Image via Complex Original
In the wake of Rob Gronkowski's season-ending knee injury, a new discussion about big hits and the NFL has emerged: Are any of the league's new tackling rules actually effective? Browns safety T.J. Ward old reporters after the game that he went low at Gronk because he knew any high hits could result in a penalty and a fine. He purposely tried to deliver the "safer" hit—the one away from the head—and still ended up delivering a concussion, along with a torn ACL and MCL. It's a double-edged sword for the NFL—if they cut out those dangerous shots to the head, they put the legs and those oh so valuable ACLs at risk. Really, the NFL is an inherently violent and dangerous game, and unless they constrain spears to only above the knees and below the shoulders (like a strike zone in baseball), bad injuries will keep flying in.
That being said, it feels right to look back at some of the hardest hits of this 2013 NFL season so far, and determine whether or not they were actually legal. As players like Bernard Pollard, Troy Polamalu, and Pat McAfee have shown this season, it's actually possible for defenders to come across and deal bone-crushing hits in a legal way. Notice what's legal and what's not in The Most Brutal Hits of the 2013 NFL Season Thus Far.
Clay Matthews Mauls Colin Kaepernick
Date: 9/8/2013
Game: Packers @ 49ers
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: None
Punishment: Penalty for unnecessary roughness, $15,000 fine
Really cool GIF, but a completely stupid play from Clay Matthews on 3rd down. The subsequent penalty put the 49ers back on the field, and they ended up scoring a touchdown in a game that was decided by just 6 points.
Bernard Pollard's Reputation Precedes him
Date: 12/8/2013
Game: Titans @ Broncos
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: None
Punishment: Penalty for unnecessary roughness
This type of play and the resulting penalty is what drives fans of the No Fun League crazy. The hit was totally legal and by the book, but Bernard Pollard still got flagged. It looked bad in real-time, but Pollard didn't lead with the crown of his helmet, and didn't hit Eric Decker in the neck/head area. Hell, Pollard was as upright as a safety could be coming across to deliver a tackle. Maybe his reputation for dealing dirty hits from all angles *cuts to Patriots fans cursing* has made him a target for officials.
Malcom Floyd Left Immobilized By DeMeco Ryans
Date: 9/15/2013
Game: Chargers @ Eagles
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Unspecified neck injury
Punishment: $21,000 fine
This play actually ended Malcom Floyd's season. YouTube commentators have been going at it since then debating on the legality of the hit. There was no penalty called on the play, but DeMeco Ryans was handed down a fine after the game, and rightly so. Floyd was defenseless on the play—he was being brought down before Ryans arrived on the scene—and Ryans put his shoulder right into Floyd's head. That's a big no-no in today's NFL.
Aaron Rodgers' Collarbone Snaps
Date: 11/4/2013
Game: Bears @ Packers
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: Broken collarbone
Punishment: None
You can still hear the wails of every Green Bay Packer fan and fantasy football owner if you listen to the game audio closely.
Danny Amendola Goes To Sleep
Date: 10/13/2013
Game: Saints @ Patriots
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Concussion
Punishment: None
"Rafael Bush had me DEAD, might call Tupac over."—Danny Amendola
Mike Tolbert's Helmet Knocks-Out Eric Reid
Date: 11/10/2013
Game: Panthers @ 49ers
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: Concussion
Punishment: None
This kind of offensive player initiated helmet-to-helmet hit will probably outlawed by like 2015. Just wait on it.
Le'Veon Bell Loses A Lot More Than His Helmet
Date: 11/28/2013
Game: Steelers @ Ravens
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Concussion
Punishment: None
Exposed head hitting the turf like that=mega-concussion. Thankfully, Le'Veon Bell is okay.
The Hit That May Have Ended Jermichael Finley's Career
Date: 10/20/2013
Game: Browns @ Packers
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Spinal cord contusion
Punishment: Penalty for unnecessary roughness
This one was scary. Jermichael Finley had to be rushed to the ICU after temporarily losing feeling in everything but his legs. After initial doubts about whether it'd be able to sit up ever again, Finley's now walking and plans to play football in 2014.
Brandon Meriweather Does Exactly What the NFL Wants To Stop
Date: 9/15/2013
Game: Redskins @ Packers
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Concussion
Punishment: $42,000 fine
Brandon Meriweather was trying to kill Eddie Lacy, end of.
William Moore Auditions For the WWE
Date: 9/15/2013
Game: Rams @ Falcons
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: None
Punishment: None
Who else was half-expecting a penalty flag to fly in for unnecessary roughness?
Vernon Davis Gets Pulled Down By His Manhood
Date: 12/1/2013
Game: Rams @ 49ers
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: Sprained pride
Punishment: None
This wasn't the hardest hit of the season, but judging from Vernon Davis' reaction, this might've been the most painful.
Brandon Meriweather Gets a Taste of His Own Medicine
Date: 9/15/2013
Game: Redskins @ Packers
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: Concussion
Punishment: None
While it feels wrong to say that Brandon Meriweather "deserved" to get knocked-out here, given his head hunting style of play, and the fact that he had concussed Eddie Lacy earlier in the same game, Meriweather got what was coming to him.
T.J. Ward Ends Gronk's Season
Date: 12/8/2013
Game: Browns @ Patriots
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: Concussion, Torn ACL and MCL
Punishment: None
Why must the football Gods be so cruel?!
Punter Pat McAfee Levels Trindon Holliday, Who Isn't a Punter
Date: 10/20/2013
Game: Broncos @ Colts
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: None
Punishment: None
Punters are people too! Many fans wondered why Pat McAfee wasn't penalized for the hit here, since he did make helmet-to-helmet contact. The NFL ruled that the hit was completely legal, as the returner wasn't defenseless on the play, so he could be hit in the neck/head, and McAfee didn't lead with the crown of his helmet. Yet it feels like we see a dozen of these same types of hits every weekend and they still get flagged.
Drew Brees' Neck Gets Giraffe'd
Date: 11/17/2013
Game: 49ers @ Saints
Was it legal?: No
Injury?: None
Punishment: Penalty for unnecessary roughness, $15,750 fine
THE HUMAN NECK ISN'T SUPPOSED TO STRETCH OUT LIKE THAT.
Troy Polamalu Does More Than Just Head & Shoulders Commercials
Date: 10/13/2013
Game: Steelers @ Jets
Was it legal?: Yes
Injury?: Loss of wind
Punishment: None
POP, POP! Troy Polamalu's dealt with an endless array of injuries these past couple of seasons, but the guy still knows how to size up a helpless receiver and crack 'em in the ribs. A beautifully executed and completely clean hit here. Stephen Hill probably loses his breath and clutches his stomach every time he sees this replay though.
