After a rash of concussions during Week 6 action in the National Football League, you can count on hearing more and more about what course of action the NFL should take to curb illegal and dangerous helmet-to-helmet hits. James Harrison of the Steelers knocked out two Cleveland Browns on Sunday and Dunta Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons concussed DeSean Jackson on an illegal hit that knocked both players out of the game.
During the New York Giants’ Week 6 victory over the Detroit Lions, Detroit linebacker Zack Follett was carted off the field with a neck injury after Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul banged heads with Follett on a special teams play. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin was relieved to hear on Monday that Follett was okay, and then offered up his opinions on the subject when asked on Monday.
“Both guys were trying to do their job,” Coughlin said. "It’s unfortunate. Sometimes the head does get in the wrong position. You stress [proper technique] and you coach it…
“I know that one of the recommendations or the strongest one has been that since the money does not seem to be a deterrent, then it has to be more than that,” Coughlin said on Monday. “Always, it is quite frustrating, to be honest with you, if a player is forced to leave a game because of an illegal hit and the other player continues. … That doesn’t really seem right. I’m sure there will be stronger measures taken.”