What happens when the next Kevin Everett doesn't miraculously walk?
When the Arizona Cardinal's #81 Anquan Boldin (during the last few seconds of a hopeless rout) lay motionless on the ground after taking a devastating blow to the helmet, was I the only one who had an eerie Kevin Everett moment? Come on you remember Kevin...the young man from a little town outside Houston, Texas who by way of the "U" had begun to realize his NFL dream by playing for Buffalo Bills. You remember the story....come on...don't you? (the NFL's hurricane Katrina)
This young NFL season seems littered with young men being 'carted' or carried off the field strapped to a rigid back board. Sure maybe the sideline medical staffs have been sensitized to potential catastrophic spinal cord injuries and are being 'extra' cautious. If this is the sole explanation, why did the NFL front office release a memo to all of the players just days before this latest incident? The memo reportedly strongly emphasized the league's concern and policy regarding helmet to helmet contact.
Though official data regarding the incidence rate of possible neck (cervical) and/or possible spinal cord trauma is not readily available to the public, I can state with near certainty that the first 4 weeks of the 2008 NFL season has seen an unprecedented number of occurrences. The NFL is trying to get out ahead of this looming crisis but are they doing enough?
The league did fine ($50,000) and suspend Jets' safety Eric Smith for inadvertently delivering the blow. But shouldn't the team be held accountable? If the NFL front office wants to get control of this situation the teams must feel it. Each organization must walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to player safety and potential neck and spinal cord injuries. It will take more than a fine to get the teams compliance.
What if each game was reviewed and examined for illegal contact? You know...to pick up those little transgressions that get missed during the heat of battle. Like spearing a receiver who is on the ground defenseless when a simple touch would have ended the play. Or a violent face mask (that went unnoticed) similar to the one inflicted upon Dallas Cowboy punt/kick returner and DB Adam 'don't call me pac-man' Jones during the Washington Redskins game. And my personal favorite, the time honored after an interception find the offending QB and 'de-cleat' him play.
When I become the 'commish', on Tuesday all games will reviewed and Wednesday morning then becomes the day of reckoning. Player fines get doubled for automatic team fines and the suspensions are posted. Multiple offenders (and their teams...let's not forget them) are punished on a rapidly escalating scale. And for my finally (drum roll please), If an Anquan Boldin can't suit up next weekend the offending team loses (by way of suspension) a player (say Laverneus Coles) of the same position to be chosen by their competition's head coach.
Once teams that head hunt are relieved of the services of their key personnel and the L's start mounting, somebody will get this under control.
The 'commish' has spoken.
And in all sincerity thank God for Kevin Everett's blessing...God is good.
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