Destroying The Game? James Harrison and The NFL's New Rules

James Harrison isn't the first player whose toughness was outlawed by the NFL.

 "It reminds me of intramural football years ago." - Hall of Fame coach Weeb Ewbank

"The new rules have destroyed one of the finest parts of the game..." - Vikings Hall of Fame defensive tackle Merlin Olsen

"It's not football anymore...All the rules are on their side." - 49ers linebacker Jack Reynolds

"They want a circus out there-more throwing and scoring at the expense of those who rush." - Rams defensive end Fred Dryer

"You're blessed with a God-given talent.  You work a whole career to learn the skill and to use it, to get it down.  And then some rich guys who never played the game get together in Hawaii or someplace, over a cocktail, and take away what you've perfected." - 49ers defensive end Cedric Hardman

Earlier today, the NFL gave James Harrison a one-game suspension for his illegal and concussive hit on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.  This was no small decision, as it is the first time the league has suspended a player for violating their new restrictions on helmet-to-helmet blows.  While many fans applauded the ruling, others had reactions similar to the quotes you see above.  But believe it or not, these words are not taken from a Steelers message board or LaMarr Woodley's Twitter account.

Actually, these quotes were published 27 years ago in The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football, by Paul Zimmerman.  In the book, Dr. Z (as you may better know him from Sports Illustrated) discusses in length the recent rule change that permitted offensive linemen to block with open hands and extended arms.  Before 1978, linemen had to stop pass rushers like Mean Joe Greene with bent elbows and closed fists, as you can see here.   Now, they could simply get their hands on a defender to keep them away from the quarterback.  Players, coaches and fans argued that the league was giving a crutch to the offense and punishing defensive players for being too athletic.  They accused the suits in the league office of ruining the game they loved.  Sound familiar?

When change comes, our natural inclination is to resist it.  The NFL has outlawed many dangerous plays over the years, and each time it has been met with an old guard who warns that the league is diluting the game and reminisces about the tougher players of years past.  Here is another quote from Dr. Z's book:

"When we had the head slap," says Vikings nose guard Charlie Johnson, "that's when you had some real football.  Blood and stuff trickling down your legs.  You don't hardly see no snaggle-toothed linemen anymore.  Everything's changed.  All of 'em got teeth."

Just imagine if the NFL had caved every time the players declared that a rule change was destroying the game.   What would today's league be like?  A linebacker clotheslines a kickoff returner at full speed.  A defensive tackle head slaps an offensive tackle to get around him, concussing him in the process.  A running back crackback blocks a defensive end and blows out his knee.  It sounds ridiculous now, but there was a time when players and coaches staunchly defended these actions as legal, just as many now think Harrison should be allowed to use his helmet a a weapon.

The game of football was never written in stone.  The football gods did not whisper into George Halas' ear and command that the NFL must showcase bloody linemen and crumpled-up quarterbacks.  As athletes run faster and hit harder, the league must protect its players and, by extension, its game.

That's not to say that we should blindly accept every rule that is cast down upon us.  Dissent and debate are good for the game.  But Harrison and his supporters need to build a case stronger than "they're turning the NFL into a flag football league."  The league has never accepted that argument, and it won't start to do so now.

Harrison can vow to not change the way he plays, but that won't stop the NFL from changing the game he plays.  Maybe one day he will finally go through with his threat to retire.  If he does, the game won't miss him.  It will simply continue to grow and adapt to the times, as it always has.

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Image found here.