pot shots at one of the most vital resources the league has to offer. The league couldn't have made itself any clearer than it did in the days immediately after Sept. 30, a day that included vicious -- some would and rightfully did say, cheap -- shots on two NFL signal callers: Jacksonville's Mark Brunell and Seattle's Trent Dilfer. Brunell, who was waylaid by Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Gerard Warren, has been one of the NFL's more durable quarterbacks during his stint in Jacksonville. The veteran signal caller has only missed nine of 104 possible games since taking over as the Jaguars' starter early in the team's inaugural 1995 season. And the former Washington star was adamant in claiming the helmet-to-helmet hit he absorbed from Warren was unnecessary. "It's not just the fact that I'm a quarterback," Brunell said at the time. "Anybody standing around in a completely helpless position, to take a shot like that is uncalled for. It's ridiculous. It should have never happened. He will get fined [by the NFL] and he probably should get fined." Brunell vehemently disputed the contention held by many in Cleveland, including head coach Butch Davis, who initially stated the belief that Warren's hit wasn't a cheap shot. "It's a very inaccurate statement," Brunell said about Davis. "He knows the rules. He saw the film." Sure he did, but more importantly, so did league officials. Warren was fined $35,000 earlier this week for both unnecessary contact on a passer after a change of possession and unnecessary roughness in the Browns’ game against Jacksonville. In addition to the fine, Tagliabue instructed Warren to meet with him and senior director of officiating Mike Pereira in New York last Tuesday to review both this play and the League’s playing rules on these matters. Tagliabue also instructed the Browns to send an assistant coach along for the meeting. Gene Washington, league director of football operations, explained the fine to Warren in a letter. Washington told Warren, "Your hit on Brunell was plainly both violent and unnecessary under the circumstances. The hit could not be justified by Brunell's place on the field relative to the play itself, nor by any action taken by Brunell following the change of possession. "It was hardly necessary for you to run across the field at top speed and strike him in the most dangerous possible way." And that just happens to describe the brutal assault perpetrated on Dilfer by Oakland linebacker Elijah Alexander that same day. "The last thing I remember was seeing Darrell's hand go up and I threw him the ball," Dilfer said of the play that simultaneously resulted in a 54-yard completion to Darrell Jackson and the loss of his senses. "Then it went black," Dilfer said. "I think it was one of our doctors [who] asked me about my neck. That was the first thing I remember hearing. I believe I was out. It is hard because nobody knows but me, and I, well, it went black for sure, and then the first thing I remember feeling is the pain in my jaw." Dilfer knows what he's talking about; the fact is Alexander's shot wasn't even No. 1 on his hit parade. That came last season, in a playoff victory over the Denver Broncos when Dilfer took a helmet to the left side of his jaw. "It was probably a little bit worse than that one [Sunday]," the former first-round draft pick admitted of the shot he took last year. The league fined Alexander a full game check for "using the helmet to butt, spear or ram an opponent violently" and hitting a player in a "defenseless posture." And the league continued its relentless prosecution of crimes against quarterbacks by going after Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, who nailed Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson in the head with a forearm -- after Johnson was already down -- during his team's Oct. 7 win over the Bills. Not surprisingly, Johnson missed the remainder of the game. But Lewis -- who didn't draw a penalty flag for his transgression -- found himself $12,500 lighter the following week thanks to league officials who saw his attack for what it was. And somewhere Jack Lambert quietly shook his head in disgust. But not me. No sir, I was too busy exhorting the powers that be to press on in their righteous quest! The fact is, many a Fantasy championship has been decided by plays like those described above. How many owners out there invested an early draft pick in order to secure the services of one of the league's elite signal callers -- only to watch in abject horror as you guy is skewered by a mindless defender who's primary goal is injuring your pride and joy? My guess says more than a few of you raised you hands. Rest easy friends. The folks on Park Avenue feel your pain! And if you don't believe they're taking this issue seriously, check out the following comments: Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick: "There's such a fine line between playing aggressively and possibly crossing over that line. [The NFL’s videotapes] give us an opportunity to show the players first-hand what the officials are looking for. You know, 'This is what they're calling, so don't do it.’” It couldn't be any simpler. Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis (obviously speaking after some gentle arm-twisting by Tags and the boys at league headquarters), who earlier this month refused to admit that Warren's shot on Brunell was a cheap shot: “The league is very involved in protecting quarterbacks. I certainly understand that. I'm a firm believer in that. There is no place for dirty football, cheap-shot football, late hits, regardless of whether it's a quarterback or a defensive lineman. No one should be subject to anything that has no place in football. “Obviously, they've sent out the memos. They've sent out videotapes during the summertime. The helmet-to-helmet contact and all those things are very important. Fines will have some impact. But certainly coaches, the mindset that you coach your team, probably has as big an impact as anything.” Maybe some of the outlaws will fly right now, eh Butch. Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren: “In our business, the quarterbacks are very, very important to every team. People want to come and see the quarterbacks play. “I've always been somewhat amused by the people who say, ‘Aw, they got pads on like everyone else.’ Well, yeah, they do. But they're not usually as big. They are vulnerable. “You can take a guard sometimes and play him at tackle. You can take a tackle sometimes and play him at center. You can't take a guard and play him at quarterback. You can't do that. Coaches, teams, everyone has to understand that.” You're darned skippy they do, Mike! Testify brother! As Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon wisely stated: “People want to see the best players on the field. If you are going to lose half your quarterbacks during the course of a season, that’s not very good for the game.” Not very good for the game? Heck, ask any Fantasy owner you happen to run across; it can be downright disastrous. Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.
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