During Sunday's NFL matchups, players on both sides of the ball seemed to be on their best behavior — even to be a bit "tentative" at moments, reports the New York Times. The games were the first since the NFL announced it would start suspending players who initiate "devastating hits." Overall, yesterday's tackling was tame in comparison to the many skull-rattling hits dealt out a week ago. But after the games, debate continued to rage over the NFL's new rules, with players, fans, and commentators arguing that the league has quickly gone from celebrating its big-hit culture to overenforcing rules and sapping the game of the aggression that makes it enjoyable to watch. What's the right balance between safety and entertainment? (Watch a Fox News discussion about the new rules)
Devastating hits are just part of the game: "As someone who played in the N.F.L. for six years, I'm all for reducing reckless play as much as possible," says Nate Jackson at The New York Times. But banning concussion-inducing tackles is unrealistic, since "there are probably six or seven helmet-to-helmet hits on every play in the N.F.L." Suspensions and fines are "knee-jerk public-relations reactions." Football is a violent game by design, so "the only way to prevent head injuries in football is no more football."
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