NFL's helmet-hit rule misguided

As an attorney, I am shocked by the discussions regarding hard hits in football. In the law, there is a concept called “Assumption of Risk.” Anyone who is a football player, no matter the level, assumes the risk they may become injured due to the nature of the sport. On the professional level, obviously, the players make a conscious decision to play in the NFL for millions of dollars. Therefore, they assume the risk they may be injured on any given day.

From an athlete's point of view, they are taught to play hard and play to win, which is contrary to political correctness that implies you cannot hurt a competitor on the field of play. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Please don't get me wrong, if the injury caused by a player is blatant and obvious and in violation of the existing traditional standards, it should be addressed. However, the fact that someone may be injured as a result of a helmet to helmet collision, which is unintentional in the nature of an attempt to make a play, it should not result in a fine or suspension of the defensive or offensive player who committed the contact. To do so would totally change the nature of the game as well as years of coaching teaching players to be aggressive in an aggressive sport.

In conclusion, hopefully the NFL administrative leadership should not yield to the politically correct outcry that players should be penalized or suspended as a result of being coached to be aggressive on the field of competition.

Steven R. Heuberger

Libertyville