DJ Swearinger's Hit: Get Used to It

Following his hit on Miami tight end Dustin Keller on Sunday, I am quite sure that many will be calling into question the character of former South Carolina Gamecock DJ Swearinger. Most of them will be wearing orange overalls, but still...

Swearinger, fighting for a roster spot on the Houston Texans, ended the season, and perhaps the career, of Miami Dolphins' tight end Dustin Keller during a preseason game on Sunday. Swearinger denies doing anything intentional, and blames the new NFL rules on tackling and head shots for his tackling technique.

No need to set the DVR for that interview. You'll hear that story a lot in the next few years.

The NFL has declared that defensive players will always be held responsible for helmet-to-helmet shots, no matter how the ball carrier or receiver changes position. That sets up a situation where players have only one choice when tackling: Go low.

If you go for the legs, there is little chance that an adjustment by the receiver will result in a blow to the head. So the smart defender is going to target the area where there is a maximum opportunity to make the tackle while minimizing the chance for penalties. Not to mention the inevitable follow-up fine and suspension.

Clearly, Swearinger is no Holy Roller, and is a far cry from the defensive version of Tim Tebow in the Character Dept. (At least on the field). But this hit was not dirty; and what he said after the fact is not an excuse. It's a reason, regardless of when and where he decided to implement it. Keller's teammates and others can complain all they want, but this is going to be a common scene on Sunday afternoons.

And more players will get hauled off on a stretcher because of it.

We all understand the rules about launching, head-hunting, etc. But the league has taken those rules to a whole new level in its effort to hold defensive players solely responsible for head trauma. Worse yet, that escalation is filtering down to the NCAA, and has even made its presence felt in the Southern Conference.

Here's the thing:  The problem with these changes is that football isn't intended to be completely safe. In an effort to avoid litigation--and perhaps legislation--Roger Goodell and the NFL are fundamentally changing the game. And it's not all for the better.

What happens if more knees get popped like Keller's did? Furthermore, what happens when defensive players start getting concussions from taking a kneecap to the head? Catching the full force of a kicking leg or knee could surely cause some head trauma.

I will not be at all shocked if the league mandates a "strike zone," much as they do in baseball, where a defender can actually hit and tackle. This will be nearly impossible for defensive players, especially since the most recent collective bargaining agreement severely limits their practice time for tackling.

Football to this point has been the Roman Coliseum of sports gatherings. It is brutal, violent and inherently dangerous when played as it was intended. The players know that before they engage in it even on the Midget level.

Nevertheless, this is the "new" football, full of flags and rules and regulations to keep it from being played with that original intent. It may be safer and less likely to involve lawyers, but it's just not football. You cannot make something safe out of something that is inherently dangerous.

DJ Swearinger's words and actions in a meaningless preseason game may not seem significant. But it may actually signal an even greater change in the way the game is played and legislated.

Get used to it. More guys will lose a knee in the new NFL, at least until Roger Goodell finds a way to put "tackle flags" on the players.

And don't think for a minute that he won't do it.

8 Ways to Truly Improve Player Safety

The NFL has harped on one issue for the last year:  Safety.

Safety, safety, safety. That's all we've heard. Concussions. Blows to the head. Make the game safer. Make it less violent.

How's that working out for you, Roger Goodell?

It was noteworthy that, on the biggest stage, there were no penalties for illegal hits, and very few flags for the incessant pushing/punching/shoving that occurred after the play. Mercifully, it allowed the game to move along more quickly, and that's always a good thing when the Ravens are involved. (The less Ravens, the better).

But the message was clear. It's okay to police that stuff during the season or even in the playoffs. But at the Super Bowl? We don't want the biggest game messed up with any of this "safety" or "sportsmanship" stuff.

This is just more evidence that NFL Commissioner Goodell doesn't want safety from anything other than lawsuits.

