I don't disagree hard hits are part of the game. My son has taken and delivered hard hits, too. I believe in the tackling theory that a player ought to "get there in a hurry and be mad when he gets there." That's not what I'm talking about.
I'm talking about situations where player safety is threatened. I think there are situations where a player is defenseless and, as such, should have some measure of protection. I've seen coaches coach and players play with the intent to injure rather than block or tackle. I don't think that's right. I don't think that's what the game is about. Whether you call it the defenseless player rule, unsportsmanlike contact, roughing the passer or whatever is really immaterial.
Football is in no danger of becoming a non-contact sport. 99% of the plays in a game are clean, hard and physical. Ear-holing a QB whose wrapped up by the ankles, decapitating a receiver whose left his feet just because you have a clean shot, decleating a player whose trailing a play by 20 yards or targeting a player's knees has no place in the sport.
My child's safety and welfare is my primary concern. It always will be. The day I stop worrying about his safety and welfare will be the day I consider myself unfit to be a parent.
The next time you see a former football player sitting in a wheelchair or lying in a bed feeding himself from a tube, give him your cute little advice about playing soccer or tennis. Go ahead and ask for his dress size while you're at it!
JMHO
