Troy Polamalu on the state of the NFL: It's all pansied-up

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Steelers James Harrison and Hines Ward have taken substantial league fines recently for hits that didn't necessarily occur to me as fineable offenses. In the case of Ward, he doesn't even know why he was fined to begin with.

Polamalu told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the NFL is more concerned with "money and not really with [player] safety." He also said that football "just loses so much of its essence when it becomes like a pansy game."

Maybe he's got a point about fines coming too quickly, but in a league were instant paralysis is a real possibility, I'd rather err on the side of caution. I'd rather have too many fines than, say, I don't know ... hits like this.

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1. Posted by Max_Powers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT
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Troy is speaking in reference to his teammate's fines, not the entire NFL. . . there's a lot of dirty crap that goes on, but Harrison's fine was retarded and that call was more than questionable, and Ward's pair of fines are complete bullpucky.
2. Posted by billdfdfdfd Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT
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I know they are trying to protect people, but I think they've gone way too far. Many of these are shoulder to shoulder hits.
AND IT'S TROY POLAMALU. The guy is like, the anti-Chad Johnson. I can't believe he said anything at all. Like, ever.
3. Posted by Max_Powers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT
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And Hines Ward isn't gonna paralyze anyone through his blocking. The NFL not letting receivers block is just plain stupid.
4. Posted by Claus V Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT
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Christ, that was as cheap a shot as you'll ever see 'em. Arena-League-esque. I mean, i love a great hit, but was just teeing of on a defenseless tacle-dummy.
Troy is a great player, and one of the most entertaining players to watch, though.
5. Posted by jerloma Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT
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Actually, mostly every paralysis scare comes on perfectly clean hits or just freak occurrences. Unless people are geting fined for piledrivers, this isn't about player safety. Did you know that the NFL only chooses to publicize a small portion of the fines that they hand out every week? If they are in fact doing this to promote safety, why would they keep anything private? Aren't they supposed to be making an example out of the player and using the fines as a deterrent for the rest of the league? Keeping them private doesn't serve that purpose. Troy is 100% right.
6. Posted by Brian G Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT
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I think the Boldin hit scared them a bit, so now they are fining everything. And I think Polamalu is about to see a fine come his way as well.
7. Posted by billdfdfdfd Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT
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Harrison's fine did not have Downs Syndrome, Max. You can't accuse the refs of having money on the game.
The call? Yes. The call certainly had a learning disability. But that wasn't why he got fined.
8. Posted by dudelabowski Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT
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If the NFL was really concerned about safety they would put some kind of foam material on the outside of helmets so they couldn't be used as a weapon. I have seen players with concussions wear these in the past, you can barely tell they are different helmets....until then, it is obvious the league doesn't care. Also, why not have ALL players wear knee braces, if everyone wore them, everyone would be slowed down the same amount and then there would be less ACL/MCL problems.....
9. Posted by Max_Powers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT
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I get Harrison's fine, but without the bad call, there would be no comment. If the ref's aren't held accountable for stuff like that, then why should the players have to watch what they say about a specific call? Although it still wouldn't justify what he said, or how he said it, the rule about not criticizing the refs is just dumb. Everyone is open to criticism in every job, especially when other people's jobs depend on your judgement.
10. Posted by redemption_value Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT
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i think they should begin using nerf footballs and flags. no tackle and no touch. the players should be forced to wear ballet costumes too. instead of artificial turf they could replace the surface of the field with 10 " memory foam.
and while we are at it: the gatorade should be replaced with wine coolers and on cold days they should get to wear mittens.
11. Posted by redemption_value Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT
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i think they should begin using nerf footballs and flags. no tackle and no touch. the players should be forced to wear ballet costumes too. instead of artificial turf they could replace the surface of the field with 10 " memory foam.
and while we are at it: the gatorade should be replaced with wine coolers and on cold days they should get to wear mittens.
12. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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Test. Couldn't get the comment to post.
13. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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Anybody else having issues with posting?
14. Posted by Mark M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT
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it has been almost 2 weeks since harrison's hit. if it was the right call on the field and the fine is correct why are we still talking about it?
troy will get fined by the nfl for saying that to the newspaper.
15. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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Football, NASCAR, NHRA, Basketball, Skiing, Snowboarding......The list goes on and on of sports that the owners or league officials or whomever makes money on to see others risk their health and welfare. Hits, injuries and, yes, paralysis and DEATH are part of the sports that we watch and follow on a daily basis. Humans have a penchant for living vicariously through others and this is no different; feeling the rush without the pain - paying someone else to do the dirty work.
16. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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Football is a tough game and, if you've played it, you know that you play full speed, all-out or you get hurt and don't get to play anymore. Safety in an unsafe game can only go so far before it takes away from the sport. After that, the chips will fall where they may and the CHOICE to play is up to the player, who knows the consequences, risks and rewards.
17. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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As a die-hard Steelers fan, I recognize and appreciate how the game is played in the Steel City and around the NFL and Troy's statement about a "pansy game" is right on. Safety is a concern, but if you really want to make it safe (picture flowers and pillows and fluffy clouds), don't play. It's not that kind of game.
18. Posted by Mark M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT
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god forbid anyone gets hit in a football game. go watch the clip of the harrison hit. if he would have pump faked there instead of throwing. nothing would have been called. harrison was leaving the ground while the ball was in his hand. you get payed 20 million dollars to throw a ball and you willingly take the field every sunday knowing 11 guys are going to try to hit you everytime you touch the ball. 20 years ago this kind of thing would never happen. why is everything about saftey in 2008? block harrison and he wont have to hit you quaterback.
19. Posted by DonS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT
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Sorry. Had issues with all that in one post.....
20. Posted by Mark M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT
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hines ward. how can you fine a guy and not tell him what for? how is this a preventative saftey fine if he has no idea what he did. other than playing balls out football. saftey? tell ward how to adjust his play so he can be careful when playing football. wouldnt want to block someone and hurt them. god forbid.
21. Posted by James K Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT
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nice hit, go troy!!!...j/k seriously troy's hit in the video was bad but harrison's hit and ward's phantom hits are rediculous if there are gonna fine them
22. Posted by VietVet6769 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT
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But it's okay to stand there and beat the hell out of each other in hockey - until they go down on the ice. And they don't wear pads in hockey! Now which is more "brutal" and, in fact, more intentional? It's football, let 'em play, and fine the cheap shots, i.e., the hit Jack Tatum put on Daryl Stingley which paralyzed the guy. THAT was blatant.
23. Posted by Six-burgh Steelers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT
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Troy is right. The NFL is going overboard. The D-back that nailed Boldin didn't do it on purpose. It was a tackle gone bad. It happens. Happens from peewee football up through the NFL. There have been several other accidents that have left players banged up. It's a tough and violent sport. What do you expect? Most if not all of these guys enjoy the action. If the NFL is going to the extreme they need to go both ways. Fine for chop blocks. Fine for out of bounds hits. Fine for flagrant facemasks. Fine for hits after the ball was tipped. Fine for ugly cheerleaders. But don't forget, the refs are perfect and almost never make mistakes. There will be no fines for refs. Slap on the wrist if they do make a mistake. Slap on the wrist if it costs a team the game. Slap on the wrist if it costs a team the season.
24. Posted by ryan p Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT
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did anyone know that there wasn't a flag on either block that dude was fined for? i find that interesting.
25. Posted by Mavrick007 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT
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My opinion is Palomalu is arguring against the facts; the fact is the rules change every year? It is the responsibility of the steeler coach's to update the players on rule updates! Every game that i have watched when the steelers are playing i always see this individual player lead with his hemet, maybe that i why he keeps his long is to camouflage his tactics? Be aggressive but you are violating the rules at your own risk! The Hype Ends Here! Check It Out!! I' Out!!!