Written by Erin Gallagher, Iowa City, IA
Courtesy: blog.sfgate.com
Last season–in the 49ers Week 3 game against the Cardinals–wide receiver Anquan Boldin paid a price for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona cornerback, Tony Jefferson. The play not only cost the 49ers a 15-yard retreat out of the Red Zone, but came with an $8,268 price tag.
Boldin’s fine is the outcome of recent calls to strengthen the way the NFL handles concussions and head trauma. In the 2013 season, alone, there were a reported 228 concussions during NFL pre- and regular season games. Many of those injuries came from helmet-to-helmet hits, like the one Boldin delivered to Jefferson.
To combat these dangerous plays–and to protect the health of athletes–the NFL is enforcing fines on players who target opponents above the shoulders. First-time offenders, like Boldin, pay $8,268 to the League—as do those who are penalized for late hits, face mask violations, fighting, roughing the passer, chop blocking, and kicking.
These moves are in the players’ best interest. According to Dr. John Hart, Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas-Dallas, “Tests performed on a group of retired NFL players reveal that more than 40% suffered from problems, such as depression and dementia, adding to a growing pile of evidence that repeated sports-related head traumas can lead to lasting neurological issues.”
So pricey penalties, like Boldin’s, reflect the NFL’s claim of player safety as Priority #1, right?
Wrong!
Courtesy: bayareasportsguy.com
Just two weeks after Boldin’s infraction, teammate Colin Kaepernick was levied a hefty fine of his own. The 49’ers quarterback was disciplined for his ‘wrongful use’ of a different kind of headgear … headphones.
The NFL issued Kaepernick with a an ‘Other Uniform/Equipment Violation.’ How much did that cost him: $10,000– $1,732 more than Boldin’s fine.
Kaepernick crossed a line–the sponsorship line. As Motorola’s rumored $40-million contract came to an end, an undisclosed (but likely much higher) amount was offered by the American audio equipment company, Bose. But Kaepernick doesn’t have an endorsement deal with Bose: he works for Beats.
After a 22-17 victory over the Chiefs, Golden State’s ‘Golden Boy’ showed up at his press conference with a pair of bright pink Beats headphones. The appearance violated the League’s 90-minute postgame ban on wearing any other headphone brand—and particularly the prohibition of sporting ‘another brand’ when cameras may be rolling.
Colin’s penalty brings up questions about NFL priorities.
Courtesy: bet.com
Does the League care more about the health of its bank account than the health of its players?
Players and fans need to continue giving the NFL an earful—until the League shows it cares more about players’ health than sponsorships.