Ever since this started, the "safety" measures enacted by the league have largely been window-dressing. Villify the most violent players in the game, and have the evidence to bring to court that you're trying to make the game more safe. That might keep you from having to make a million-dollar payout to the family of Junior Seau or Dave Duerson.

And I don't totally blame Goodell for this trend. He's following in the footsteps of his predecessors who believed that the NFL was too big to fail and simply needed to cover up their disregard for the players that make it happen. Just read the case of Mike Webster if you don't believe that.

The difference is that Goodell is taking very public actions to supposedly end the violence. Two things about that.

First, it's impossible. Football is a violent game, particularly at the NFL level. And as long as the league makes money off big hit videos, the violence will not decrease.

Second, these public actions ignore several private realities about such safety measures. That reality is that they are a drop in the bucket. What if the NFL was REALLY concerned about player safety and football's future? Here is a list of measures that the league needs to take if it is serious, or expects to be taken seriously:


1. Standardize the helmet requirements:  Helmets can't prevent concussions, but they can certainly help. I've watched the Pittsburgh Steelers for years, and defensive linemen Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith looked like they had beanies instead of helmets.

A number of players don't like the look or feel of the most advanced helmet technology. Tough crap. Make them wear the best helmet available and make sure it fits as it should. If it doesn't, then get them off the field. And while you're at it, make sure they strap it on properly!


2. Require a mouthpiece:  Some doctors have argued for years that the right mouthpiece/mouthguard can help reduce concussions. Make every player wear one. Even the kickers.


3. Widen the field:  Players are significantly bigger, stronger and faster, but the playing surface is the same. Add 5-10 yards on each side, and there is more room to move, gather and properly tackle or avoid helmet contact.


4.  Fine players for poor technique:  Two of the worst concussions in the league this year occurred on running backs who lowered their head before contact. If you're going to penalize and fine defensive backs for leading with the head, then why not fine running backs for poor technique?

Some helmet-to-helmet hits are unavoidable, but many of them involve poor technique by the players. Fine them or suspend them, and the lowering of the head may stop.


5.  Suspensions, not fines:  Forget the ridiculous fine system. Suspend violators, cost them a paycheck, and hurt the team. This will push players to use better technique and push coaches/organizations to preach and teach proper technique.


6. Expand the roster:  This is the point where the NFL can put its money where its enormous mouth is. Put 53 on the active roster, 60 total, and expand the practice squad to 10. Yes, it will cost more; but it will also give teams greater flexibility to hold out an injured player because they will have more options.

If necessary, contract the Lions, Browns, and Jaguars franchises to increase the talent pool. Hey, if you haven't made it to the Super Bowl by now, it may be time to move on.


7. Hire real doctors:  Not team doctors, but REAL doctors.

After getting knocked senseless in the AFC Championship game, Patriots running back Stevan Ridley went to the locker room. He then returned to the sidelines, just moments later. My understanding is that concussion victims need to be still, quiet and limited lighting as soon as possible after the injury.

So why would a doctor let a player run back to the sidelines if he needs immobility, quiet, and darkness? A doctor needs to have the authority to look at these injuries objectively and tell players that they need to stay put.

It's pretty hard to say, "Tom Brady needs to sit" when the guy that pays you is saying, "He needs to play." Remove the teams from those decisions as much as possible.


8. Pay for Little League safety:  As stated in my last column, the game is in danger at the lower levels. Do whatever has to be done to get the equipment, education and training to the rec leagues around the nation. Relieve the safety threats and lawsuits at that level if you want the game to grow.

The NFL has the money and the clout to help youth, high school and even college teams get the proper equipment and training to deal with head injuries (or any other injury). They need to invest to make sure that happens.

Will any of these things happen? I doubt it. The hubris of Goodell and the NFL will not allow them to be humbled into making changes. They believe that they are too big to fail, and that unfortunately may be their undoing.

And that attitude will cause the game, and everyone involved in it, to suffer.