NFL advises officials to begin ejecting players for helmet-to-helmet hits

Associated Press

Updated: November 10, 2007, 2:39 PM ET

NEW YORK -- The NFL has told its officiating crews to start ejecting
players for flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits.

The new policy was outlined Saturday in a memo from supervisor of
officials Mike Pereira, which was obtained by The Associated Press. It
followed two fines last weekend for what the officiating department had
determined were hits against players in defenseless positions.

One fine was against Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry, who will
forfeit a game check of $16,764 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York
Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens. The other was against Philadelphia
defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, who was fined his game check of $21,176
for spearing Dallas' Julius Jones.

Two weeks ago, San Diego cornerback Drayton Florence was fined $15,000
for a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Houston quarterback Matt Schaub a
concussion.

"Officials will be reminded this week to pay strict attention to these
rules and disqualify the fouling player if the action is judged to be
flagrant," Pereira wrote in the memo sent to the 32 NFL teams. "Actions
that involve flagrant helmet to helmet contact are the likely acts that
will include disqualification. Our commissioner and this office remain
very focused on the safety of our players."

In the memo fining Landry and Ramsey, NFL director of football
operations Gene Washington said emphasis would be on hits against
players in defenseless positions.

Landry previously was fined $7,500 for two unnecessary roughness
violations on Oct. 21 against Arizona. Ramsey was fined $5,000 on Oct.
14 for roughing the passer against the Jets.

After Florence was fined, the Texans complained that the punishment
wasn't severe enough.

"We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting
quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his
helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt's jaw and the fine levied
is only a small fraction of the player's weekly pay," general manager
Rick Smith said.

"Is that equitable? The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when
all factors are considered."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

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