Act Like You Have Been There Before

Every week the NFL is levying fines on a multitude of players. A few weeks back Woodland Hills grad Rob Gronkowski was fined 7500. for spiking the ball too close to a NY Jets defensive back. Earlier in the season, Ravens OC Matt Birk was fined 5000. for removing his microphone because it was bothering him. The NFL reversed the fine after an appeal by his agent. Steelers safety Ryan Clark got nailed for a 40000 fine on a helmet to helmet hit vs. the Ravens. These fines are getting ridiculous. But there is a reality check here. Football used to be a contact sport but now it is a collision sport. Players get paid to make plays. Injuries are a major part of the game. Is the League attempting to cut back on the injuries? Yes but Players are going to get injured in football. There is no way around it. When you have 22 players flying around the field at high rates of speed and aggression, people are going to get hurt. Leading with the helmet by a defensive player seems to stir up the most controversy and potential injury and therefore these defensive players are being levied the most fines. But what about running backs who lead with a helmet. No fines are levied against running backs. I am all for ELIMINATING the fines or just get rid of the facemask. But if you get rid of the facemask, then the players faces will be chewed up and damaged. So what is the answer? Rather than fine players, give the players a series of warnings followed by SUSPENSION without pay if they do not adhere to the warnings. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh has been out of control the past 2 seasons. Roger Goddell has even called him into the NFL headquarters to discuss his style of play. What he did on Thanksgiving day was ridiculous by stomping on a Packer offensive linemen after pushing his helmet into the ground multiple times. Just suspend Suh for a series a of games without pay. If he does not stop his over-aggressive antics, then suspend Suh for the season without pay. Suspension will make it stop. Are the NFL football fans going to games to see Rob Gronkowski spike the football or are they going to see Rob Gronkowski make catches, run after the catch, and score points. Are the fans of the NFL going to N.O. Saints games to watch TE Jimmy Graham catch, run, and score or are they going to see Jimmy Graham dunk a football over the crossbar, pull the crossbar out of position, and then subsequently see the game delayed to repair the crossbar. The players need to" Act Like They Have Been There Before "when they score a Touchdown. I am tired of seeing wide receivers like former NFL player Terrell Owens do his mime routine after he scores or do a dance routine in the endzone. Who cares? Play the game like it is supposed to be played.